Wild and woolly knitted animals A naturalist's notebook

Designer Kellner (Knits for Kitties) blends nature guide with knitting know-how in this fun collection of stuffed animal knits for seasoned crafters. "Animals make our world a better, more beautiful place to live in," the author writes, and her 25 projects highlight common creatures along with "some you'll probably never get a chance to see in real life." There's a pale green speckled rainbow trout, a vibrant red squirrel (and its more common counterpart, the eastern gray squirrel), a mallard duck with spot-on details down to the webbed feet, a black-headed bunting's nest complete with eggs, and a timber wolf in a howling position. Each project comes with a sketch of the subject and naturalist notes, in which readers learn, for example, that baby elephants lose their first set of teeth and tusks "just like humans," wood pigeons store food in a pouch on their chest, and western meadowlarks tend to build their nests on the ground. Newbies should be advised that the training wheels are off here; the instructions are detailed and Kellner jumps straight into the projects without offering a tutorial on basic techniques. Knitting pros with a penchant for the wild will find this a treat. (Oct.)

In this collection of 25 knitting patterns, Kellner (Knits for Kitties) combines a naturalist's eye with a knitter's sensibility. She states that these might not be the best option for new knitters, but beginners who can knit in the round and are willing to learn new things should be able to complete the projects. The clear, thorough instructions for each pattern back up this claim, although the multiple pages for each project might seem daunting at first. The constructions combine flat knitting along with knitting in the round, and occasionally, intarsia and embroidery. Each pattern begins with gorgeous scientific illustrations by Kellner's son and handwritten facts about the animal by her daughter. The patterns range from animals common to most of North America, such as the brown rat, the mallard duck, and the Eastern gray squirrel, but there are also chimpanzees, Asian elephants, and European hedgehogs. Photos of the completed projects show coloring and shaping that are true to life. The adorable animals would make lovely gifts for children, science enthusiasts, and animal lovers. VERDICT This is a lovely blend of science and craft. Recommended for most public libraries.--Caitlin Loving