There is something magical about having a big box of books, always around, always available. Rarely with prompting, the kids are always digging into it. Grab one and take it to a solitary nook, scramble up into someone’s lap, or ask a big sibling to read. They are enchanting, whether it’s the pictures, words, or simply calling something of value my own.

Our nature section (we have a lot of sections), has become our bread and butter. These are our trusty, faithful fount of knowledge books. They are our compass, our road map, and our explanation of the ten thousand interesting things we see in a day. They help us identify, help us understand, and show us how to explore and ask questions.

I’ve captured our favorites, our most reliable, and without a doubt most read here on my shelf at Bookshop.org.

• The Lost Words by Robert MacFarlane
• The Burgess Seashore Book for Children by Thornton Burgess
• The Burgess Bird Book for Children by Thornton Burgess
• Nature Anatomy by Julia Rothman
• Ocean Anatomy by Julia Rothman
• Insect Life by Arabella Buckley
• Trees and Shrubs by Arabella Buckley
• Wild Wonders of Alabama by Cindy Moore
• Hoot, Flush, Squirm, Scat, and Chomp by Carl Hiaasen
• Into the Forest Board Book by Laura Baker
• Exploring Nature Activity Book by Kim Andrews
• Audubon Field Guide to Seashells
• Sibley Field Guide to Birds (East and West)

There are a gazillion more on my list to try, but definitely must pace myself given the space constraints. That said, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments if you have others to recommend!