All American River

The American River is an important part of the Sacramento Valley, and not just for floating down on a hot summer day. Protecting the environment also means learning about its wonders. An American River Journal, by former newspaper editor Peter Hayes, is a short collection of essays about the flora and fauna of the American River. It reads like a novel—rich with imagery—but is also educational. It’s supplemented with illustrations by American River Natural History Association co-founder Jo Glasson Smith.