Poole Libraries
Books from Brownsea
A collection of favourite books,
chosen by staff and volunteers
of Brownsea Island
Each season we ask a special person or people to create a collection of
books based on their interests and experience, books that have inspired
them and that they want to share.
Our guest curators this season are the staff and volunteers of Brownsea
Island. The perfect day’s adventure, this island wildlife sanctuary is easy
to get to but feels like another world from the moment you step ashore.
Read on to discover why these are their best books, then try them for
yourself – they are all available to borrow from Poole Central Library. Be
inspired!
Brownsea Island
Brownsea Islander
Jack Battrick
This book is about a man who was born and lived on Brownsea Island during its biggest periods of change,
including the Edwardian heyday, the period of eviction in the 1920s and the National Trust acquisition in
the 1960s. “In my view the best book written about Brownsea Island” Richard, Terry, Brian and John,
volunteers
Book of Poole Harbour
Bernard Dyer & Timothy Darvill
Brilliant book covering the history, social history etc. of the area. Ruth, volunteer
For nature not humans
Peter Moore
For me the most fascinating aspects of these books are the details of the social history and anecdotal
accounts of life on the island before the National Trust. Dan, volunteer
A winsome place
Peter Moore
Many visitors enjoy this reflection of the island during the time it was owned by the van Raalte family.
During this time Mr van Raalte welcomed royal visitors and of course Lord Baden-Powell’s first Scout
camp. For many, this Edwardian era is seen as the island’s heyday. Written by a previous National Trust
volunteer.
The Dorset squirrels
Michael Tod
It has a great deal of reference to Brownsea Island. We and a number of volunteers have loved it. Julie and
Ros, volunteers
The National Trust
Octavia Hill - a life
Gillian Darley
The founder of the National Trust was a pioneer of her time, recognising the public need for green spaces.
Her original ambitions reflect the ambitions that our charity still has today. Pam, volunteer
The National Trust book of the coast
Clare Gogerty
As the National Trust celebrates 50 years of fundraising to save and maintain England’s coastline, this
book is a great way to celebrate all that has been achieved and inspire us to keep going.
Last child in the woods
Richard Louv
As the National Trust is working hard to encourage children to spend time outdoors, this book perfectly
supports what we are trying to achieve
Scouts and Guides
Scouting for boys
Robert Baden-Powell
The story of how scouting began and the part played by Brownsea Island. Many of the activities that the
boys were involved in during the very first camp, still inspire the activities that groups can do at the
Brownsea Outdoor Centre today.
The first Girl Guide
Helen D Gardner
The first ever biography of the extraordinary and often overlooked creator of the Guiding movement Agnes
Baden Powell. Jenny, volunteer
Getting outdoors
50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾
National Trust
An inspirational fun-filled book of ideas to encourage children to get outdoors and learn to skim stones,
climb trees and build a den.
Grow it eat it
DK
A fantastic link to the National trust’s campaign of 50 things do before you’re 11 ¾ and a great way to get
your children or grandchildren interested in the food they eat. This book does not only show you how to
grow it, but also how to eat it. There are recipes for snacks, lunches and dinners that are really tasty and
fun to do.
101 things for kids to do outside
Dawn Isaac
Packed with games, projects, crafts, experiments and gardening inspiration, this hands-on guide will help
children get the most from being outdoors. Sure to get your kids away from the computer and provide
hours of entertainment for the entire family.
365 outdoor activities you have to try
DK
Get outdoors and explore nature with a new activity every day of the year, and for all interests and abilities.
You'll only need readily available materials such as paper, sand, or soil to complete projects. Plus, clear
step-by-step instructions and photos show you what to do every step of the way.
Finding out about nature
Nick Baker's bug book
Nick Baker
Brilliant for all ages that want to know more about mini-beasts and how important they are to our survival.
Geoff, volunteer
How to be a bad birdwatcher
Simon Barnes
You do not have to be a mad keen twitcher to simply enjoy the pleasures of watching birds. Terry,
volunteer
Wild flowers of Britain and Ireland
Marjorie Blamey, Richard Fitter & Alastair Fitter
The is the first fully-illustrated and fully-mapped guide to the British and Irish flora, covering more than 1900
species.
Catching the bug: a sound approach to the birds of Poole
Mark Constantine and Nick Hopper
This book is the perfect accompaniment to the live web camera on Brownsea’s lagoon. Beautiful images,
and CDs with the sounds of the different birds that can be seen there.
Bearded tit: a love story with feathers
Rory McGrath
A funny touching read with a bird-watching theme. Les, volunteer
Britain’s butterflies: a field guide to the butterflies of Britain and Ireland
D.E.Newland
This is a comprehensive photographic field guide to the butterflies of Britain and Ireland, covering the
identification of all 59 butterfly species that currently breed, as well as the 4 former breeders, 9 rare
migrants, and 1 species with unknown status.
