I had the pleasure last week of again attending the John Burroughs Association awards luncheon honoring the best nature writing of 2023. This is my third year attending, and it is an event I enjoy very much. Thanks to Ken, who invited me, and thanks to Joan Burroughs and everyone at the JBA for a lovely literary afternoon.
Marina Richie won the John Burroughs Medal for her book Halcyon Journey: In Search of the Belted Kingfisher. Afterwards, I told her I thought that one of the two books John Burroughs ever dedicated was to a kingfisher. It was actually a kinglet. Sorry Marina.
Gary Noel Ross won the award for best nature essay for "A Prairie Royal," which was published in the Feb 2023 issue of Natural History Magazine, about the Regal Fritillary Butterfly and its disappearing tallgrass prairie habitat. All of the award winners were terrific, but I found Mr. Ross' remarks at the luncheon to be particularly entertaining.
The Riverby Awards, for exceptional nature books for youth, went to:
Armando's Island, by Marsh Diane Arnold illustrated by Anne Yvonne Gilbert, about Amazonian deforestation.
Chasing the Sun, by Timothy Musso, about the Arctic Tern.
One Tiny Treefrog, by Tony Piedra and Mackenzie Joy
The Book of Turtles, by Sy Montgomery, illustrated by Matt Patterson
We are Branches, by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Beth Krommes
What Goes on Inside a Beaver Pond, by Becky Cushing Gop, illustrated by Carrie Shryock
It is wonderful to see honored some of the writers and artists who have the passion and dedication to research, write, illustrate and (perhaps hardest of all) actually get published works focusing on the joys, beauty and importance of our natural world. The fact that the awards celebrate and extend the legacy of John Burroughs is particularly gratifying. The awards date back to 1926. That is pretty awesome!
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