Soft layers of moss and pine needles carpet the ground as dappled sunlight or misty rain filters through the forest canopy’s branches. Western Washington woodlands can be enchanting. Fortunately these magical places are abundant, covering half the state’s soil. Affording beauty and recreation as well as economic value, they endure as one of the area’s most important natural assets. In Native Trees of Western Washington, Washington State University’s Kevin Zobrist examines regional indigenous trees from a forestry specialist’s unique perspective. He explains basic tree physiology and a key part of their ecology--forest stand dynamics. He groups distinctive varieties into sections, describing common lowland conifers and broadleaved trees, high-elevation species found in the Olympic Mountains and western side of the Cascades, and finally, those with a very limited natural range and small, isolated populations. Numerous full-color photographs illustrate key traits. In addition, Zobrist discusses notable features, offering information about where to find particular species. He includes brief lists of some common human uses, citing Native American medicines, food, and materials, as well as commercial utilization from the time of European settlement to the present day. The result is a delightful and enlightening exploration of western Washington timberlands.

Forty poems portraying the moods, sensations, and experiences of childhood.

In Geology Underfoot in Western Washington, the most recent addition to the Geology Underfoot series, author and geoscientist Dave Tucker narrates western Washington�s geologic tales, covering sites from it�s low-lying shorelines to its rugged mountaintops. The book�s 22 chapters, or vignettes, lead you to easily accessible stops along Washington�s highways�and some trails, too.

Trails specifically selected with younger hikers in mind Tips for family vacation destinations Features easy-to-access “nature fixes” throughout Western Washington Author Susan Elderkin has seen her kids express wonder and glee at discovering insects and flowers, melt down in tearful defiance in the middle of a trail, and triumphantly reach a summit and view. In short, she’s a regular mom who wants to encourage other parents to get their regular kids out into nature too. While Susan is an expert hiker in her own right, it’s her children who helped her to see hiking from a kid’s point of view. The result is Best Hikes with Kids: Western Washington, a fresh and wholly new guide for families looking for quality time together away from their distracting devices. Guidebook features include: 125 hikes—carefully selected and vetted by both parents and children Routes range in length from less than 2 miles (great for toddlers) to as much as 6 miles (for older kids who want to test themselves) Handy info blocks give a quick snapshot of each hike: best season, difficulty, length, high point, and elevation gain 13 “Great Getaways”—weekend or vacation destinations around the state with hiking trails and other family-fun activities Colorful icons indicate star attractions of the hike: splash zone, wildflowers, old-growth, dog-friendliness, stroller-accessibility, and more “Best of” lists make it easy for families to match hikes to their kids’ interests Driving directions, complete trail information, GPS trailhead coordinates, and color map included for each hike Tips on how to motivate kids on the trail, what’s appropriate for different ages, nature facts, and more Whether you’re looking for the best hikes to hug a really big tree; take a fun and refreshing dip; see birds, animals, or waterfalls; go on a winter day; or stuff yourself with berries, Best Hikes with Kids: Western Washington has you covered.

CLICK HERE to download the backpacking trip to "Cathedral Rock" and the hike to "Scatter Lake" from Best Hikes with Dogs Western Washington, 2nd Edition * Guidebook of more than 80 hikes chosen specifically for dog owners and their four-legged trail companions * In a national-park heavy region, Best Hikes with Dogs Western Washington, 2nd Ed. shows you where the dog-legal trails are A great reference for everyone who enjoys hiking with their dog, Best Hikes with Dogs: Western Washington, Second Ed., adds twenty-five new hikes to the sixty in the first edition. Each trail is carefully selected for its scenic value, its lack of crowds, and its safety for dogs. Hikes range from easy 3-mile strolls to routes that require dogged determination, such as the 33-mile trek to Remmel Lake. These dynamic trails will leave your dog begging for more. Just don't forget to bring water! Best Hikes with Dogs: Western Washington, Second Ed. includes the Ten Canine Essentials and gives pointers for sharing the trail with others. Popular guidebook author Dan Nelson covers everything from first aid for dogs and guidelines for the leave-no-trace ethic to detailed directions and an at-a-glance comparison chart of the difficulty level, best season to go, and scenic highlights of every hike.

A little-known story of mutiny and murder illustrating the centrality of smuggling and slavery in early American society On the night of June 1, 1743, terror struck the schooner Rising Sun. After completing a routine smuggling voyage where the crew sold enslaved Africans in exchange for chocolate, sugar, and coffee in the Dutch colony of Suriname, the ship traveled eastward along the South American coast. Believing there was an opportunity to steal the lucrative cargo and make a new life for themselves, three sailors snuck below deck, murdered four people, and seized control of the vessel. Mutiny on the Rising Sun recounts the origins, events, and eventual fate of the Rising Sun’s final smuggling voyage in vivid detail. Starting from that horrible night in June 1743, it narrates a deeply human history of smuggling, providing an incredible story of those caught in the webs spun by illicit commerce. The case generated a rich documentary record that illuminates an international chocolate smuggling ring, the lives of the crew and mutineers, and the harrowing experience of the enslaved people trafficked by the Rising Sun. Smuggling stood at the center of the lives of everyone involved with the business of the schooner. Larger forces, such as imperial trade restrictions, created the conditions for smuggling, but individual actors, often driven by raw ambition and with little regard for the consequences of their actions, designed, refined, and perpetuated this illicit commerce. At once startling and captivating, Mutiny on the Rising Sun shows how illegal trade created demand for exotic products like chocolate, and how slavery and smuggling were integral to the development of American capitalism.

"Finding Home in Schools is primarily written to those readers who are BITOC as they negotiate and navigate the teaching profession, from pathway programs, to teacher education, and into the teaching profession. Along with academic concepts that assist those readers in making sense of their own experiences, it provides loving advice to those BITOC readers in the hopes that this will sustain them into and through the teaching profession"--