Birds (National Audubon Society First Field Guides)

Rating:
Summary: An excellent guide despite areas for improvement.
Review: This is, as the professional reviews profess, indeed a much more appropriate book for younger readers than the more encyclopedic, primarily textual guides on the market. The majority of hte book is devoted to a field guide of 50 different common North American birds organized by general shape and habitat (wading birds, ground birds, hawks & eagles, etc.). Each bird is shown in a large color photograph with two or three other similar species given smaller thumbnail photos and descriptions (adding another 125 birds). Although the guide does a good job of providing useful annotations by way or a map showing range and habitat by season, an identification capsul providing details useful in identifying the bird, and a bit about its behavior and diet, it misses two obvious points of interest, particularly to younger readers: a picture of a nest with eggs and a photo or graphic of a feather. Explorers coming across a nest or feathers and wondering what bird made it will find the guide of minimal assistance. Generally, a book well worth it. Hopefully, the next edition will be even better.