Nature Appreciation Give-Away

Last July, when I reached 50 followers, I was so very excited.
Never in my wildest imagination did I expect to reach 100.
I'd like to show my appreciation by having a give-away to celebrate 100 followers and the coming of spring.
Give-aways are fun because everyone likes to win. 
It's only human nature!

 I am pleased to have a brandy new copy of Bill Thompson, III's

The Young Birder's Guide to Birds of Eastern North America!

Bill is editor of Bird Watcher's Digest

and author of the blog
Bill of the Birds on Blogspot.

He has very generously made arrangements with his publisher to donate a book just for this give-away.  Written with the cooperation of his daughter and her classmates, The Young Birder's Guide is truly an inspirational tool for sparking the excitement in children and engaging them in the world of nature.  It's easy to use, easy to understand, and very well illustrated.  I think I'd like a copy for myself.  Afterall, I'm just a grown-up child!

I also have a copy of the newly published
Crossley ID Guide: Eastern Birds,
compliments of the
Princeton University Press,
 to give away.
I have been reading some excellent reviews about this new birding resource guide.  Nina of Nature Remains, for one, very eloquently convinced me of the need to check it out further!  Two other reviews by Monarch's Nature Blog and The Drinking Bird left me drooling.  Sounds to me that this reference book is sure to revolutionize the way in which we identify birds, and lordy knows,
I need all the help I can get!

In addition,

   I have made a Field Guide Tote Bag
to throw into the mix,
very similar to the one pictured here. 
Adapted from a pattern by Atkinson Designs,
this bag is the perfect size to hold a field guide
and rests comfortably out of your way,
but is easy to grab.  
The handle doubles as a tape measure
for quick reference or for scale.

For my crafting friends, I have a copy of the pattern Hooterville.

And finally,
I have decided, after much deliberation, to pass along my copy of Richard Louv's

The Nature Principle

(see previous post.)

To participate, simply leave a comment on this post.  I'd love to hear how you have introduced nature to someone new, but it's not necessary.  And if you think to, let me know what your choice would be from the prize list should your name be chosen by the random number generator. 

(This give-away will close one week from today.)

Last,

but certainly not least,

I would like to congratulate

Donna M., follower #100!

Her prize is this adorable,

handmade owl pillow, made from

this tutorial on Moda Bake Shop

and a copy of the book,

Owl Moon, by Jane Yole, a Caldecott Award-winning story

of what happens when a little girl goes out one moon-lit night on an

owling adventure with her father.  The illustrations are beautiful, the text full of lovely descriptions, and I know Donna will enjoy sharing this story with her grandson.

Congratulations, Donna, and thanks!

I will close

with some food-for-thought:

'How will today’s kids

(who will be the leaders of tomorrow, afterall)

feel any need to protect the environment

if they’ve grown up without experiencing nature?”

-Bill Thompson, III