Rhody Reads: Autumn Adventures

Six books by local authors that will have you ready for fall fun

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Sure, Rhode Islanders love lying on the beach all summer long but the fall is a wonderful time to explore the hidden parts of our state. With cooler temperatures and radiant foliage, you can get out to see your favorite places or visit somewhere you’ve never been before. Check out these six book recommendations to help guide you and your family on your adventure!

The quintessential guide to hiking in the Ocean State remains Walks and Rambles in Rhode Island, by the late columnist Ken Weber. Originally published in 1986, the book has been updated (and retitled) more recently as Weekend Walks in Rhode Island. Weber presents 40 trails, each with its own detailed map, including highlights of the historical and natural significance of the path.

You and the little ones can expand your journeys outside of Rhode Island with Wendy Gorton’s 50 Hikes with Kids: New England. Think of it as a “Choose Your Own Adventure” book for trail lovers. Hikes come in a variety of shapes and sizes to accommodate shorter legs but they’re all intended to encourage a love of nature and the great outdoors. Gorton also makes recommendations by season so you’ll find the perfect locale for any time of year.

But before kids start exploring the outdoors – or for an indoor rainy day activity – check out Dakota Crumb: Tiny Treasure Hunter by Barrington native Jamie Michalak. The children’s book, illustrated by Kelly Murphy of Providence and RISD, follows intrepid explorer (and mouse) Dakota on an adventure seeking out artifacts in Mousehole Museum. There’s so much to see and discover that your kids will find something new every time they pick it up– a fun way to help them learn to investigate the world around them.

Plan adventures discovering our beautiful state with the Rhode Island State Parks Bucket Journal. Find tools and tips to help you enjoy 80 state parks, management areas and preserves, beaches, and historic areas. Rhode Island may be the smallest state, but there is a whole lot to see and do and when you’re finished, you can start all over again. This book makes a great gift for anyone who enjoys a good day trip and appreciates learning about the history and nature of little Rhody.

Look! Up in the sky! Is that a raptor flying over the capital city? If it is, then it most likely has been caught on camera by urban wildlife photographer Peter Green. His book, Providence Raptors: Documenting the Lives of Urban Birds of Prey, shows us how these wild predators have adapted to living in the big city. In his gorgeous photographs, you’ll experience the majesty of hawks, falcons, and other species while also learning what you can do to help them survive in this environment.

Martin “Marty” Podskoch’s Rhode Island 39 Club: Your Passport and Guide to Exploring Rhode Island highlights the best of each of the state’s 39 cities and towns. Readers will find a little bit of everything that makes our small state seem so huge, including annual events, history, and legends, plus cool places to visit and, most importantly, great places to eat. Written in collaboration with a slew of local contributors, you’ll get insider tips on things to see that you might not find on any old tour because sometimes in Rhode Island, “you gotta know a guy.”

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