RSPB handbook of the seashore
Maya Plass
This book will help you to easily identify and learn about the life cycles and anatomy of the species you
discover along the coast, and features useful sections on the tidal cycle, how to read tide tables, where to
look, conservation and climate change concerns, and who to call should you come across something
unexpected on your next beach visit.
The wild flower key
Francis Rose and Clare O'Reilly
How to identify wild plants, trees and shrubs in Britain and Ireland.
The weather handbook
Alan Watts
The essential guide to how the weather is formed, giving readers the ability to look at the sky and interpret
its signs, and combine this knowledge with information provided by professional forecasts to assess for
themselves what the coming weather is likely to be.
Nature guide trees
DK
From the mighty oak to the monkey puzzle, leaf through Nature Guide Trees, a beautiful guide profiling the
world's tree species.
Dorset fiction
The last runaway
Tracy Chevalier
When modest Quaker Honor Bright sails from Bristol with her sister, she is fleeing heartache for a new life
in America, far from home. But tragedy leaves her alone and vulnerable, torn between two worlds and
dependent on the kindness of strangers. Marlene, volunteer
Old Filth
Jane Gardam
The first in a trilogy. A couple retire from an expat life in Hong Kong to Dorset. It tells the same story from
the husband's and then the wife's point of view. Sue, volunteer
Tess of the D'Urbervilles
Thomas Hardy
Deceit, love, murder and tragedy all told with the backdrop of the beautiful Wessex countryside. Sandra,
volunteer
Captain Blood
Rafael Sabatini
Looking out from Brownsea Island to Blood Alley, a swashbuckling book about pirates is a must. Chris,
staff
Mr Rosenblum's list
Natasha Solomons
Jack Rosenblum tries building a golf course in Dorset as a way of being accepted as a Very English
Gentleman. Sally, volunteer
General fiction
The hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy: a trilogy in five parts
Douglas Adams
I listened to these on the radio when at University and subsequently read all the books. Much better than
the TV series, you really need to use your imagination to get the most from Adams’ gently lateral sense of
humour. Sue, volunteer
Tuesdays with Morrie
Mitch Albom
I read this book for the first time 12 years ago and found myself (not a huge reader at the time) not being
able to put it down. It is in my opinion inspirational whilst making you laugh, cry and consider many things
differently. I have read all of Mitch Albom's subsequent books which are great but for me this is the best.
Trevor, staff
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Richard Bach
A beautiful simple book with fine photos and perfect for those of us who are idealists at heart, Sue,
volunteer
Possession
AS Byatt
A beautifully written book that has many twists and turns with academic intrigue. John, volunteer
One Shot
Lee Child
Lee Child, an Englishman living in New York, has written 19 Jack Reacher novels, all best sellers. His hero
cannot be beaten and always gets the bad guys. Great to take on holiday and lose yourself in remote parts
of the US. John, volunteer
The Alchemist
Paulo Coelho
I reread this at least once a year – it’s a short book but makes you reflect on life and leaves you feeling
positive (if wanting to travel the world a bit). Hannah, staff
The Lincoln lawyer
Michael Connelly
An American crime novel that is fast and plausible. All his novels are an excellent read. Les, staff and
volunteer
The Great Gatsby
F Scott Fitzgerald
Through the narration of Nick Carraway, the reader is taken into the superficially glittering world of the
mansions which lined the Long Island shore in the 1920s. Geoff, volunteer
The Hungry Tide
Amitav Ghosh
The search for the elusive fresh water dolphin with insights into Indian life. Sally, volunteer
Chocolat, The lollipop shoes & Peaches for Monsieur le Cure
Joanne Harris
A trilogy following Vianne through her life in France. Beautifully written with something slightly magical and
mysterious about all three books. Hannah, staff
The kite runner
Khaled Hosseini
A real heart tugger; the unforgettable heart-breaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy
& the son of his father's servant. Jill and Barbara, volunteers
The light years (Cazalet Chronicles)
Elizabeth Jane Howard
The story of three generations of the Cazalet family from 1930s to 1950s; their relatives, children and their
servants, and the fascinating triangle of their affairs. Gill, staff
The hundred-year-old man who climbed out of the window and disappeared
Jonas Jonasson
Alan is a hundred years old today but he doesn't want to stay around for his party in the home in which he
is resident so he climbs out of the window and escapes. Crazily funny novel. Marlene, volunteer
Three men in a boat
Jerome K Jerome
A simple, hilarious - and fairly short - story of three young men (and a dog) taking a few days out to hire a
boat and pootle down the Thames, taking in the sights and rough camping on the way. It is special
because it was probably the first of its kind - written in 1889 and the humour and fun is every bit as relevant
today as it must have been back then. I love it, I love the images JKJ creates and I still laugh out loud at
certain parts every time I read it. If you like polite, crafted wit and gentle, ambling scenery then this is for
you. Reuben, staff
To kill a mockingbird
Harper Lee
A novel that gets inside prejudice & shows it for the falsehood it is. Paul, volunteer
The Lewis trilogy
Peter May
The blackhouse, The Lewis man & The chessmen are based in Scotland and really enjoyable.
