The New York Times bestselling author/illustrator of “Ornithography,” Jessica Roux” is the featured speaker at the first Reading with Wings event of 2025. Reading with Wings is a collaborative program of the Southwest Harbor Public Library and the Wendell Gilley Museum, offered at no charge to all. This event will be via Zoom only. Free to all, but registration is required.

“For centuries, cultures around the world have looked to birds for meaning, often relying on these creatures to teach moral lessons, illuminate history, foretell victory, or warn of doom,” says Roux in the introduction to “Ornithography” which explores the way humans have revered, feared, and spun tales about birds through the centuries.

Ms. Roux will join us online from Nashville, Tenn. to share tales from the book and her process in creating it. “Ornithography” includes 100 entries, each dedicated to a specific bird species, showcasing Roux’s enchanting artwork alongside fascinating lore and historical significance of each.

She is also the author/illustrator of “Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers,” and “The Wheel of the Year: An Illustrated Guide to Nature’s Rhythms.” She is the illustrator of many more books including “Jane Austen’s Garden: A Botanical Tour of the Classic Novels,” and the Folklore Field Guides for children including “A Natural History of Dragons,” “A Natural History of Mermaids,” and “A Natural History of Fairies.”