A Journey for All Seasons: A Cross-Country Celebration of the Natural World by John A. Kinch (2000 1st Edition Hardcover in Dust Jacket) • Author: John A. Kinch • Illustrator: Andrew C. Mott • Design and Composition: Cindy LaBreacht • Jacket Design: Yann Keesing • Copyright Holder: The Nature Conservancy Arlington, VA U.S.A. 2000 • Publisher: The Lyons Press New York, NY U.S.A. 2000 A season-by-season guide to sixty inspiring natural wonders. A provocative glimpse of the astonishing diversity of this country's natural places. Written by an editor at The Nature Conservancy, who also teaches college courses in environmental literature and history. "What a book for the animal or nature lover! A Journey for All Seasons: A Cross-Country Celebration of the Natural World is like getting two books combined in one. First, you have narratives about animal behavior. Second, you have sidebars, one for each narrative, that provide information about the natural world and efforts to preserve it. This is a powerhouse of information! "This book targets the preserves of the Nature Conservancy and their inhabitants. The author has compiled 60 events in nature and arranged them by season. For any time of the year, there is something to see at one of these preserves. There is an appendix that lists preserves and protected places for each state that are open to the public, each with a detailed description, total acreage and contact information. "A foreword by Anne Zwinger relates her memoirs of childhood and how things changed over time. She praises the author's brilliance and the Nature Conservancy's efforts to preserve nature. My advice is to read the final paragraph and begin the book. You can figure out for yourself how wonderful the book is without all the meandering pomp and ceremony. "The book begins with an examination of hibernation and focuses on the grizzly bears of the Rocky Mountains. The accompanying sidebar contains hibernation factoids, such as that the most hibernators found in North American mammal groups are rodents. The first summer entry is about bald cypress trees along the Black River of North Carolina. The sidebar explains about the cypress "knees." Autumn takes a look at the boreal bog, Cranesville Swamp, of West Virginia and its strange inhabitants. The sidebar provides an overview of types of wetlands. Winter includes taking winter identification walks and removing alien species in Hawaii. The sidebars tell how to fine-tune your senses to the natural world around you, why Hawaii is so vulnerable to alien species and what you can do to help. "The facts and figures in this book are often startling. If you are not really up to date on environmental news, this is the book to read. It provides an overview of so many sections of the country and fragile ecosystems. If I had to select any one environmental book for the overall big picture, I would choose this one. It is a splendid book." - 2003 review by Alicia Karen Elkins. Collector Quality Book. Stated: 1st Edition. Full printing #s line indicates this is 1st printing of 1st edition. New hardcover book with green boards, black cloth spine and white lettering. DJ is whole, but has minor storage scratches on front cover. Interior is as new (fine); tight, clean and unmarked. Remainder mark on bottom page-edge. Size: 8vo – over 7 - 9” tall, 175pp. Condition: Fine (As New) Hardcover in Near Fine (As New) Dust Jacket – Stated 1st Edition. Always privately owned. No Ownership markings. Copyright 2000. Stated: 1st Edition. Full printing #s line indicates this is 1st printing of 1st edition. Printed in U.S.A. ISBN: 1-55821-943-9. LCCN: 99-40930. MSR = US $24.95. Notes on Condition/Edition ratings: Fine – means like new, but any book produced over 10 years ago isn't “brand new” or even “new.” Using the same term as coin collectors, “can’t guarantee it is uncirculated, but it looks very much like it could be.” Booksellers need similar grading to describe this... Like New – A new book, no marks no damage (except maybe remainder marks or shelf-wear) except not obtained directly from the publisher or in packaging from the publisher. Same sort of thing about grading as Fine above except generally used for newer publication dates for titles still in print. Good – How someone else might take care of a book. Also referred to as “standard.” This is the most likely condition for books of this age title, shows the book has been read or previously owned. Acceptable – How a young child, student or a librarian might take care of a book. (Either trying to make sure someone doesn't steal it by plastering ownership everywhere, filled it with copious notes or a book that has been damaged.) Poor – Combination of “acceptable” factors above. Most likely with water damage as well. Might have missing pages (you should ask). Usually requires repair to be usable. Near – Means “almost” in an optimistic sense. e.g., “Near Fine” means very good, but on the high end. 1st Thus – Unique somehow, maybe 1st paperback, new illustrator, misprint or even the 1st edition. A collector might desire this copy for their collection. Thanks for looking!