Date: 10/6/26 6:35 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 10/11- Costa Rica's Rainforests - book release and book signing
*Join local author and professor emeritus Scott Shumway for the celebration of the release of his book *"Costa Rica's Rainforests".
*Scott Shumway*is an authority on Costa Rica’s rainforests and has visited the country more than thirty times over three decades to study and teach tropical ecology. He is professor emeritus of biology at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts, and the author of /A Naturalist’s Guide to the Atlantic Seashore./
Details below.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
Subject: Celebrate the release of my book Costa Rica's Rainforests Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2026 13:51:08 -0400 From: Scott Shumway <shumway_scott...>
Hi Friends,
I have exciting news. After 14 years of work, my book "Costa Rica's Rainforests: The Natural History of the Plants and Animals of La Selva" has finally been published by Princeton University Press. Please join me to celebrate the release of "Costa Rica's Rainforests" at Tatnuck Bookseller, 18 Lyman St, Westboro at 2:30 on Sunday October 11th. I'll deliver a slideshow talk and sign books. As a special treat Aline Benoit, my college clarinet teacher who first told me to go to Costa Rica, will play a solo piece inspired by the songs of tropical birds.
"A first class field guide. . . . The superb photographs do aid in identification but it is the cornucopia of information that sets this book apart."—David Gascoigne,/Travels with Birds/
“This is a fabulous introduction to La Selva, skillfully covering plants, animals, habitats, and their relationships. Whether you are a researcher, student, or visitor to this extraordinary place, Scott Shumway’s engaging book will be an indispensable guide to its biodiversity. I highly recommend it!”—Carlos L. de la Rosa, former director of La Selva Research Station
“Without even getting your boots muddy, this book immerses you in little-known details of natural history and personal field experiences while providing a panoramic overview of the rich biological diversity and scientific legacy of La Selva’s rainforest and research community. Nature and natural history come alive through engaging writing and breathtaking photos, providing an entry point for readers to launch their own experience of La Selva’s fascinating web of life.”—Robin Chazdon, University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia
“Tiny Costa Rica is a biodiversity powerhouse. The entire Amazon harbors about 150 species of palms, but Costa Rica, which is less than 1% of the Amazon’s size, is home to more than 100. This wonderful new book by Scott Shumway and colleagues documents and explains this Costa Rican biodiversity with a focus on the extraordinary La Selva rainforests. The accuracy of the information, the clarity of the writing, and the beauty of the photographs and maps make this a book that belongs on every nature lover’s shelf!”—Mark J. Plotkin, cofounder and president of The Amazon Conservation Team
“Much more than an identification guide, this book explains what rainforest plants, animals, and insects are doing in the wild—how they grow, reproduce, and interact with other species.//It brings together a wealth of information that will stimulate and enthrall amateur and professional naturalists alike. Engagingly written and beautifully illustrated, it is the book I wish I had had during my first trip to Costa Rica.”—Robbin Moran, curator emeritus of the New York Botanical Garden
“Decades ago, Costa Rica emerged as a leading country in the field of tropical ecology. That is largely because of research performed at La Selva, a facility located in rich tropical moist forest that boasts a high and complex biodiversity. La Selva today remains a nexus of research but has also grown to welcome educational groups and ecotourists. If you want to experience and learn about tropical forests, La Selva is the perfect place. That is why Scott Shumway’s new book is both timely and indispensable for anyone with a keen interest in tropical nature. Rich in both text and color photographs, this book lucidly explains the complex natural history of La Selva. Shumway, a skilled teacher, takes his readers on a vibrant journey from lichens and leaves to monkeys and toucans. This book is sure to take its place as a classic in the field of tropical ecology.”—John C. Kricher, author of/The New Neotropical Companion/
-- Scott Shumway Professor of Biology Emeritus Wheaton College in Massachusetts
Author of: Costa Rica's Rainforests: The Natural History of the Plants and Animals of La Selva Naturalist's Guide to the Atlantic Seashore
