Customer Reviews

Peterson First Guide to Urban Wildlife (Peterson First Guide (R))

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While it does cover a wide range of wildlife, the drawings themselves are not very realistic - they represent the animal, yes, but not accurately enough to really be used as a teaching field guide, even for non-magors. It'd probably be ok for younger kids, though. There were some magor types of wildlife that I thought should be included that were not (red-tail hawk, box turtle), as well as some that I don't know why they're in there (humpback whale, viruses). The descriptions were short, and included very little as to where the animals were actually found (no idea of range). The plants section was really tiny as well. Needless to say, I'm still searching for a field guide to use in my class.

This compact book, labeled and formatted as a field guide, introduces young naturalists to city wildlife. It ranges widely among organisms in urban areas including many familiar mammals and birds as well as skimming a few bacterium, viruses, protoctists, fungi, and plants into the mix. Including these latter life forms reminds readers that there's a lot of life going unnoticed, much of it too small to even see, right around them. If, however, kids want to identify wildlife around them, the usual reason to get a field guide, including wildlife that literally cannot be seen is out of place. This latter issue rubs especially since so many more likely critters; ones that many kids will see around their neighborhoods, were not included.

Attractive illustrations are offered at one per entry and each entry is described in a few sentences. Don't expect the kinds of details in adult field guides. No information is offered on variations in size and appearance by sexes, ages, and seasons which can be essential for field identification. Nor are ranges presented. What this really offers is a general introduction to the neglected part of nature outside kids' front doors in an easy-to-browse format. For older independent readers.

I read Peterson First Guide to Urban Wildlife cover to cover, since it's quite brief and succinct. It's oddly organized--despite claiming on the back cover that it focuses on the "things you are most likely to see," it begins with a discussion of microscopic organisms including the common cold virus, something everyone is familiar with through experience, and yet not at all likely ever to see. The insect section covers many common household pests including 4 different kinds of cockroaches, but only 4 butterfly species. The selection seems almost random at times; why include trees at all if there is room for only two, and why those two? There are no maps and the information on ranges is often vague. However, despite being very familiar with most of the animals and plants included, I learned a few new things about some of them--for example, that common barnacles are crustaceans, not mollusks.

Overall, this is probably a handy little book for beginners or young people who don't have a lot of opportunity to get far from human habitations. It would make a fine addition to an elementary school library. The writing and illustrations are clear and easy to understand, but anyone with much outdoor experience or a desire to learn more about individual species will quickly outgrow it.

This book includes more of a random assortment of animals, like viruses and starfish, and not just urban animals. There is no mention of what distinguishes an urban habitat from any other. Many entries aren't specific enough about where you can actually find each animal, or what it eats. The mammals and bird sections are pretty good, almost good enough to buy the book. This should have been a larger book about all animals; it is misleading to label this as an urban wildlife guide.

My two boys often ask questions such as "What kind of bird is that?" or "where would we find a vole?" I purchased this book right before two road trips and we made great use of it. My sons were able to differentiate between kinds of birds and bugs while camping in British Columbia. Great book, I plan to build a collection of Peterson's First Guides. Started with this and the caterpillar/butterfly book.

The guide says right on it, for BEGINNING naturalists.
Not to be confused with a comprehensive, highly detailed, professional field guide.
It's SUPPOSED to be for kids!
Sheeesh.