I was recently introduced to Waterford Press.  Although they do print a few “traditional” books, what they primarily do is produce “simplified reference guides that introduce novices to nature, science, travel and languages.”  These are fold-out laminated guides that pack a lot of information into a small space.

For an information addict such as myself, their site is a treasure.  There are over two hundred of these guides – and I wouldn’t mind reading almost every one.  The hard part is choosing!  I had the opportunity to view and review three of these guides that are useful in the average backyard.  We got Bugs & Slugs, Animal Tracks, and Virginia Birds.

It was starting to get cold when these arrived, so my children haven’t been outside as much as they are in the warmer months, and we haven’t used these as much yet as I’m sure we will.  Ariel is pretty excited about them, though.

Folded, the guides are about as big around as a pamphlet (‘though somewhat thicker), so they truly would fit in a (large) pocket.  Unfolded, I’d say they’re slightly longer than ledger paper.  The illustrations are very clear, life-like drawings.

Animal Tracks includes fifty different animals.  Each entry includes a picture of the animal itself, a brief description of the animal and its tracks, and an image of the tracks.  These are sorted into sections based on the number of toes.  There are eighteen birds included, too, but they only have the tracks, with name and measurements (no bird images).  The end of the guide has sections for other “animal signs” (such as chewed nuts, and scratch marks on trees) and for “scat.”  There is even a ruler built into the edge so you can easily measure the tracks you find.

I can see us using this to identify real tracks, but I can imagine several other ways of using it, as well.  I have some photographs of animal tracks from my childhood home; the girls could use the guide to identify the tracks in the photos.  If we really wanted to make a challenging game of it, I’m sure we could even print animal tracks off of the internet, make some “game cards” with them, and draw cards to identify.

Bugs & Slugs is Ariel’s least favorite of the guides we got, simply because she’s a girl, and it’s bugs.  There are sections in this one for Bees, Ants, & Allies; Beetles & Allies; Butterflies & Moths (Ariel doesn’t mind these “bugs”!); Miscellaneous Flying Insects; Grasshoppers & Allies; Cicadas & Allies; True bugs; Spiders & Allies (Ariel’s least favorite section); Household Insects; Freshwater Invertebrates; and Other Invertebrates.  Each entry includes an image, the common name, and the scientific name.  These are followed by the size and a description.

A brief introduction talks about what “bugs & slugs” are, and makes brief reference to scientific Orders.  It then has a paragraph about identifying key features.

Virginia Birds will probably be the favorite around here.  There is an equivalent guide for the birds of most states, as well as a more general Backyard Birds of North America.  This guide contains a whopping 156 birds in four categories: Waterfowl & Nearshore Birds; Doves, Hummingbirds, etc.; Birds of Prey; and Perching Birds.  Each entry consists of a picture, the common name, the scientific name, and a note regarding the bird’s size.  Descriptions are not included, except an occasional note when there is a particular feature to watch for.  For example, the Eastern Wood-Pewee says to “note 2 narrow white wing bars.”  The back cover includes a map with local “birding hotspots.”  I am really amazed at the number of birds in this guide, and might have to make it a challenge to see if we can spot every bird that’s in here!

I definitely would recommend these affordable guides for school or fun – and one of you gets to win the same ones I have.  (Well, except your bird guide will be the one for the state you live in, not the state I live in.  If you live in one of the couple of states that doesn’t have its own, you can choose a neighboring state, or we’ll send you Backyard Birds of North America.)  You know the drill by now – the Rafflecopter widget is below.

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to Missy L.!

Disclosure: Waterford Press provided me with the three nature guides mentioned above, to facilitate this post.  As always, all opinions are entirely my own (and those of my family).