What's in the Woods, published May 15, 2008, offers children and adults an easy way to start recognizing many of the common plants, animals, birds, trees, and mushrooms that they see in the woods.

Confused by all that green? Think it can't be done? Wrong! What's in the Woods has been written and illustrated by amateur naturalist Mary Blocksma—that's me—and if I can do it, so can you. I started out writing Naming Nature, published by Penguin and later again, in color, by University of Michigan Press as Great Lakes Nature. While writing that book I began to realize that if I could recognize the common species that I would know almost everything I saw.

What's in the Woods covers 145 different species. What's on the Beach describes also does about 140. Between the two books, almost 300 species are described. Imagine! It's easy! You just have to be there.

What's in the Woods: A Michigan Treasure Hunt, is the second book in my What's What Outdoors? series, the first being What's on the Beach? A Great Lakes Treasure Hunt. (Coming next year: What's on the Beach in Florida). Published by Beaver Island Arts, 2008. ISBN 978-0970857538. $12.50 soft cover.

A BeaverIslandArts.com special: 2 books (either Beach or Woods or both) for $20.00. Order now!