'Whodunnits' but much more. Gill, volunteer
The English patient
Michael Ondaatje
A powerful discussion of memory, identity and what being from a particular place means. Chris, staff
Discworld series
Terry Pratchett
Quirky, fantasy stories with lots of parallels with other works. Very cleverly written, very funny and the
more you have read the stories the more you understand the parallels drawn. Hannah, staff
44 Scotland Street series
Alexander McCall Smith
The story revolves around the comings and goings at 44 Scotland Street, a fictitious building in a real street
in Edinburgh. Gill, staff
The light between oceans
ML Stedman
The story of a lighthouse keeper and his wife who face a life-changing moral dilemma when they find a
boat washed up on the shore and inside a body and a crying baby. Judy, volunteer
Historical fiction
The riddle of the sands
Erskine Childers
Often described as the first modern thriller this is a sailing adventure and spy novel set in the Baltic Sea
during the period just before the First World War. It describes the adventures of two young men who
stumble upon, and thwart, a German armada preparing to invade England. Peter, volunteer
Sharpe
Bernard Cornwall
The Sharpe series is fiction based on fact mainly about our wars with Napoleon. Ken, volunteer
The House of Niccolo series
Dorothy Dunnett
This spell binding series invites us to enter the Renaissance world of trade, war and banking as it opens
before Niccolo the charming, elusive genius who seems formed to exploit it. The time is the 15th century,
when intrepid merchants became the new knighthood of Europe. The series consists of 8 volumes. Angela,
staff
Fall of giants
Ken Follett
The first of Ken's Century trilogy. Follow the destinies of five interrelated families, American, Russian,
German, English and Welsh from 1st World war to 1980s. Brilliantly researched and written, the action fastmoving, the characters rich with emotion. Jenny, volunteer
Frenchman's creek
Daphne du Maurier
Historical novel set in Cornwall, pirates, romance all in a beautiful setting. Marlene, volunteer
The island
Victoria Hislop
I read this novel when I was in Crete and visited Spinolonga. It is a story about leprosy before many got the
correct treatment. Jan, volunteer
The thousand autumns of Jacob de Zoet
David Mitchell
An interesting story based on fact about early trading with Japan when it was a closed country. Les,
volunteer
Sarum
Edward Rutherfurd
A beautifully written story of the people who built Salisbury, from the first druids of Sarum to the masons of
the city’s cathedral and beyond. Thelma, volunteer, and Claire, staff
A Suitable Boy
Vikram Seth
An extraordinary tour de force that takes one to the Indian partition and all the tension around it. Despite
the horrors of that time the book is optimistic and beautifully written. John, volunteer
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society
Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Burrows
An amazing insight into life on Guernsey under the German occupation, which is revealed through a series
of letters. Barry and Sally, volunteers
The help
Kathryn Stockett
This book gripped me from the very beginning. It is set in Jackson Mississippi in 1962, when black maids
were entrusted to raise the children of white families but not trusted with the family silver. Val, staff
Poetry
The poems of George Herbert
Ostensibly simple yet rich in meaning. Paul, volunteer
Birthday letters
Ted Hughes
This is a book about love and loss. Hughes published this many years after the death of his wife and fellow
poet Sylvia Plath. Their lives together through poetry. Val, staff
Favourite poems of the sea
Howard Watson
A wonderful anthology of poetry celebrating the British coastline and life above and below the deep blue
sea.
