Gift Guide for Nature Lovers

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This Christmas, our Booksellers have been busy curating gifting guides to suit all. Whether you're buying for that cousin who lives to travel, a Cricket obsessed uncle; looking for the perfect gift for little ones, big ones or difficult ones, we've got you covered.

Presenting our Gift Guide for Nature Lovers:

The Golden Mole

Katherine Rundell (author), Talya Baldwin (illustrator)

A lavishly illustrated compendium of the staggering lives of some of the world's most endangered animals, this sumptuous, expanded and updated edition of The Golden Mole is a chance to be awestruck and lovestruck - to fall for the likes of the wondrous pygmy hippo, the seahorse, the narwhal and, as astonishing and endangered as them all, the human.

Life on a Little-Known Planet

Elizabeth Kolbert

From Greenland’s melting ice sheets to New Zealand’s protected mountaintops, we join Kolbert on the road as she travels to the places most dramatically affected by climate change – revealing a world which is both dangerously fragile and remarkably resilient. We encounter newly discovered species and meet the last surviving members of others, witness the power of rewilding up close and are reminded of the abounding wonders of our natural world. Along the way we also meet countless brilliant individuals who are steering us towards a better future: scientists harnessing AI to commune with whales; activists successfully lobbying for the rights of nature; and ordinary people making extraordinary moves, such as the Samsø islanders leading completely carbon-neutral lives. The natural world is changing profoundly, and the threats to our planet are only growing more serious. Now is the time to deepen our understanding of this incredible world we are in danger of losing – and to act, while we still can.

The Atlas of Deadly Plants

Jane Perrone

Across cultures and throughout history, humans have harnessed the toxic properties of plants and fungi - from creating lethal poisons and powerful medicines, to utilizing them for spiritual and ritualistic purposes. The Atlas of Deadly Plants is lavishly illustrated and explores the stories and uses of some of the most deadly plants and fungi from across the world, illuminating their socio-cultural significance, as well as their effects on the human body. Illustrator Alice Smith has created stunning bespoke artwork for each plant filled with symbolism and metaphor to highlight their scientific and historic significance; featured alongside more traditional botanical illustrations and photography. From deadly nightshade to peyote, heartbreak grass to the ordeal bean - each of these poisonous specimens has a curious tale to tell.

Mushrooms

Susan E. Clark

As the world becomes more uncertain and life more stressful, getting outside and connecting with nature is an easy and affordable way to boost our mental and physical health. In Mushrooms, trained biologist and wellness writer Susan E. Clark introduces the curious reader to the wonderful world of mushrooms. In the first part of the book, you will learn fascinating mushroom facts, from their favourite habitats and how to forage them, to their incredible medicinal powers. The second part features 30 species of mushrooms, each with a detailed illustration to help identify them, as well as when they are active and where to spot them. There are countless opportunities to experience nature on our doorstep, and Mushrooms will encourage you to do just that.

The Penguin Book of Penguins

Peter Fretwell (author), Lisa Fretwell (author)

There’s something about penguins that makes them irresistible. Maybe it’s their comical waddle, their black-and-white ‘tuxedo’ plumage, or their apparent cheerfulness in the face of extreme weather conditions. Whatever the reason, their cult following around the globe is indisputable. Penguins can tell us so much about the world we live in – and what the future of both our species might look like. In The Penguin Book of Penguins, leading British Antarctic scientist Peter Fretwell introduces us to eighteen charismatic species of penguin and the fascinating lives they lead: their evolution, behaviours and habitats, and their history with humans. From the fact that emperor penguins dive twice as deep as any other bird, to the story of a king penguin called Sir Nils Olav III who was made a Major General by the Norwegian Army, we discover through fascinating first-hand encounters (and even penguin jokes and emojis!) why penguins matter so greatly to all of us.

Tigers Between Empires

Jonathan C. Slaght

Deep in the snowy forests of Northeast Asia roams the majestic and revered Amur tigers, more popularly known as ‘The Siberian Tiger’. But in the final years of the Cold War, only a few hundred of these graceful animals remained in their home of the Amur River basin. As the Soviet Union fell, catastrophe arrived, with poaching and logging taking a fast, astonishing toll on an already vulnerable species. Taking us on a journey through remote frozen landscapes, globally renowned conservationist Jonathan Slaght charts the incredible story of how Russian scientists and American conservationists came together to save these magnificent, solitary creatures. He retraces their steps to show how this dedicated, fearless coalition laid the foundations of new tiger research across Asia, transforming public opinion around tigers from something to be feared and hunted, to creatures we must protect.

Butterfly

Phaidon Editors

Butterflies have enchanted people for thousands of years, capturing human imagination for so long that they are deeply entwined in our culture and history. Butterfly: Exploring the World of Lepidoptera delves into this enduring love for butterflies, moths, and caterpillars, taking readers on a journey across continents and cultures to discover the endless ways artists and image-makers throughout history, from ancient Egypt over 4,000 years ago to the present day, have been inspired by these ethereal insects. Featuring more than 250 entries, each represented with a gorgeous large-scale image, this expansive visual survey spans a wide range of styles and media, including paintings, botanical illustrations, sculptures, nature photography, children’s books, textiles, and jewelry.

The Hidden Seasons

Tristan Gooley

In The Hidden Seasons, Tristan Gooley shows us how to read the clues that the sun, moon, stars, plants, fungi, animals, water and weather give us - but that we continually miss, because we don't know how and where to look. Spring is the time of wildflower signs, unique cloud shapes and curious animal behaviour. Summer is a time of coastal clues, astronomical extremes and secret grass patterns. Autumn is a time for reading leaves, deciphering scents and investigating fungi. And in winter, we learn to read snow, deepen our star knowledge and use rare methods to find clues in overlooked places, including indoors.

Snö

Sverker Sörlin (author), Dr. Elizabeth DeNoma (translator)

Snow. A single word, for an infinite variety of water formulations, frozen in air. The study of snow is physics, chemistry, meteorology, anthropology, geography, poetry and art. It is hope – annually renewed. And it is history, too. As the seasons lose their rhythm, and whole landscapes risk vanishing, shrinking too our planet's ability to reflect sunlight, Swedish environmentalist Sverker Sörlin urges that we take the time to look - really look - at what it is we’re losing, in all its multifaceted wonder. And to question, what comes next?

Trees in Winter: Pocket edition

Richard Shimell

Welsh printmaker Richard Shimell is known by many for his intricate, beautiful prints of winter trees. In Trees in Winter, his poignant memoir, Richard explores his life, love of nature and his art, sharing the moving, personal journey that led him from being a lost young man in London, to becoming a professional artist as he entered his fifties, and now living back in rural Wales. With reflections on how he connects with nature and finds creative inspiration and spiritual healing in the natural world, Richard's emotional and intimate story gives hope to anyone who has struggled to find their own way and about how much joy can be found in mid-life.