Notes
(American, b. 1946) Arnosky attended high school in Pennsylvania. Hobbies and other interests: Collecting old fishing tackle and old boats, "not classic boats—just lovely old boats." Arnosky is a self-taught artist and naturalist who has written and illustrated over 100 nature books for children. Kirkus Reviews called his work “first-rate natural history for the youngest.” Aronsky divides his time between Vermont and the Florida Keys. Aronsky, a naturalist in both private and professional life, makes little distinction between work and leisure. He lives in northern Vermont with his wife and two daughters, where the family grows its own food. Arnosky spends most of his days rambling through whatever habitat he is observing for his books. "The life I live is a reward in itself," the author remarked in Horn Book. "I have no weekdays or weekends. I look forward to every day. Except for family events and rare occasions, my schedule is determined by the activities of the animals I choose to study. Realizing that many of his readers do not have ready access to the kind of wilderness in which he lives and works, Arnosky often writes about natural environments that can still be found in or near urban areas. Although he is concerned about water and air pollution and the destruction of the wilderness and its inhabitants, Arnosky is more intent on helping his young readers discover the existing wonders of the natural world than on warning them of the dangers that face it. As he told Bookpage interviewer Lisa Horak, "I am convinced that if you love the outdoors, natural places, and wildlife, you will grow into a person who will consider those factors no matter what work you do. My job is to foster an appreciation of nature and a curiosity about wildlife. I tell kids what I know and let them decide how to think about it. Hopefully they'll use that knowledge and make a difference."