Tucked away in a remote stream valley in Vermont, a dynasty of beavers has nearly completed the restoration of the wetland mosaic of the primeval landscape­-the meadows swamps and ponds that adorned this stream in the days before the beavers of a continent were turned into top hats. Willow and Popple and their progeny begin the night's work of dam repair, scent marking, tree felling until a soft call alerts them to the arrival of the strange honorary member of their clan, this book's author, Patti Smith. They scramble ashore and poke eagerly about her feet as she prepares to picnic with the beavers and to record the events that transpire on the shores of Popple's Pond. Through the seasons and through the years these records, transformed into interwoven vignettes, invite the reader to enter the world of the beavers and the other inhabitants of the wetlands the beavers have created. Meet Terrible Jack, the lonely moose, Henri the civilized goose, and the myriad small creatures that populate the night forest. The author, a native of this landscape, brings a naturalist's eye and a compassionate voice to these stories. Her life in has been spent pushing at the liquid border that separates species, seeking those moments of connection, and the ultimate gift, the bestowal of trust. After three years with the beavers, readers are invited to accompany the author to two other worlds where different characters await-the wildlife of wild places, and the wildlife of tame places.<br><br><br> Keep this book wherever you have a moment for a short adventure- to follow the trail of a bear cub through the moonlight, enter the low-roofed world of the snowshoe hare, or contemplate the social merits of a bird feeder. <br><br><br> These stories offer respite to those wearied by the barrage of bad news, and a chance to reconnect with the nature that perseveres around us.<br><br><br><br> My ideal reader is very interested in nature, and because I write about the nature of the Northeast, it will especially appeal to residents of this region. It will especially appeal to nature lovers who also love animals, and I mean not just a keen interest in animals, but a heart connection to animals, and so is more likely to be embraced by women than men. Women may also be more in need of role models-women who are comfortable in wild places, alone, especially at night.<br><br><br><br>