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Mother, Creature, Kin: What We Learn from Nature's Mothers in a Time of Unraveling
Luminous nonfiction about the natural world from essayist Chelsea Steinauer-Scudder, who what can other-than-human creatures teach us about mothering, belonging, caregiving, loss, and resiliency?
What does it mean to be a mother in an era of climate catastrophe? And what can we learn from the plants and creatures who mother at the edges of their world's unraveling?
Becoming a mother in this time means bringing life into a world that appears to be coming undone. Drawing upon ecology, mythology, and her own experiences as a new mother, Steinauer-Scudder confronts what it means to "mother": to do the good work of being in service to the living world. What if we could all mother the places we live and the beings with whom we share those places? And what if they also mother us?
In prose that teems with longing, lyricism, and knowledge of ecology, Steinauer-Scudder writes of the silent flight and aural maps of barn owls, of nursing whales, of real and imagined forests, of tidal marshes, of ancient single-celled organisms, and of newly planted gardens. The creatures inhabiting these stories teach us about centering, belonging, entanglement, edgework, homemaking, and how to imagine the future. Rooted in wonder while never shying away from loss, Mother, Creature, Kin reaches toward a language of inclusive care learned from creatures living at the brink.
Writing in the tradition of Camille Dungy, Elizabeth Rush, and Margaret Renkl, Steinauer-Scudder invites us into the daily, obligatory, sacred work of care. Despair and fear will not save the world any more than they will raise our children, and while we don't know what the future holds, we know it will need mothers. As the very ground shifts beneath our feet, what if we apprenticed ourselves to the creaturely mothers with whom we share this beloved home?
What does it mean to be a mother in an era of climate catastrophe? And what can we learn from the plants and creatures who mother at the edges of their world's unraveling?
Becoming a mother in this time means bringing life into a world that appears to be coming undone. Drawing upon ecology, mythology, and her own experiences as a new mother, Steinauer-Scudder confronts what it means to "mother": to do the good work of being in service to the living world. What if we could all mother the places we live and the beings with whom we share those places? And what if they also mother us?
In prose that teems with longing, lyricism, and knowledge of ecology, Steinauer-Scudder writes of the silent flight and aural maps of barn owls, of nursing whales, of real and imagined forests, of tidal marshes, of ancient single-celled organisms, and of newly planted gardens. The creatures inhabiting these stories teach us about centering, belonging, entanglement, edgework, homemaking, and how to imagine the future. Rooted in wonder while never shying away from loss, Mother, Creature, Kin reaches toward a language of inclusive care learned from creatures living at the brink.
Writing in the tradition of Camille Dungy, Elizabeth Rush, and Margaret Renkl, Steinauer-Scudder invites us into the daily, obligatory, sacred work of care. Despair and fear will not save the world any more than they will raise our children, and while we don't know what the future holds, we know it will need mothers. As the very ground shifts beneath our feet, what if we apprenticed ourselves to the creaturely mothers with whom we share this beloved home?
304 pages, Hardcover
Published April 8, 2025
24 people are currently reading
2709 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 31, 2025
There's not a poem to be found in essayist Chelsea Steinauer-Scudder's "Mother, Creature, Kin: What We Learn from Nature's Mothers in a time of Unraveling," and yet there exists such a lyrical quality about these essays that one can't help but be immersed in the unique rhythms of Steinauer-Scudder's gorgeous reflections asking what we as humans can look from the world around us about mothering, belonging, caregiving, loss, and resiliency?
"Mother, Creature, Kin" is a literary journey of wonder and awe, connection and grief, and ecological embrace. Steinauer-Scudder builds the foundation of "Mother, Creature, Kin" on the infancy of her own journey into motherhood and the first three years of life of her daughter, Aspen. At times conflicted over bringing life into a world that seems to be coming undone, Steinauer-Scudder discovers something resembling hopefulness as her essays draw upon a remarkable tapestry of her own experiences, ecology, mythology, and the world of mothering within her and that surrounds her. "Mother, Creature, Kin" feels both universally wise and intimately embracing as Steinauer-Scudder examines what it means to "mother" in service to the living world.
What if, she asks, we could all mother the places we live and the beings with whom we share our spaces? What if they could mother us?
As a lifelong paraplegic with multiple disabilities, I've long experienced a sense of mothering, given and received, from natural places and from the village that surrounds me. Steinauer-Scudder seems to peel away the masks of the universe with a sense of longing and awareness to explore these worlds and how they mother us in ways big and small. She writes of barn owls and nursing wales, forests real and fantasy, and the majesty of the worlds in which she has lived and loved.
Initially, I struggled to immerse myself in Steinauer-Scudder's lyricism and the sacred ways in which she creates intimacy with this world. Yet, when that immersion finally came I found myself not wanting to let it go. There's a tenderness in Steinauer-Scudder's writing that feels true and safe, sacred and filled with vulnerability and wonder.
For those willing to go along with Steinauer-Scudder's journey, "Mother, Creature, Kin" is destined to be a journey filled with grace and light, hope and connection.
