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Michigan books can feed the need to read during National Reading Month and beyond

 

March in Michigan: It’s a season of change that may have some still wanting to curl up under a cozy blanket with a good book while others long to stretch out on a beach blanket … with a good book.

March is also National Reading Month, so what better time to consider the wealth of literature for all ages that explores Michigan’s natural wonders and the people who live here?

The librarians at the Library of Michigan in Lansing are ready to help anyone hankering to read about our Great Lakes State, from fictional to factual to field guides and more.

“The value of our waterways and the stories of our great state equally nurture the lives of all Michiganders,” said State Librarian Randy Riley. “Through both reading and experiencing our natural world, we strengthen our minds and expand our understanding of the environment we live in. Each ignites a passion for our state that renews from generation to generation.”

The library’s mission is to collect, preserve, and provide access to the story of Michigan and to support local libraries as community anchors. Its comprehensive collection of Michigan-related material includes books, documents, journals, and more.

And with more than 640 local libraries and branches statewide, plus 11 traveling bookmobiles, chances are Michigan reading is close at hand for almost any Michigander.

The library’s mission is to collect, preserve, and provide access to the story of Michigan and to support local libraries as community anchors. Its comprehensive collection of Michigan-related material includes books, documents, journals, and more.

And with more than 640 local libraries and branches statewide, plus 11 traveling bookmobiles, chances are Michigan reading is close at hand for almost any Michigander.

Pictured: The Water Walker book cover.
The Water Walker book cover

“Michigan’s natural wonders and the people who care for them provide endless inspiration for readers of all ages,” said Eileen Boekestein, environmental education manager in the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). “Whether you love adventure, history, science, or storytelling, there’s something for everyone: books about our Great Lakes, incredible wildlife, environmental champions, and the landscapes that make our state special. March is Reading Month is the perfect time to explore these stories and deepen your connection to Michigan’s environment.”

Pictured: Sail, Steam, and Diesel book cover.
Sail, Steam, and Diesel book cover

For anyone looking to do more than search Google or browse bookshelves, here are several recommended reads and resources for finding something to anyone’s taste:

  • In addition to its own searchable catalog, the Library of Michigan’s Michigan eLibrary (MeLCat) Search gives all Michigan residents free online access to full-text articles, full-text books, digital images, and research information and provides an easy-to-use interlibrary loan system for borrowing books and other materials for free from participating Michigan libraries.
  • Library of Michigan’s 20 Michigan Notable Books for 2025 include several with a Michigan natural setting or focus, including “A Cast Away in Montana” by Tim Schultz; “Funny Story” by Emily Henry; “I Cheerfully Refuse” by Leif Enger; “The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry” by Anna Rose Johnson; “Recipes from the Cedar Swamp: A Cookbook” by Old Time Hawkey; Sail, Steam, and Diesel: Moving Cargo on the Great Lakes” by Eric Hirsimaki, “The Waters” by Bonnie Jo Campbell, and “What Can the Matter Be” by poet Keith Taylor.
  • The nonprofit Library of the Great Lakes, a virtual resource serving the eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces bordering the lakes, inaugurated its Great Lakes Great Read program with two book selections. For children, Joanne Robertson’s 2017 book “The Water Walker” tells the story of an Ojibwe grandmother who walks to raise awareness of the need to protect water. For adults, Sally Cole-Misch’s 2020 book “The Best Part of Us” explores a family’s connections to an island in the Canadian waters of an inland lake just north of Lake Huron.
  • The searchable Read Michigan website offers curated lists of Michigan outdoors- and vacation-focused reads, poetry, notable books and authors, and more.
  • The goodreads website lists books set in Michigan and includes reader ratings and reviews.

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