Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

Holiday shopping: Selected books

This post was written by Terry McLaughlin, 2012 Outdoor Experiences Lead Instructor, 2014 & 2015 Interim Information Center & Bookstore Manager, and 2015–2017 Membership Assistant.


As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, I love curling up with a good book. The Mono Lake Committee has a great selection this holiday season, including Birds of the Sierra Nevada, The Crossley ID Guide to Raptors, What the Robin Knows, 50 Classic Day Hikes of the Eastern Sierra, and The Common Bees of California for the nature lovers on your list.



I reach often for Mary Oliver’s new book A Thousand Mornings. Oliver takes my breath away, once again, as she “hits the nail on the head” with her life observations and the insights expressed in her poetry. She isn’t afraid to tackle touchy subjects such as death and suffering. But she leaves me feeling upbeat and empowered by her fresh perspective.

A new anthology of poems I’ve just discovered is Bright Wings, edited by former US Poet Laureate Billy Collins. Each of the poems features another bird species and is accompanied by a David Allen Sibley drawing. Talk about the best of the best!

When I want to focus on the big picture of ecology, Craig Childs’ inspiring book, Apocalyptic Planet, is perfect. If you are not familiar with Childs’ writing, he is scientifically-based but speaks with the oratory of a poet. He looks at the big issues facing our planet, yet leaves me feeling optimistic and inspired.


Or dig into The West Without Water, which explores “normal” climate in the western US. If you’re looking to take action on water issues, get a copy of the very practical Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond, a step-by-step guide to reducing your consumption of electricity, water and gas while saving money. My husband and I have used the instructions in this book to install our own water-catchment system at home.

Speaking of inspiration, few books top The Barefoot Spirit, the story of the Barefoot Winery. This book tells the story of Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey who started Barefoot Winery in their laundry room, growing it into the popular success that it is today. These two helped move wine from stuffy and intimidating to casual and fun. It’s no wonder this book topped the New York Times’ bestseller list for two months!

I have a hard time choosing among the wonderful and engaging children’s books the Mono Lake Committee bookstore offers. One of my favorites is The Amazing Animal Alphabet: Twenty-six Tongue Twisters. This is definitely a book to sit and share with a favorite young friend. Can you say “lazy little lion lounges leisurely on Lake Lucerne” three times fast? Laughter is guaranteed with this fun read. Or try your hand at the funny poems in When Your Porcupine Feels Prickly. The concepts are silly, the drawings are simple and fun in this delightful read. Raven and the Red Ball is a lovely, wordless book, perfect for some quiet time with your favorite kid. These beautiful yet simple children’s books invoke a charm that will having you reading again and again!


No matter what your tastes: young or mature, poetry or fiction, natural history or ecology; the Mono Lake Information Center & Bookstore is “bound” to help you meet your wintry reading needs! You can shop online, call (760) 647-6595 to place an order, or just stop by.