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

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 bought this book along with  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  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.

Just received this book today and we already love it! I spent a lot of time looking for a nutare book like this that my son (2.5yr old) could enjoy now and for years to come. He loves animals and recently became semi obsessed with animal tracks so I was originally looking at just the scat, tracks and signs book but with this book you get that and so much more! We also went ahead and ordered the More fun with nature book at the same time so now we have almost all of this series of books in just two beautifully bound hard cover books. I had wanted more of a true field guide but this is a great start with beautiful illustrations, great for children! I included photos so you can see examples of the layout. Each page is for one animal and gives you a brief description; where they live, what they eat, etc. it is certainly Not comprehensive but it’s a nice reference for us to have at home. It also has 1-2 cute activities at the end of each section, I would say preschool and elementary aged students would enjoy like planting a tree from pine cone seeds or a turtle paper weight craft.

My grandson loves this book and takes it all over with him. It makes learning about his world fun. Great purchase. Bought him a companion book in the series.

Very informative, just what we need for nature studies.

Wonderful information and pictures, but too heavy to carry with us when we go out and about.

Awesome nature study resource for kids in a home school classroom

Excellent