Tom Brown's Field Guide to Nature and Survival for Children [Paperback]

Tom Brown (Author)

Book Description

Series: Field Guide | Publication Date: March 1, 1989

No matter what type of outdoor experiences are planned--day-trips to local parks or long wilderness treks--Tom Brown can help children and adults fully appreciate the boundless beauty of our most precious natural resources.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Prolific author, operator of a popular wilderness survival school (in New Jersey's Pine Barrens), "The Tracker" Brown believes that society and school have dulled our sense of the interconnectedness in all nature. His "field guide" stresses awareness, tracking, survival, and a philosophy derived from an Apache elder, and he hopes parents will teach their children these values and skills. The first half of this seventh in a series discusses careful observing in nature; the second, aimed at children aged 4-11, presents survival skills for shelter, water, fire, and food. There are specific suggestions for games to teach these concepts, but the bulk of the text urges teachers (parents) to value the nature ethic. For public libraries, city or country.
- Roland Person, Southern Illinois Univ. at Carbondale Lib.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (March 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425111067
• ISBN-13: 978-0425111062
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #273,708 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #96 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Survival Skills

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You, and your kids, can learn to pay attention to nature., August 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Tom Brown's Field Guide to Nature and Survival for Children (Paperback)

An excellent resource for parents, teachers, etc. I even found many of the suggestions useful for myself and other adult friends. I used many of the exercises with 3rd through 6th graders as a Girl Scout leader.

Be surprised at how little of the natural world you appreciate on a daily basis. Learn to really see and hear.

Also good for general awareness building and personal security issues for kids in urban environments. A good read.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great read and informative book, November 10, 2006

By 

Bryan W. Bradford (Carmel Valley, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tom Brown's Field Guide to Nature and Survival for Children (Paperback)

This is a great book for anyone who is interested in their children's future and well being, as well as strengthening the relationship they share with their children. It is also a great selection for anyone, of any age, who is interested in learning wilderness survival skills and living closer to the Earth. Do not be fooled by the title, this book contains some very advanced techniques that are only taught in some of Tom's most advanced classes. The skills are presented in an easy to learn/easy to teach format and each skill is presented in a way that opens up opportunities to have lots of fun with your children and at the same time pass on invaluable knowledge to them. The book covers most of the basic survival skills such as; Shelter building, where to find water, basic fire making, finding food, easily identifiable edible plants, making tools, cordage, erecting traps and snares, stalking, basic tracking as well as some very advanced techniques such as; camouflage, wide angle vision, night stalking and tracking, lost proofing, Scout games and activities and most importantly a general respect for the Earth and our environment. Highly recommended to anyone, parent or not, who is interested in learning or teaching nature survival skills, and living a more fulfilling life than modern society offers us or our children.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Everyone should know these things, August 20, 2008

By 

A. M. Ferrell (Tipp City, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tom Brown's Field Guide to Nature and Survival for Children (Paperback)

I have this book as well as the one not written for children (Tom Brown's Field Guide to Wilderness Survival). There is much repitition in this book, but the kid specific instruction is very valuable. I put Wilderness Survival in my library and this book in my kids' library. As a Christian, I do not share Tom Brown's spiritual view of the world, but that does not mean that I cannot appreciate the importance of respecting the earth and living at peace and harmony with it wherever possible. I believe my children will profit immensely from this instruction. I have already learned so much about emergency situations and survival, wildlife awareness and how to avoid getting lost. I have also read "Tracker" and "Grandfather," and enjoy the story telling about Tom's friend Rick and his Grandfather, the wise old Indian who taught Tom everything he knows about nature. Again, as a Christian I do not expect everyone and every book to share my views, and can appreciate the wisdom offered in these books.