Can you believe it has been almost 40 years since the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970? We've made enormous environmental progress in three decades-Lake Erie has been resurrected from the dead, killer smogs are largely a thing of the past, and no rivers have caught fire in years.

While we've done much to improve and protect the environment in this country, we still face worldwide problems, most notably global climate change. Much has been written about the topic, and most of it is alarmist. Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature and Climate Change by Elizabeth Kolbert is a refreshing departure from the polemics and hysteria often surrounding this issue.

Reading about environmental problems can be discouraging, if not downright depressing. That's why books such as Nature's Restoration: People and Places on the Front Lines of Conservation by Peter Friederici are so refreshing. Friederici profiles seven conservationists working to restore not only individual species but entire ecosystems as well. Another hopeful book is Eco-Pioneers by Steve Lerner. Although published in 1997, many of the projects are still viable today. From greenhouse treatment of municipal wastewater and urban rooftop agriculture to saving heirloom seeds and diverting useful discards from landfills, these are encouraging stories of what "eco-pioneer" thinking can accomplish.

There are lots of "things you can do to protect the environment" books out there, some better than others. As far as environmental advice goes, 365 Ways to Save the Earth falls into what I call the "duh" category. For each day of the year, it offers suggestions such as recycling paper, not dumping into storm drains and planting a tree. Well, duh. But Philippe Bourseiller’s photographs that accompany each day's suggestion more than make up for the unimaginative text. They are a visual reminder of the beautiful places the suggestions are meant to protect.

Recently, I perused a list of classes being offered by a local nature center. It included sessions on tropical rainforests, coral reefs and animals including iguanas, kangaroos and lions. I'm all for having a global view of the environment, but have to wonder-what about the endlessly fascinating world of nature right outside our doorstep? If you'd like to hone your observations skills and explore nature close to home, check out Who Lives in Your Backyard? by Susie Mottashed and Keeping a Nature Journal by Claire Walker Leslie.

For those of you who prefer your environmental reading in fictional form, try some of these books with a subtle (and not so subtle) environmental message:

Animal Dreams and Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
A Friend of the Earth by T.C. Boyle
The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch
Earth Abides by George Stewart
Where the Sea Used to Be by Rick Bass
Walk Gently This Good Earth by Margaret Craven
The Stream by Brian Clark

You can check out these books and more at any Jefferson County Public Library location. Talk to your librarian for more recommendations.