This Strange Wilderness meets Okay for Now
This past year I served on the 2016 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award Committee. One of the Honor Books selected by the Committee is This Strange Wilderness: The Life and Art of John James Audubon by Nancy Plain.
This outstanding example of nonfiction draws heavily on primary source documents, particularly the journals of Audubon. Plain seamlessly weaves in quotations from his journals into her narration to paint a compelling portrait of this American naturalist. Color plates of his work are reproduced in stunning detail. See the captivating image on the title facing page pictured below. The entire book is liberally sprinkled with full color examples of Audubon's work.
Okay for Now written by National Book Award finalist Gary D. Schmidt, narrated by Lincoln Hoppe and produced by Listening Library received an Earphones Award , was an Audies finalist and received an Odyssey Honor Award. Hoppe attended the 2012 Odyssey Award presentation and chose to read a selection describing Doug Swieteck's first encounter with Aududon's art. He captures that exquisite moment when with Doug is overcome with awe for the image of a bird with a "round and terrified eye." |