The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan

 The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan (314 Pages)

Summary: Tracking the natural beauty that surrounds us, The Backyard Bird Chronicles maps the passage of time through daily entries, thoughtful questions, and beautiful original sketches. With boundless charm and wit, author Amy Tan charts her foray into birding and the natural wonders of the world. In 2016, Amy Tan grew overwhelmed by the state of the world: Hatred and misinformation became a daily presence on social media, and the country felt more divisive than ever. In search of peace, Tan turned toward the natural world just beyond her window and, specifically, the birds visiting her yard. But what began as an attempt to find solace turned into something far greater—an opportunity to savor quiet moments during a volatile time, connect to nature in a meaningful way, and imagine the intricate lives of the birds she admired.

Opinion: Tan's drawings are beautiful and the graphics she sometimes adds provides levity to this book. She focuses mostly on birds one can find in the backyard, however, she lives on the West Coast so the majority of birds in her book are not found here in Missouri. Overall, this was an interesting read where I was able to learn more about bird behavior, but it was slow in parts.