Creek Watchers: Exploring the Worlds of Creeks and Streams


Book Description

Part of the Aquatic Science Learning Activities curriculum. Creek Watchers explores the impact that land use near a creek has on the health of plants and animals through learning about street runoff, pollutants, erosion, water quality, water flow, and debris. Participants will also learn how to identify trees found near creeks and how creek organisms adapt to survive in a changing environment.













The Worlds of J. R. R. Tolkien


Book Description

An illustrated journey into the life and imagination of one of the world's best-loved authors, Tolkien's Worlds provides a unique exploration of the relationship between the real and the fantastical and is an essential companion for anyone who wants to follow in Tolkien's footsteps.







The Story of Paul Boyton: Voyages on All the Great Rivers of the World


Book Description

"The Story of Paul Boyton: Voyages on All the Great Rivers of the World" by Paul Boyton chronicles the remarkable adventures of a daring explorer. Boyton's gripping memoir takes readers on thrilling journeys along the world's major rivers, offering a unique perspective on the diverse landscapes, cultures, and challenges encountered along the way. With vivid descriptions and an adventurous spirit, Boyton's storytelling transports readers to the heart of each river, capturing the excitement and dangers he faced. Whether navigating treacherous rapids or encountering exotic wildlife, Boyton's tales ignite the imagination and inspire a sense of wanderlust. "The Story of Paul Boyton" is a riveting memoir that celebrates the spirit of exploration and the beauty of our planet's great rivers.




The Meaning of Rivers


Book Description

In the continental United States, rivers serve to connect state to state, interior with exterior, the past to the present, but they also divide places and peoples from one another. These connections and divisions have given rise to a diverse body of literature that explores American nature, ranging from travel accounts of seventeenth-century Puritan colonists to magazine articles by twenty-first-century enthusiasts of extreme sports. Using pivotal American writings to determine both what literature can tell us about rivers and, conversely, how rivers help us think about the nature of literature, The Meaning of Rivers introduces readers to the rich world of flowing water and some of the different ways in which American writers have used rivers to understand the world through which these waters flow. Embracing a hybrid, essayistic form—part literary theory, part cultural history, and part fieldwork—The Meaning of Rivers connects the humanities to other disciplines and scholarly work to the land. Whether developing a theory of palindromes or reading works of American literature as varied as Henry David Thoreau's A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers and James Dickey’s Deliverance, McMillin urges readers toward a transcendental retracing of their own interpretive encounters. The nature of texts and the nature of “nature” require diverse and versatile interpretation; interpretation requires not only depth and concentration but also imaginative thinking, broad-mindedness, and engaged connection-making. By taking us upstream as well as down, McMillin draws attention to the potential of rivers for improving our sense of place and time.







101 Mystery & Detective Classics You Should Read Before You Die


Book Description

101 Mystery & Detective Classics You Should Read Before You Die' curates a seminal collection that encapsulates the golden era of mystery and detective literature. Spanning continents and centuries, this anthology showcases the multifaceted nature of the genre, from the gothic suspense of Poe to the intricate plots of Christie, and the psychological depth of Dostoyevsky. The range of literary styles within this volume is as diverse as its authorship, reflecting a period when this genre was not merely entertainment but a sophisticated exploration of the human psyche, societal norms, and the concept of justice. This collection stands out for its inclusion of pioneering works that have defined and expanded the boundaries of the mystery and detective genre. The contributing authors, from Jules Verne to F. Scott Fitzgerald, and beyond, bring a kaleidoscopic view of society through the lens of their cultural and historical contexts. Collectively, their backgrounds span the tumultuous transitions of the 19th and early 20th centuries, infusing the anthology with a rich diversity of perspectives on crime, morality, and the human condition. The works included align with various literary movementsromanticism, realism, the gothic, and modernismoffering a comprehensive overview of the evolution of the genre and its capacity to reflect contemporary anxieties and critiques. For enthusiasts and newcomers alike, '101 Mystery & Detective Classics You Should Read Before You Die' provides a unique window into the evolution of mystery and detective literature. It is an invitation to explore the depths of human nature, the complexities of societal structures, and the perennial allure of the unknown. This anthology promises not only a tour through the labyrinthine plots and unforgettable characters that have captivated readers for over a century but also a deeper appreciation of the genres contributions to literature as a whole. Delving into this collection is to embark on an unparalleled journey across time and imagination, guided by some of the most iconic voices in literary history.