"Mother, Creature, Kin" is a literary journey of wonder and awe, connection and grief, and ecological embrace. Steinauer-Scudder builds the foundation of "Mother, Creature, Kin" on the infancy of her own journey into motherhood and the first three years of life of her daughter, Aspen. At times conflicted over bringing life into a world that seems to be coming undone, Steinauer-Scudder discovers something resembling hopefulness as her essays draw upon a remarkable tapestry of her own experiences, ecology, mythology, and the world of mothering within her and that surrounds her. "Mother, Creature, Kin" feels both universally wise and intimately embracing as Steinauer-Scudder examines what it means to "mother" in service to the living world.
What if, she asks, we could all mother the places we live and the beings with whom we share our spaces? What if they could mother us?
As a lifelong paraplegic with multiple disabilities, I've long experienced a sense of mothering, given and received, from natural places and from the village that surrounds me. Steinauer-Scudder seems to peel away the masks of the universe with a sense of longing and awareness to explore these worlds and how they mother us in ways big and small. She writes of barn owls and nursing wales, forests real and fantasy, and the majesty of the worlds in which she has lived and loved.
Initially, I struggled to immerse myself in Steinauer-Scudder's lyricism and the sacred ways in which she creates intimacy with this world. Yet, when that immersion finally came I found myself not wanting to let it go. There's a tenderness in Steinauer-Scudder's writing that feels true and safe, sacred and filled with vulnerability and wonder.
For those willing to go along with Steinauer-Scudder's journey, "Mother, Creature, Kin" is destined to be a journey filled with grace and light, hope and connection.
February 14, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Broadleaf Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Mother, Creature, Kin by Chelsea Steinauer-Scudder is incredible. As a student of both literature and conservation, I was intrigued when I first saw this book. Upon completion, I am impressed and moved by Steinauer-Scudder’s masterful prose.
This book, admittedly, set out to accomplish a lot and Steinauer-Scudder managed to accomplish it all. This book disentangles what it means to be a mother from gender roles and confines. To “mother” as a verb is to be conscious of the environment, something we are all capable of. It tackles conflicts between conservation and capital gain, our engagement (and disengagement) with our natural world, and more.
Steinauer-Scudder writes of great ecological tragedies and success. This is framed by the first three years of her daughter, Aspen’s, life. The childlike wonder and consideration for everything that Aspen holds frames the environmental complexities of our world. This framing leads to an, ultimately, hopeful view of our place in this great, ecological marvel we call home.
Steinauer-Scudder also leans upon fellow scholars, writers, ecologists, and mothers of all kinds to help her as she grapples with the problems of our changing planet.
Mother, Creature, Kin is a masterclass in tending to ecological issues while delivering exquisite prose. I think everyone should read this truly triumphant book by Chelsea Steinauer-Scudder.
Mother, Creature, Kin by Chelsea Steinauer-Scudder is incredible. As a student of both literature and conservation, I was intrigued when I first saw this book. Upon completion, I am impressed and moved by Steinauer-Scudder’s masterful prose.
This book, admittedly, set out to accomplish a lot and Steinauer-Scudder managed to accomplish it all. This book disentangles what it means to be a mother from gender roles and confines. To “mother” as a verb is to be conscious of the environment, something we are all capable of. It tackles conflicts between conservation and capital gain, our engagement (and disengagement) with our natural world, and more.
Steinauer-Scudder writes of great ecological tragedies and success. This is framed by the first three years of her daughter, Aspen’s, life. The childlike wonder and consideration for everything that Aspen holds frames the environmental complexities of our world. This framing leads to an, ultimately, hopeful view of our place in this great, ecological marvel we call home.
Steinauer-Scudder also leans upon fellow scholars, writers, ecologists, and mothers of all kinds to help her as she grapples with the problems of our changing planet.
Mother, Creature, Kin is a masterclass in tending to ecological issues while delivering exquisite prose. I think everyone should read this truly triumphant book by Chelsea Steinauer-Scudder.
June 12, 2025
beautifully written, introduces a framework of care that queers notions of motherhood AND cites Robin Wall Kimmerer and Gregory Alan Isakov? Yeah that’s 5 stars
November 10, 2025
3.5
Great intro into the idea of mothering. I imagine this will be a very very very special book for the author’s child, Aspen, to read. As I figured when starting the book, the author’s whiteness does play into how I engage with and digest these ideas however I will say she speaks most often to her own experiences and does acknowledge her whiteness. (Note: this topic would be a really fun collaborative book with a myriad of indigenous perspectives)
I enjoyed thinking about this idea of motherhood, mothering, mother entangled with our (mis)understandings of nature and life. I expected more science than the author’s own story, but personally didn’t mind it all too much.
Looking forward to playing with these ideas more.
Great intro into the idea of mothering. I imagine this will be a very very very special book for the author’s child, Aspen, to read. As I figured when starting the book, the author’s whiteness does play into how I engage with and digest these ideas however I will say she speaks most often to her own experiences and does acknowledge her whiteness. (Note: this topic would be a really fun collaborative book with a myriad of indigenous perspectives)
I enjoyed thinking about this idea of motherhood, mothering, mother entangled with our (mis)understandings of nature and life. I expected more science than the author’s own story, but personally didn’t mind it all too much.
