My sister and I are autistic adults who love reading about science; I’m mostly into nature and ecology, and she’s interested in the ocean and space.
We love the idea of those big science-y kid’s books with full-page illustrations, where each page or so has a new topic full of fun facts. But being adults, we want something a little bit higher-level in its information. (For example, instead of “plants are green because of chlorophyll,” something like detailing the complex interaction between tequila producers, blue agave, and the bat populations of Mexico.)
Some books I’ve read recently that I feel fit this niche and the reasons I like them:
* *How to Read the Wilderness* from the Nature Study Guild. Short-ish chapters brimming with usable information, lots of facts, and detailed illustrations and flowcharts.
* *Around the World in 80 Plants* by Jonathan Drori. Each few pages includes illustrations of most or all parts of the plant in question, followed by several paragraphs about the ecology, economy, and historical uses of the plant.
* *Herbalist’s Primer* by Anna Urbanek. I’m aware this book can’t be taken entirely at face value, but I did enjoy how each page had detailed illustrations, location and size data, icons indicating the potential uses of the plant, and sections for the culinary, medicinal, and historically superstitious uses of the plant.
While all these books are about plants, I am interested in anything ecology or nature related, and I’m looking for gifts for my sister (again, she *loves* the ocean and space). Please give me any and all recommendations!
by astrangewindblows