Shades of Nature is a beautiful collection of short poems that transports you right into the thick of nature and you feel surrounded by forests, streams, animals, plants, the sun and the sky.

Nature has a soothing, calming effect on the body and mind. This book of poems has the same effect. It is akin to taking a walk in a forest, gazing at the birds and animals, taking a stroll on the beach, watching the waves, or watching the snow fall, clothing everything in a white blanket.

Some of my favorite poems are Waves (which talks about the movement of waves), This Season Called Spring (which explores the beauty of a night during spring season), The Waves That Tumble (about one's unshakeable faith in God), The Garden, Rare (about the solace that time spent in a garden can offer), Sunbeams (seems to be a poem about summer love), and In Between (about friendship/love).

The power of words is on display here--such simple words, yet woven so beautifully to form eloquent images that you can see in your mind's eye.

Each poem is presented in a different font, which has a pleasing effect. There's good use of whitespace to give an airy feeling, providing the mind an opportunity to dwell on a single poem for as long as you like.

Johnson writes about babbling brooks and raccoons often--seems to be her favorite theme. Not all the poems are cheerful. Some are sad, some are thoughtful, some even hopeful--and all with nature as the backdrop. You get to experience a wide range of feelings through the poems.

This collection is just the right thing when you want a little pick-me-up or you're looking for some solace amidst a busy and tiring day. I felt enveloped by warmth and peace while reading this book. There really is magic in words!