If there is grass and a few scraggling trees, there will be wildlife, suggests the author of Looking for Mr. Gilbert in this guide to the world just beyond our doorsteps. Whether your yard consists of a small patch of grass or abuts a forest or field, John Hanson Mitchell introduces the plants, insects, and animals that share our world, from spotted salamanders to meadow voles, from snowy tree crickets to ambrosia beetles. Illustrated with Laurel Molk's lovely line drawings, Mitchell's book is organized by season, and includes his reflections on such subjects as the ecology of the woodpile, how the behavior at the birdfeeder mirrors that of the woods, and why you might want to welcome a skunk into your garden.