
Looking for something new to do or to inspire you these days? We have you covered. The Flower editors share 12 new books that will nurture your passion for a new hobby, transform the mundane, up your gardening game, or put the joy back in cooking.
1 | The Backyard Birdwatcher’s Bible
We have all been spending more time outside than perhaps ever before, which may make you curious about the fauna that visit our outdoor spaces. The Backyard Birdwatcher’s Bible (Abrams 2020) helps us identify those visitors that chirp and charm us in our quest for fresh air and nature’s balm.

2 | One Color a Day
If you are looking for a fresh way to express your feelings (and what better time) beyond the standard journal, consider using watercolors to mark the days. In One Color a Day: A Daily Art Practice and Visual Diary by Courtney Cerruti (Abrams Noterie 2020), the creative guides us through a meditative and simple way to visually document each day with a little technical advice about painting with watercolor.

3 | House of Print
Love the look of block printing but not sure you could do it yourself? House of Print: A Modern Block Printer’s Take on Design, Colour and Pattern (Pavilion New York 2020) is a love letter to the art. Author Molly Mahon takes us on a guided tour of India’s bustling printing studios and then back home where she teaches how to capture the beauty for yourself by providing step-by-step instruction.
4 | The Elements of a Home
With so many extra hours spent at home, maybe you have become curious about things you use every day like the duvet cover you cozy under to watch Netflix or the chopsticks you use for your Chinese takeout obsession. Question no longer! In The Elements of a Home: Curious Histories Behind Everyday Household Objects, from Pillows to Forks (Chronicle Books 2020), design historian Amy Azzarito sheds light on the secret histories of 63 household objects and pairings. You’ll never take the everyday for granted again!

5 | How to Grow Your Dinner

How to Grow Your Dinner Without Leaving the House by Claire Ratinon (Laurence King 2020) may sound like an ambitious undertaking, but it’s not because you can grow tasty things even with limited space. From selecting what you would like to grow to space planning, gathering the right tools, and sowing and growing successfully, this organic food grower will show you the way. Especially during a pandemic, how wonderful to reduce your need to go to the grocery! Happy planting.

6 | Modern Container Gardening
When your green-thumbed endeavors are confined to a balcony or tiny terrace, you can still create a stylish home garden with the 25 fresh and approachable projects in Modern Container Gardening by Isabelle Palmer (Hardie Grant 2020). We appreciate that Isabelle gives us the time frames for each project so you can decide how ambitious you are feeling. It’s an ideal book for the novice. Joyful and unexpected combinations await your exploration!

7 | The Little Book of Bonsai
Think of a bonsai tree as a new member of your family that needs caring for, but won’t talk back! Learn how to tend to these miniature, sculptural trees in the Japanese tradition with The Little Book of Bonsai by award-winning expert Jonas Dupuich (Ten Speed Press 2020).
8 | Good Drinks
Find yourself heading to the bar cart or liquor cabinet or scrounging in the drawer for your corkscrew a little more often than before Covid-19? We offer alternatives! Good Drinks by Julia Bainbridge (Ten Speed Press 2020) shares a plethora of nonalcoholic options to fuel your senses anytime of the day. These are no Shirley Temples, but sophisticated libations befitting the author’s background as a former editor at Bon Appétit magazine. We love how each recipe is rated by a commitment level from one to four, so you can judge how much energy you want to put into each delicious sip.

9 | Pie for Everyone
If you love baking, but are feeling your repertoire has run its course, this title will reignite your creativity and passion. In Pie for Everyone (Abrams 2020), Petra “Petee” Paredez, the owner of New York’s beloved pie emporium Petee’s Pie, tells you everything you need to know about creating sweet and savory concoctions from the crust up so to speak. A great book for beginners or skilled bakers, you will be inspired and instructed and perhaps a bit hungry!
10 | 100 Cookies
In 100 Cookies: The Baking Book for Every Kitchen (Chronicle Books 2020), Sarah Kieffer takes us on a mouthwatering journey of delectable sweets. In addition to cookies, she includes brownies, bars, and “novel treats.” The close-up photography adds to the book’s appeal—you feel like you can taste the goodies, well almost.
11 | Good for You
Maybe you have been going for the comfort carb fix on a more than regular basis or, conversely, you’ve been downright Spartan in your eating for fear of packing on the Covid-19 ten, 15, or more pounds. There are solutions for both dilemmas. In Good for You: Bold Flavors with Benefits (Chronicle Books 2020), award-winning chef Akhtar Nawab offers vegetarian and vegan recipes filled with innovative and intensely tasty flavors with international flair and a clear goal of making you more healthful. Think beyond tofu—way beyond.
12 | Big Love Cooking
Have you been staring at the jar of pasta sauce in your cupboard and wishing you had an Italian grandmother to whip you up some homemade dishes? In Big Love Cooking by Joey Campanaro (Chronicle Books 2020), the chef and owner of The Little Owl restaurant in New York takes us back to his South Philadelphia childhood. He learned his craft from his grandmother and mother by watching them hovering over the stove nursing a bubbling pot of pasta sauce, the smell of garlic filling the house. Joey shares 75 recipes with hearty shareable portions. He also spills some special ingredients he uses to up the flavor factor. The personal reflections are a joy to read as well.
By Alice Welsh Doyle
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