A Year in Nature

Happy New Year! We are truly living in the future now that it's 2026. If my 11 year old, 1976 self asked what life would be like fifty years in the future, I would have to say that while technology has really taken off (Texting pictures to people! MP3 players with a thousand songs on them! E Books! Streaming movies!) and there is almost a complete lack of fashion, most things are still the same. There are no flying cars, jet packs, or enough silver spandex clothing to be concerned about. 

I'm not sure that overall, 2026 is an improvement. 

That said, patting myself on the back for 14 solid years of posting at least one book review every day. Not that anyone really cares, but there is a sense of accomplishment in the continuity. 

 

Mettler, René. A Year in Nature: Explore the Countryside, Month by Month
March 18, 2025 by Post Wave
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

In this beautifully illustrated, oversized French import, the reader is transported to an idyllic countryside with rolling hills and two amazing châteaus. This starts with a complete but succinct explanation of the seasons, and how they change in Europe and North America. After that, every month gets a fold out overview of the temperature, length of day and night, and a description of what the prevailing weather conditions are. There is even a "Gardener's Basket" which lists what foods are being harvested; who knew that Brussels sprouts had such a long winter growing season! On the other side, the plants, trees, animals and birds that pepper the landscape are described, along with what changes are occurring because of the weather. The real draw to this book is the two page spread of the countryside that shows a view from a hill complete with a winding country lane, far off village, fields, and a river. 

Mettler, who first published this book in 1997, wrote and illustrated many books dealing with nature and the environment, including Flowers, The Rain Forest, and Animal Camoflage. His attention to detail makes these illustrations come to life, and each feather on a bird or leaf on a flower is painstakingly drawn. These should really have been made into wall posters, since they are the sort of picture I could stare at for hours. 

The information about the seasons is equally complete, although there is an inordinate amount of discussion about hedgerows that tipped me off (along with those châteaus) that the scene was set in Europe. The temperatures also indicate that this takes place a bit further north than where I live (82 degrees in July sounds lovely and cool!), but also might indicate that climate change is indeed warming this up. I am a little suprised that the text was not updated with some information about current conditions. 

Seasons are a big topic for younger readers, and I enjoyed that this gives good basic information about the reasons for the changes. I can see an interested reader consulting this book at the beginning of each month and checking to see how the world outside compares with the description in the book. Combine this with Barnum and Frost's A Stroll Through the Seasons, Jenkins and Jones' Squirrel's Busy Year, and Duvoisin's classic 1950 The House of Four Seasons to give your young reader a good overview of the changing natural world.