Looking forward to playing with these ideas more.
May 13, 2025
This is a beautiful and thoughtful book on what it means to mother—to care for and be in relationship with the world in a time when things feel dark and hopeless. The book is written with so much care, bringing together the personal and universal—weaving in her own narrative of coming into motherhood and all that it means. Deeply moving, well researched and thought provoking, I highly recommend it!
April 6, 2025
I picked up "Mother, Creature, Kin" by Chelsea Steinauer-Scudder because, as a mother of two, the beautiful title really caught my eye. But wow, this book surprised me in so many wonderful ways! It gave me a whole new perspective on what it means to mother.
The book explores how we can all give and receive motherly love, not just to and from people, but also in our interactions with nature. It shows that mothering can happen on so many different levels and in so many different ways. I loved how these essays made me realize that this feeling of connection and care is the foundation of so much goodness in the world.
Reading this book was truly eye-opening. It gave me a lot to think about and appreciate, and I will definitely be recommending it to many readers. If you're looking for a book that will change the way you think about mothering and connection, "Mother, Creature, Kin" is a must-read.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
The book explores how we can all give and receive motherly love, not just to and from people, but also in our interactions with nature. It shows that mothering can happen on so many different levels and in so many different ways. I loved how these essays made me realize that this feeling of connection and care is the foundation of so much goodness in the world.
Reading this book was truly eye-opening. It gave me a lot to think about and appreciate, and I will definitely be recommending it to many readers. If you're looking for a book that will change the way you think about mothering and connection, "Mother, Creature, Kin" is a must-read.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
August 7, 2025
A book of beautiful prose that feels like you're accompanying the writer on a long walk through a gently murmuring forest (this metaphor made more sense in my head than on paper). I think I expected more focus on how other creatures mother, especially in times of duress, and less of the authors own life reflections, and was a bit disappointed to miss the former. I also felt that the writing was very western-society centric - at one point the author shares with us: “Liturgy of the Hours is a canonical means of timekeeping, marking both the day’s hours and the year’s seasons through practices of Christian devotion, structuring time around prayer at regular intervals.” It is a beautiful practice, and I am glad it exists. And at the same time, every one of the two billion Muslims around the world learns to pray five times a day every day, the specific time changing as the days lengthen and shorten.
October 6, 2025
Exquisitely written beautiful treatise on the relationship of humans to the natural world and how that relationship can be fostered through the same attentions we give as mothers and parents to our children. Her journey spans the first three years of her own introduction to motherhood but draws on specific relationships she observes first hand and in creative and stunning detail of various parts of our natural world that are currently threatened or endangered. The author is successful in helping us to bridge that gap between our busy lives and what it takes to slow down, nurture and parent our relationship with nature. Too much to relay in a short review, the reader must discover for themselves how their relationships can be transformed, grounded and brought to light by the examples she describes. So many! I personally loved each one! Enjoy the gift of this rare book, and may its impression be everlasting.
January 27, 2025
As someone who works as a biologist for a living, this book immediately appealed to me after reading the summary. I don't have children but I do have a much younger cousin who I am extremely close to, and I am often worried about why kind of world she is going to grow up/be left in the future. The author really approched this book in such a thoughtful and deep way, it was really interesting to read. It felt both realistic about the future of our planet but also hopeful.
I enjoyed the way the author chose to divide the book into sections, it felt like a really good way to explore the topic of care, motherhood and how that relates to the environments around us. I was especially partial to the chapters dedicated to tidal marshes, as thats a habitat I work closely with.
I will definitely be recommending this book to my coworkers and friends once its released!
I enjoyed the way the author chose to divide the book into sections, it felt like a really good way to explore the topic of care, motherhood and how that relates to the environments around us. I was especially partial to the chapters dedicated to tidal marshes, as thats a habitat I work closely with.
I will definitely be recommending this book to my coworkers and friends once its released!
April 28, 2025
Chelsea Steinauer-Scudder's beautiful book Mother, Creature, Kin brings to mind the essays of Barbara Kingsolver and Rebecca Solnit, and Diane Ackerman's A Natural History of the Senses. Steinauer-Scudder explores such topics as climate change, motherhood, seeking (and finding) one's center as well as one's place in the world. She asks her readers to consider their roles within the world, reminding us that the greatest gift we can do for future generations is to leave the world a better place than we found it. She acknowledges the challenges in this, admitting her own failings while striving to do better. Mother, Creature, Kin is a book that everyone should read. It is illuminating and thought-provoking, at times heartbreaking, but pulsing with life.
April 9, 2025
A gorgeous answer to the ecological time we're in. Powerful, tender prose that invites us to not just look at the moment differently, but FEEL our way through it. I am loving it and will be sharing this one far and wide.
May 23, 2025
What a wonderful read. I enjoyed the combination of science and anecdote, asking questions that are oh so relevant yet seem impossible to answer. The imagery and beautifully immersive prose were my favourite part of this book, making this a truly enjoyable experience.
June 28, 2025
a beautiful, lyrical book of essays exploring what it means to be a mother, how to nurture our children and the earth, and what it means to be a community in nature as well as in humanity
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews