(by Anita Fernandez)
Don’t be late for this very important date! NH Audubon’s 2026 Book Club begins on Thursday, March 12 with Everyone’s Trash by local author and Keene Solid Waste Manager Duncan Watson. This book begins with a journey through his childhood and schooling, from voicing Charlie Brown in several animated movies of the beloved character to conducting a year-long experiment on all things recyclable! Duncan’s life has been intertwined with a passion for waste reduction, efficient reuse, and community service. Join the book club to explore the world of recycling and how things have evolved during Duncan’s tenure. Then, in April, Duncan will be joining us live at the McLane Center in Concord for a presentation and book signing.
For our second book club meeting in May, we will delve into the life of Roxie Laybourne, the first feather forensic scientist, in the book The Feather Detective by Boston journalist Chris Sweeney. Roxie led an incredible life and created an incredible career, changing the rules of aviation safety and criminal justice procedures. In July, Chris will be visiting us at the McLane Center to review his book and stay for a book signing.
Then, in August, we will examine Forest Euphoria by Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian in a personal and profound reflection of how wildlife and the natural world can help us make sense of our own identities. Kaishian, a mycologist, connects her own experiences with gender dysphoria, trauma, and queer identity to the non-binary and diverse lives of organisms like fungi, slugs, and eels, arguing that nature is inherently queer and offers lessons in belonging and acceptance.
Finally, we wrap up the year with Rebugging the Planet by Vicki Hird in November, not only a call to action but a guide to help us all support the insects, arthropods, and other small creatures that make this world possible. Vicki uses a multi-pronged approach to the issues of insect loss and how change can be made. She begins with climate change, soil erosion, and human attitudes toward invertebrates, then moves on to food pressure and intensive farming methods, and then tackles policy and advocacy, looking at what lawmakers can and need to change to bring back the bugs.
Visit one of our nature stores and mention the book club to receive a 10% discount. Purchase all four books and get an even larger discount! Not near one of our centers? No problem! You can also purchase online. And don’t forget to register for the book club meetings on our Events Calendar, which will be held via Zoom, to get your link and a copy of the discussion questions.
- March 12 – Everyone’s Trash by Duncan Watson
- May 14 – The Feather Detective by Chris Sweeney
- August 13 – Forest Euphoria by Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian
- November 12 – Rebugging the Planet by Vicki Hird