Customer Reviews

Peterson Field Guides: The North American Prairie

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This is not a guide to all the different types of plants and animals you'll find in the prairie, nor to how the ecosystem works. The book is a state-by-state (with some Canadian listings also) description of prairie preserves accessible to the public. Two or three preserves in each state are given fairly detailed descriptions (half a dozen pages or less) and several more preserves in each state are given a couple of paragraphs each. Each preserve description contains information on the outstanding features of that place; sometimes these are geological, but more often plants or especially animal. Some minimal climate data is included, and an important paragraph on when are the best times to visit.

Much of this information is available in fragmentary form over the internet, but it is worthwhile to have this consolidated complete in one place, and in a form you can take on a road trip. A good guide to seeing this ecosystem (which is highly endangered and doesn't get nearly enough attention, though not a "great" book.

I wanted learn something about the prairie system that once existed in North America and thought this book would be a good choice for doing that. I bought the hardcover edition because I had the idea that it would be a little more durable, it's coatpocket sized but be sure your pocket is well made, this little book is heavy(seems to be put together better than I'd expect for a paperback too).

The first 82 pages cover the area in general with sections on history, plant biology, wildlife and insects, and a short bit on Human life there too. Most of the pictures in the book are found in this first part.

The bulk of the book covers the various prairies in the U.S. and Canada with a chapter on each state or province (one small map for each). You'll get a short history/description of each major prairie as well as information on some of the plant and animal life to be found there. Directions are given for finding each place. Information on best times to visit, hiking/camping, weather and a phone number or two for more information are also given. In addition to the main prairies, at the end of each chapter there's a listing of, I guess, lesser prairies with not much more than phone numbers, a very short description and directions.

I would have liked more pictures of the individual prairies to get a better idea of what each one looks like, plant, bird, animal and insect pictures would've been nice too. There's so much information/territory covered here that your eyes can almost glaze over from looking at it. It might be enough to help you decide which one to go to on vacation but if you want more detail on a specific location you'll need to go elsewhere. There are 5 websites on page 496 that I haven't tried, they might be of some help.

This Peterson Field Guide is an enormously interesting and valuable aid to exploring the North American prairie. The authors tell you when to go, how to prepare and what you can expect to see - from flowers to wildlife to artifacts to geological features - in 18 states and provinces. And they tell you about the history of what you're seeing: "Grass has been around for a long time, perhaps 50 million or 60 million years." So there is a lot of history out there - and this guide is full of its gems. In reading about prairie areas that I know well, I found the guide to be unfailingly accurate - while its great depth and breadth of knowledge were able to surprise me with a little something unexpected at each prairie area.

For instance, in the Comanche National Grassland, you'll learn about Colorado's Dust Bowl drought, dinosaur tracks, Lesser Prairie-Chickens, kites - and a river whose name changes over time from the Spanish "Rio de las Animas Perdidas en Purgatorio" (River of Lost Souls) through the "Purgatoire" and sometimes ends up in the western cowboy "Picket Wire." In the Pawnee National Grassland you'll learn about a sign that quotes a long ago Pawnee chief who said "Grass no good upside down." In the 1930s farmers found out that he was right - this was land that would blow away in the Great Depression wind without the native grasses to hold it down. All these gems add up to a timeless sense of a timeless place - the North American Prairie. Highly recommended.

The North American Prairie, by Stephen R. Jones and Ruth Carol Cushman, is a book of unending delight. First, the book itself is very well done and is an excellent resource for understanding the prairie. The book starts with an excellent and authoritative, but easily understandable survey of the ecology of North America's prairies, with maps and many excellent photos. The main body of the book is a state-by-state and province-by-province description of the main sites where the public can gain access to prairies. This section contains numerous excellent essays on many of the interesting prairie species and natural and human phenomena inherent to the prairies. Second, the book not only tells you about the prairie, even more importantly it is a passport to the prairie. The authors encourage readers to go and see and discover for themselves, and provide invaluable information concerning where to go, when to go, and what to look for. Once readers do that, they will find an extraordinary world, one that is often overlooked or missed. By giving you both the reasons and the tools needed to find, understand and appreciate the prairie, the authors have accomplished one of the highest goals of education-to facilitate discovery. The North American Prairie is one of the most enjoyable and useful natural history books I have read in a long time. Any naturalist who has an interest in the prairies of North America, and any one who wants to learn about new places and environments should have this wonderful book, and better yet, to use it to the fullest in the field. Highly recommended.

First, this not a normal field guide in the sense that it is an aide to the identification of animals or plants. Rather, it is a guide to to where you can find remanent and restored prairies in the Great Plains. The area covered stretches from Indiana to Montana and Texas to Alberta. The main prairie sites in each state or province are described in seperate entires.

Each site is described three to four pages and each section is broken into sub-sections: description of the site and major natural history highlights (usually about two pages), hiking, camping, best times to visit, information and how to get there, a weather summary and a short wild life list. I should add, there is a short list of other sites to visit at the end of each state or province summary. These other sites are described in a short paragraph.

The book has a very good essay on the ecology of North American prairies. It is very informative and well worth reading. There is also a summary of the most common wildlife and plants (with pictures) that you can find at the sites.

All in all, this book provides you with an excellent overview of the prairies that are left in North America. It is very informative and well written. The site descriptions are particularly good. The provide enough information to whet your appetite and ensure that you want to visit every site!

This book is a welcome addition to any field guide collection, especially if you are traveling the Great Plains. All of the major grasslands and national parks are covered, which makes this a perfect book to take along on your Great Plains natural history vacation! Enjoy!

There are great written accounts in this book, but more pictures would benefit anyone using this book from a beginning biologist to a seasoned professional. It may be better if the book was seperated into about 4 parts. Peterson guides are a good bet for anyone beginning, but I would suggest seeking this out in your local bookstore before buying on here because you may be able to get a lower price on Amazon, but you may not get the book you necessarily thought you were ordering with respect to the books content and ability to convey information in the manner needed.

The North American Prairie is a wonderful guide for those who know the prairie and those who wish to. This guide focuses on 48 prairie preserves and includes a comprehensive and entertaining array of information, including the plants and wildlife of each area, its natural history, and its unique features, such as fireflies or wood lilies. It is illustrated with amazing photos that capture the singular beauties of the prairie, as well as a full complement of practical information for visitors, such as weather, optimal times to visit, and information on hiking and camping.

The book is beautifully written and filled with rich details. It is informed by a deep knowledge and appreciation of this varied and often under-appreciated area, and infused with poetry that makes this book not a dry guide but a living, breathing work of art as well as science. For example:

"Magic happens when, under a prairie sky, you are lulled to sleep by owls and awakened by meadowlarks."

This is an absolutely wonderful book and an essential part of any nature lover's library.