What a treasure Margaret Renkl has given us in The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year. Truly a book you can dip in and out of, Renkl's keen and beautiful observations of flora and fauna will challenge the reader to layer a filter of wonder over the ordinary. Ruminations on large issues such as the development of her neighborhood and the state of the environment contrast with meditative observations of the migratory patterns of birds and how to lure frogs into her backyard pond. The underlying thread is a state of grace that, if taken to heart, will serve us well.