The Year Outdoors

by Eva Rodimer

"The book follows nature through a year in North [New] Jersey stressing birth, growth, and maturity of animate things and the adaptations that all life must make to seasonal change to assure survival of the species."

294 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1966

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I looked forward to finally reading this and wanted to like it more than I did -- the author was from my hometown, taught at the school my parents attended, and inscribed my mother's copy of the book. She describes some of the very woods, fields, and marshes I played in and explored as a child. The writing, however, has no continuity other than the change in seasons as it gives a laundry list of flora and fauna spotted throughout the year. The anthropomorphizing of bird and animal behavior throughout was irksome and quickly became tedious. The illustrations by Robert Bruce Horsfall are good; the writing is dull.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have spent my whole life visiting this area and the descriptions from Ms. Rodimer are wonderful and accurate. This book was written by someone who loves nature and does an amazing job sharing that love. It's a little hard to really picture all of the descriptions without being a naturalist. Some of the birds I had to look up. Some of the plants and trees I did as well.
All in all it's a wonderful telling or life in the forest.
A good bedtime read.