Most important books: Diane Ackerman

Diane Ackerman's latest book is The Zookeeper’s Wife, the true story of a zookeeper who hid 300 Jews from the Nazis.

She recently told Newsweek about her five most important books. And addressed two related issues:

A book that you always return to:

Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair by Pablo Neruda. Romantic sambas, magical imagery, it's perfect to share with a sweetheart.

A book you hope parents read to their children:

Randall Jarrell's The Bat-Poet. It will flutter into a child's heart.

Read more about Diane Ackerman's most important books.

--Marshal Zeringue