Curious Naturalist (National Geographic) [Paperback]

Jennifer L. Ackerman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1998 | Series: National Geographic

This indispensable guide encourages the practicing amateur to become an expert in the natural world. In tours of nine North American ecosystems ranging from backyards to woodlands, mountain peaks to sandy shores, a diverse group of experienced naturalists show how to approach nature with a trained eye. Special features include:

* Hundreds of photographs and dozens of specially commissioned watercolor paintings that illustrate the rich array of plants and animals, and their exquisite adaptations to the world we share with them.
* Detailed drawings for easy-to-make tools such as a pond viewer and a home barometer. Step-by-step instructions for pressing and mounting plants and making casts of animal tracks.
* Expert explanations of simple field techniques such as recording animal sounds and calculating the distance of a thunderstorm.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-- A book that introduces beginners to the delights of studying natural phenomena. Neophyte naturalists learn how to develop a well-trained eye under the guidance of expert nature writers and photographers by observing a wide variety of ecosystems. Also included are accurate watercolor paintings showing hidden interiors of gardens, ponds, and animal dens. Instructions and graphics enable readers to build simple equipment such as a pond viewer, to make casts of animal tracks, to keep journal notes and sketches, and to locate fossils. A useful addition to ecology and natural science collections.
- Mary T. Gerrity, Queen Anne School, Upper Marlboro, MD
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic (March 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792273567
• ISBN-13: 978-0792273561
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,811,225 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Essays, Lacking in Specifics, June 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Curious Naturalist (National Geographic) (Paperback)

THE CURIOUS NATURALIST is an outstanding collection of well written, easy to read, and informative essays about the various biomes of the natural world. A famous naturalist examines each biome in detail, often detailing his or her account of the flora and fauna in that area with tidbits of personal experience. Excellent pictures, coupled with nature study techniques and field observation tools, enhance the book's descriptions and down-to-earth information on the biomes. A major drawback, however, is the book's lack of specifics; that is, there is not much mention of specific wildlife of observing nature in a specific region. After all, woodlands in the east coast are definitely different than those in California. Still, this was a helpful, engaging, and valuable book, which has aided me many a time in my own natural investigations. Great for beginners and experts alike.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lesson on how to see the world..., December 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Curious Naturalist (National Geographic) (Paperback)

I fell in love with this book's large, beautiful pictures and easy reading. This is not a book for someone who wants step by step information on how to do something, but for someone seeking to learn how to view nature around us so that we can then learn from it. This book has all the quality of a National Geographic magazine built-in. Essays on all kinds of environments discuss some weather, flora, and fauna, and their interactions. Great book for those who love the out-of-doors to cuddle up with. This one has a special spot on my shelf.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed., September 8, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Curious Naturalist (National Geographic) (Paperback)

I bought this book thinking I'd find something wonderful by Diane Ackerman in it, and I did, but it's a short essay anthologized from her magnificent "A Natural History of the Senses." The other essays are good, but no one writes about nature the way Ackerman does. If you're an Ackerman fan, you're much better off buying "Senses" to learn how to watch the sky. Or two of my personal favorites: "The Rarest of the Rare" and "The Moon by Whale Light," which are both incredible hymns to endangered animals and ecosystems.