Fun With Nature: Take Along Guide (Take Along Guides)

I bought this book along with [[ASIN:B000CKE8WE Carson Adventure Pak Containing 5x30 Binocular, Lensatic Compass, Flashlight, & Whistle/Thermometer]] so that we could start bird-watching and taking nature walks as a family. This book does not have much on birds, but the companion book [[ASIN:155971624X Birds, Nests & Eggs (Take-Along Guides)]] can be purchased separately for bird watching. Although this book is hardbound and heavy, it is still compact enough to insert into a backpack and take along on a nature walk or hike. This book is actually a compilation of six different books: two written by Mel Boring, three written by Diane L. Burns, and one written by Leslie Dendy. Illustrations for all six books by Linda Garrow.

We have already completed the "Make a Pinecone Snackbar" activity, and my daughter wants to complete the "Make a Toad House" activity next. This book is great and will keep children and adults entertained as a family for some time. I like the scrapbook that is provided at the end of each book for notes and observations. FIVE STARS!!

Here is a break-down of the book:

Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies (Mel Boring) - Introduction, a sub-section on Caterpillars, a sub-section on Bugs, a sub-section on Butterflies and Moths, an activity at the end of each sub-section, and a scrapbook at the end.

Frogs, Toads and Turtles (Diane L. Burns) - Introduction, a sub-section on Frogs, a sub-section on Toads, a sub-section on Turtles, an activity at the end of each sub-section, and a scrapbook at the end.

Snakes, Salamanders and Lizards (Diane L. Burns) - Introduction, a sub-section on Snakes, a sub-section on Salamanders, and a sub-section on Lizards, an activity at the end of each sub-section, and a scrapbook at the end.

Rabbits, Squirrels and Chipmunks (Mel Boring) - Introduction, a sub-section on Rabbits, a sub-section on Squirrels, a sub-section on Chipmunks, two activities at the end of the Rabbits sub-section, one activity at the end of the Squirrels sub-section, two activities at the end of the Chipmunks sub-section, and a scrapbook at the end.

Tracks, Scats and Signs (Leslie Dendy) - Introduction, a page on safety, a sub-section on The Forest, a sub-section on The Field, and a sub-section on The Pond, an activity at the end of each sub-section, and a scrapbook at the end.

Trees, Leaves and Bark (Diane L. Burns) - Introduction, 16 sub-sections on various trees, four activities, and a scrapbook at the end.

Update 8/2018: I stand by my review. This book has been awesome! Kiddo is almost 3 now, and we still regularly pull this one off the shelf and he will pour over it. It inspires him to ask soany questions and get interested in how things grow and work. This is also a frequently requested bedtime book when we are low on new library books. We've also brought this out with us a time or two and used it to look up things we've found and seen and it's been pretty useful. This is one of my favorite children's books out of our own massive personal library. This would also make a fantastic gift for the young nature enthusiast.

Six books in one from this series, great value for the money. Cover is high quality, old school textbook thick (but not as large or heavy, easily fits in my toddler's backpack) and the pages are thick and shiny, very high quality. I've included some photos to help you decide on if this is the book for you.

While I wish that there was more actual content included in this book, this is a great backyard guide for the young explorer to cover a majority of topics one may find on their local hikes, camping, or backyard trips and so I couldn't knock a star for that. This would pair beautifully with more comprehensive guides to local insects, wildlife, or plants for example. I bought this book to give to a 2.5 year old who's recently become interested in earth science for his Easter basket (will update back after he receives it and uses it). Each section is wonderfully outlined and easy to read through for both child and parent, including different life stages of the plant/animal, where to find these things, and what they should look like. Although the images aren't real photographs and are instead high quality drawings of habitats and animals, they are highly attractive. I imagine an older child could get just as much out of this book as the younger child, especially since this book includes room for scrapbooking artifacts, drawing space, or photos after each topic as well as a solid activity to get the child involved in the activities. Some of the suggested activities are classics I did as a child in Indian Princesses/Guides, and other activities are new to me. I'm going to really enjoy going through this with my son, and I know that he's going to love the animal topics especially. I'm excited to eventually acquire the next volume in the series, More Fun with Nature, which includes five more volumes of practical, nature study books.

I did find it kind of funny though that one of the more rare and deadliest lizards in the United States was included in this book, the Gila Monster. As we used to live in an area where this creature inhabited, I would highly advise someone not to encourage their child to approach this animal if they actually see it, but I still find it cool that it's included. Although more common species would be of more benefit to be included in this volume (I guess if you brought this book the zoo it may be more beneficial as you might see a Gila there). I saw a lot of reviews giving this book to an older child, but I wanted to include my review because I think this is totally suitable for the preschooler/toddler who's starting to understand and get interested in the outside world around them.

I cant recommend this book enough, the layout and subject matter covered is great. I recommend this to parents and teachers alike.
Simply wonderful.

We already owned Birds, Nests, and Eggs from this series and had the others from the series on our wish list. I was very pleasantly surprised to find this gem which has several books from the series packed into one volume for less than half the price of buying all the single editions, and in hardcover no less! We bought both this one and its sister book More Fun With Nature, but the boys loved this most. With lots of accurate pictures and descriptions of lizards, frogs, bugs, squirrels, and (sigh) yes, hilarious scat (boys), it has proven a great educational tool and just a plain ol’ interesting book to look through. Easy little projects interspersed throughout are a fun bonus.

This book is one of a series that helps kids look a little more closely at the animals, insects and nature in general around us. Each section has the where's, why's and what's of dozens of animals, trees and foliage, insects, small creatures and lizards. The ones in this book will most likely be encountered by children in their daily outdoor activity. This particular book is a good one to start with, especially with younger children. The other books expand on one chapter and have many more examples of their particular subject. For instantance, in CATERPILLARS, BUGS AND BUTTERFLIES, there are more examples of each catagory.

I especially like that there is a place after each chapter for your child to put their own discoveries, in the form of drawings, photos, poems or stories of their adventures.

Book was well packed with another book and arrived on time.

This is a nice educational book about all the things found in nature but it is not a "take along guide".
This book is heavy!!! I can't see young children carrying this thing around on a camping or hiking trip.

We homeschool our children and love this book. It is organized by different types of animals and trees and is filled with beautiful illustrations and useful information. You learn everything from animal habitats to identification through those habitats and even animal scat (poop)! The pages are thick and also provide room for drawing or writing. The hardcover makes it sturdy as you will want to use this book again and again.

this book was very informative and nice for teaching kids nature
slonina nature photography
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Well written guide with well done illustrations. A type of guide book that will be used even more as the children develop higher reading levels. Gift was for a 5 year old.

This book is pretty much the best book we own. Our kids pull it out to look up information for almost everything they see when we go camping. I think it is the most used book we own. The kids who use it are 6 and they love the illustrations in it. Highly recommended.