Why am I passionate about this?

I am an author, illustrator, herbalist, and aromatherapist with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology. I’ve spent years working with native flora and fauna from propagating endangered plants back into their natural habitats and swimming through alligator-infested waters to rescue baby manatees who’ve been abandoned. This list is a look into the wonderful works that have touched me deeply and pivoted me deeper into understanding the world we share.


I wrote

Save the Ocean

By Bethany Stahl,

Book cover of Save the Ocean

What is my book about?

Save the Ocean tells the story of Kaleisha, a mermaid, and Agwe, a silly sea turtle, who work together to…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants

Bethany Stahl Why did I love this book?

I loved diving deeply into my personal connection with Mother Earth.

Robin Wall Kimmerer brings a knowledgeable and spiritual connection that has left me appreciating the native sweetgrass and flora in my yard as something deeper and more profound than their ecological definition. Forever now will I see sweetgrass as the hair of Mother Earth.

By Robin Wall Kimmerer,

Why should I read it?

53 authors picked Braiding Sweetgrass as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Called the work of "a mesmerizing storyteller with deep compassion and memorable prose" (Publishers Weekly) and the book that, "anyone interested in natural history, botany, protecting nature, or Native American culture will love," by Library Journal, Braiding Sweetgrass is poised to be a classic of nature writing. As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer asks questions of nature with the tools of science. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces indigenous teachings that consider plants and animals to be our oldest teachers. Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowledge together to take "us on a journey that is…


Book cover of Hope for Animals and Their World: How Endangered Species Are Being Rescued from the Brink

Bethany Stahl Why did I love this book?

I was handed this book after meeting Dr. Jane Goodall herself and was captivated an inspired by our world’s animals.

This book left me feeling hopeful in the otherwise disparaging world news of habitat loss and species extinction. Remaining optimistic has been a huge part of my journey and this book will leave you with just that: hope.

By Jane Goodall, Thane Maynard, Gail Hudson

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Hope for Animals and Their World as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Interweaving firsthand experiences in the field with premier scientists and environmentalists, Jane Goodall presents a hopeful look at the animals once on the verge of extinction that are now coming back. This book is an illuminating look at how, through the grace of nature and the dedicated work of scientists and environmentalists, we can and are actually saving animal species. Through Goodall's signature impassioned narrative, we read fascinating accounts of how the course of fate has been reversed for these animals. Each chapter illustrates the crucial need to continue saving habitats and the species that live there, as well as…


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Book cover of Ambidextrous: The Secret Lives of Children

Ambidextrous by Felice Picano,

Bold, funny, and shockingly honest, Ambidextrous is like no other memoir of 1950s urban childhood.

Picano appears to his parents and siblings to be a happy, cheerful eleven-year-old possessed of the remarkable talent of being able to draw beautifully and write fluently with either hand. But then he runs into…

Book cover of Evolutionary Herbalism: Science, Spirituality, and Medicine from the Heart of Nature

Bethany Stahl Why did I love this book?

I was captivated by this deep dive into the alchemical side of plants.

Sajah presented the plants in a way that was opposite of my scientific understanding and gave a monograph of a plant's full spirit, challenging me to see the natural world in a way I hadn’t considered before. This book is a true staple in my library and has sparked my yearning to learn alchemy.

By Sajah Popham,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Evolutionary Herbalism as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Introducing a groundbreaking, holistic approach to the practice and philosophy of herbal healing for the body, spirit, and soul.

The first-ever herbalism guide to integrate herbal, medical, and esoteric traditions from around the globe—including astrology, Ayurveda, and alchemy—into one cohesive model.

Sajah Popham presents an innovative approach to herbalism that considers the holistic relationship among plants, humans, and the underlying archetypal patterns in Nature. Organized in 5 parts, this work explores a unique integration of clinical herbalism, Ayurveda, medical astrology, spagyric alchemy, and medical and esoteric traditions from across the world into a truly holistic system of plant medicine.
 
A…


Book cover of Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest

Bethany Stahl Why did I love this book?

I loved learning of Mother Trees and am constantly reminded of this stunning experiment detailed by Dr. Simard in this book to have groundbreaking moments in science paired with a deeply personal dive into individual self-discovery.

This book left me feeling as if I was a part of something greater than the individual self.

By Suzanne Simard,

Why should I read it?

18 authors picked Finding the Mother Tree as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • From the world's leading forest ecologist who forever changed how people view trees and their connections to one another and to other living things in the forest—a moving, deeply personal journey of discovery

“Finding the Mother Tree reminds us that the world is a web of stories, connecting us to one another. [The book] carries the stories of trees, fungi, soil and bears--and of a human being listening in on the conversation. The interplay of personal narrative, scientific insights and the amazing revelations about the life of the forest make a compelling story.”—Robin Wall…


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Book cover of The Alchemy Fire Murder: a Mary Wandwalker Mystery

The Alchemy Fire Murder by Susan Rowland,

A traditional mystery with a touch of cozy, The Alchemy Fire Murder is for those who like feisty women sleuths, Oxford Colleges, alchemy, strong characters, and real concerns like trafficking, wildfires, racism, and climate change. This book especially works for those fascinated by myth and witches in history. Read for…

Book cover of The Herbal Medicine-Maker's Handbook: A Home Manual

Bethany Stahl Why did I love this book?

This book was beyond inspirational on my herbal path to understanding that medicine at everyone’s fingertips.

This book is hands-on but also is written in a thoughtful conversational style that had me feeling as if I was reading a diary left behind from an old friend full of age-old wisdom.

By James Green, Ajana Green (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Herbal Medicine-Maker's Handbook as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

THE HERBAL MEDICINE-MAKER'¬?S HANDBOOK is an entertaining compilation of natural home remedies written by one of the great herbalists, James Green, author of the best-selling THE MALE HERBAL. Writing in a delightfully personal and down-home style, Green emphasizes the point that herbal medicine-making is fundamental to every culture on the planet and is accessible to everyone. So, first head into the garden and learn to harvest your own herbs, and then head into your kitchen and whip up a batch of raspberry cough syrup, or perhaps a soothing elixir to erase the daily stresses of modern life.


Explore my book 😀

Save the Ocean

By Bethany Stahl,

Book cover of Save the Ocean

What is my book about?

Save the Ocean tells the story of Kaleisha, a mermaid, and Agwe, a silly sea turtle, who work together to discover that Agwe's favorite food, may not be what it seems! Enjoy a happy tale of recycling and conservation that inspires.

Book cover of Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
Book cover of Hope for Animals and Their World: How Endangered Species Are Being Rescued from the Brink
Book cover of Evolutionary Herbalism: Science, Spirituality, and Medicine from the Heart of Nature

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From One Cell by Ben Stanger,

Everybody knows that all animals—bats, bears, sharks, ponies, and people—start out as a single cell: the fertilized egg. But how does something no bigger than the period at the end of this sentence give rise to the remarkable complexity of each of these creatures?

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