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A one-of-a-kind resource, the Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Illinois is a definitive guide aimed at biologists, teachers, students, wildlife specialists, natural resource managers, conservationists, law enforcement officials, landowners, hobbyists, and everyone else eager to explore herpetology and nature in the Prairie State.

Coastal wetlands are among our most important fish and wildlife habitats. For example, over two-thirds of our recreationally and commercially important marine fishes depend on coastal marshes and associated waters for nursery and spawning grounds.

This book is arranged in four major sections: (1) Coastal Wetland Ecology: A General Overview, (2) Identification of Coastal Wetland Plants, (3) Wetland Plant Descriptions and Illustrations, and (4) Places to Observe Coastal Wetlands, and (5) Sources of Other Information. In addition , a list of references used in preparing this book and a glossary of technical terms are provided.

With its rugged forests and swift rivers, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula offers the perfect setting for fly fishing. Following in the footsteps of Ernest Hemingway’s character Nick Adams, Bruce C. Petersen creates a unique coming-of-age memoir that departs from the typical story of growing from teen to adulthood. Instead, Petersen explores his seventh decade, chasing trout in the challenging waters of Northern Michigan while grappling with what it means to grow old. In this absorbing memoir, he relives his most memorable days as a fly fisher and offers thoughtful reflections on the healing power of nature, aging gracefully, and the unstoppable passage of time. 

Michigan is renowned for its natural beauty and automotive history, yet its rich literary heritage often goes unrecognized. This engaging and extensively researched book aims to change that by providing vivid portraits of both well-known and overlooked authors. It also offers an enjoyable tour through the state’s libraries and bookstores. The book takes readers on a fascinating journey across the back roads and highways of Michigan writing, showcasing the remarkable diversity of authors who have called the state home as well as those who have found it inspirational. It is perfect for anyone interested in reading, Michigan’s literary heritage, and its culture.

With each passing year, the number of family farms in the United States diminishes. Fewer people have the persistence and ingenuity to wrest a livelihood from the land in an era of corporate ownership and mass production. Yet some family farms survive. 

Through words and photographs, this book documents the long lives of five of the oldest farms in Massachusetts. Each has remained in the same family for more than two, sometimes three, centuries and each has a distinctive history. The devotion to the land and family heritage is palpable in the stories these five families tell. 

Stan Sherer’s remarkable photographs depict the activities of the family members as they go about their daily labors, planting crops, feeding animals, applying new technologies to ancient tasks, and coping with the vagaries of weather and state regulations. Michael E. C. Gery’s narrative traces how the farms began, what has sustained them through the generations, and how the families who run them today feel about their past, present, and future. These stories are told largely through the words of the people themselves. 

The result is a complex portrait that moves beyond traditional stereotypes to reveal the realities of family farm life in an increasingly urbanized society.