Children’s and teen fiction
Noughts and crosses
Malorie Blackman
A teenage book which describes the difficulties of a friendship between children of different races. Sally,
volunteer
Five on a treasure island
Enid Blyton
I read this as a child and always imagined Kirrin Island to be one of the islands in Poole harbour. Paul,
volunteer
Five have a mystery to solve
Enid Blyton
This book epitomises the spirit of adventure and is based upon Brownsea and the children's adventures in
the waters around it. Paul & Liz, volunteers
The gruffalo
Julia Donaldson
Reading this to both of my children whilst trying to put on different voices instilled in my memory for ever, I
love it. Illustrations by Alex Scheffler are excellent. I think we have the complete catalogue of Julia's
books which are all great. Trevor, staff
Peace at last
Jill Murphy
The very best book for getting children to go to sleep. Chris, staff
Swallows and Amazons
Arthur Ransome
This book is set in the Lake District the adventures and challenges faced by the children on their island
have the same feel as Brownsea Island. Paul & Liz, volunteers
The machine gunners
Robert Westall
My favourite book for getting boys interested in reading. Chris, staff
Stanley Bagshaw and the short-sighted football trainer
Bob Wilson
Nothing much ever 'appens to our Stanley. Must be read with a northern accent! These irresistible comicstrip stories, set in the flat-cap north, are great for reading aloud. Chris, staff
All change
Our Iceberg is Melting
John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber
Based on John Kotter's pioneering work on how to make smart change happen faster and better, the
lessons you can learn from this short and easy-to-read book will serve you well in your job, in your family,
and in your community. Adam, staff
Travel
The voyage of the Beagle
Charles Darwin
Darwin takes us round the world and his observations led to his theory of evolution. Geoff, volunteer
A time of gifts
Patrick Leigh Fermor
The first part of a journey on foot to Constantinople: from Hook of Holland to middle Danube. Elaine and
David, volunteers
The house by the Dvina: a Russian childhood Eugenie Fraser
The riveting story of two families separated in culture and geography but bound together by a RussianScottish marriage. Elaine and David, volunteers
Monty Halls' great escape
Monty Halls
A wonderful diary by the marine biologist as he renovates a cottage on the west coast of Scotland with his
dog Reuben, including his adventures on the way and his relationship with the locals. Sally, volunteer
Daughter of the desert: The extraordinary life of Gertrude Bell
Georgina Howell
The portrait of a woman who transcended restrictions of her class and age, a friend of T E Lawrence.
Elaine and David, volunteers
A short walk in the Hindu Kush
Eric Newby
Eric Newby's first travel book which is almost naïve but enormously enjoyable for making you feel you
could do it. Paul, volunteer
History and memoirs
Stalingrad
Antony Beevor
A harrowing look at one of history's darkest moments. Richard, volunteer
The adventure of English
Melvin Bragg
A very refreshing way at looking at how our language has evolved and is still evolving. Geoff, volunteer
Testament of youth
Vera Brittain
Reveals her life shattered by events of the First World War. Hannah, staff
A short history of nearly everything
Bill Bryson
I love this book because (in the style that only he can) Bill writes about the odd circumstances, accidents
and curious characters which led to so much of the scientific understanding that we take for granted these
days. Dave, volunteer
Not forgetting the 9th
Cyril Grimes and S Fox
This is a secret diary kept during 1944 and 1945 when the author was in India and Burma as a member of
Mountbatten's Forgotten Army. The diary was discovered after being hidden for 60 years. Barry, volunteer
Dorset history in 101 objects
Terry Hearing
Each short chapter gives the flavour of the object to show its importance in the continuing story of a county
rich in the remains of the lives of our predecessors.
The diary of a farmer's wife 1796-1797
Anne Hughes
A fascinating record of daily duties and events great and small on a remote farm. Village characters,
neighbours, births, deaths, marriages are all described. Nothing changes. Pam, volunteer
An evil cradling
Brian Keenan
The gripping and horrific true story of the kidnapping of Brian Keenan by Shi'ite militiamen in Beirut. It is a
well written and moving account of his time shut off from the world. Barbara, volunteer
Cider with Rosie
Laurie Lee
Evocative childhood memories during times of innocence. Rachel and Sandra, volunteers
H is for hawk
Helen Macdonald
When Helen's father died suddenly, she was devastated. An experienced falconer, Helen has been
captivated by hawks since childhood. Now she is tempted to train one of the most vicious predators, the
goshawk. Carolyn, volunteer
The killer angels
Michael Shaara
My all-time favourite history book recommended to me by an American I met in Alaska. The Battle of
Gettysburg; the four most bloody and courageous days of America's history. Two armies fight for two goals
- one for freedom, the other for a way of life. Richard, volunteer
Your local libraries
Poole Central
Dolphin Centre, Poole, BH15 1QE
Branksome
212-220 Ashley Road, Poole, BH14 9BY
Broadstone
10 Story Lane, Broadstone, Poole, BH18 8EQ
Canford Cliffs
Western Road, Canford Cliffs, Poole, BH13 7BN
Canford Heath
Mitchell Road, Poole, BH17 8UE
Creekmoor
34 Northmead Drive, Creekmoor, Poole, BH17 7XZ
Hamworthy
Blandford Road, Hamworthy, Poole, BH15 4BG
Oakdale
Wimborne Road, Poole, BH15 3EF
Parkstone
Britannia Road, Parkstone, Poole, BH14 8AZ
Rossmore
Herbert Avenue, Poole, BH12 4HR
Mobile Library
See the website for schedule of stops or email [email protected]
Find us online at www.poole.gov.uk/libraries
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Brownsea Island
For more information about Brownsea Island and the
National Trust visit http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brownsea-island/
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Poole Libraries, March 2015