Spring is nature’s season of renewal, offering us a chance to welcome a fresh perspective. These audiobooks are the perfect companions as we awaken to the warmth of the season, opening our minds and bodies open to new possibilities. Each title explores the connection between humanity and nature, as well as the cycles of abundance and renewal found in both. The immersive narration styles lend themself to the wonders of our natural world, and our deep connection to it. As we emerge from winter, into a season of rejuvenation and transformation, let these inspiring titles reveal new dimensions of our diverse and enriching world, encouraging mindfulness, reciprocity, and a deeper connection with nature and our world.

THAT BEAUTIFUL ATLANTIC WALTZ
by Malachy Tallack, read by Malachy Tallack
AudioFile Earphones Award

This lyrical novel is the perfect meditation on the relationship between humanity and nature, as well as the bonds within a community. Malachy Tallack delivers a mesmerizing performance in this story told from the perspective of Sonny, a whaler in Shetland, and his son Jack, who is now in his sixties. Jack’s life on Shetland is uncomplicated—until he discovers a kitten on his doorstep. Tallack's deeply emotive narration is both calm and soul-stirring, evoking the heartache of Jack’s memories of childhood and the tenderness that blooms when the kitten opens his heart to those around him. Musical interludes of songs created by Jack, an amateur country musician, are performed by Tallack himself, enriching this moving audiobook. 

THE SERVICEBERRY: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World 
by Robin Wall Kimmerer, read by Robin Wall Kimmerer

We join an outing to gather serviceberries—fruits beloved by birds, and culturally significant to Indigenous traditions. Author and narrator Robin Wall Kimmerer, who is Potawatomi, gently guides listeners through this thoughtful exploration of gift economies and cultures of reciprocity. Kimmerer's narration is both analytical and casual, combining her background in botany with history and sociology while discussing ways that gift economies can operate in small groups and at a larger scale. Listeners will feel transported to a berry patch amid sun and birdsong, while reflecting on Kimmerer’s work and themes of gratitude, reciprocity, and our relationship with the earth.

WHAT THE CHICKEN KNOWS
by Sy Montgomery, read by Sy Montgomery

What better way to embrace spring, the season of rebirth, than immersing ourselves in farm life? Author and narrator Sy Montgomery’s adventures with her flock of chickens, or her "ladies," as she calls them, is filled with joy and enthusiasm that bubbles into her performance. Keenly observant and curious, Montgomery recognizes each hen’s individual call and personality. She also cites studies showing chicken intelligence but points out some darker aspects of their nature, noting they will also mercilessly peck at an injured member of their flock. This insightful look at chickens and what they can teach us about relationships, cycles of life, and adaptation, both charms and tugs at the heart.

THE INSECT EPIPHANY
by Barrett Klein, read by Sean Patrick Hopkins
AudioFile Earphones Award

Take a closer look at life on Earth through the lens of entomologist Barrett Klein, who explores how insects influence our culture and civilization. Narrator Sean Patrick Hopkins’s performance is filled with curiosity and wonder as he takes the listener on a comprehensive tour of the insect world, covering topics such as insects' influence on developments in science and engineering, mind-altering experiences guided by insects, insect dance, and insects' influence on the arts, like music and fashion design. Hopkins elicits awe in the role of these tiny but mighty, and most essential, beings in our ecosystem.

A NATURAL HISTORY OF EMPTY LOTS: Field Notes from Urban Edgelands, Back Alleys, and Other Wild Places
by Christopher Brown, read by Christopher Brown

Spring reminds us of nature’s resilience, its ability to reclaim and thrive in unexpected spaces. With a conversational tone, author and narrator Christopher Brown discusses the wild bounty he encounters on his street in Austin's edgeland. Exploring nature has been a constant part of Brown’s life since he built a home on an empty lot. His observations of foxes, big ants, and birds’ nests are engaging, and delightful, while his disenchantment with gentrification and threats to natural spaces provides a commentary on urban development’s impact on nature. Besides being an inspiring advocate for walking and observing nature in urban places, Brown, and his dream of incorporating urban wild space into cities, is a passionate call to appreciate and preserve wild spaces hidden within our cities, and harmoniously integrate man and nature.

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For more audiobooks that explore the natural world, see AudioFile's Nature Writing curated list.