Peterson First Guide(R) to Urban Wildlife (Peterson First Guides) [Paperback]

Sarah B. Landry (Author), Roger Tory Peterson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 20, 1994 | Series: Peterson First Guides (Book 19)

Peterson First Guides are the first books the beginning naturalist needs. Condensed versions of the famous Peterson Field Guides, the First Guides focus on the animals, plants, and other natural things you are most likely to see. They make it fun to get into the field and easy to progress to the full-fledged Peterson Guides.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Roger Tory Peterson, one of the world's greatest naturalists, received every major award for ornithology, natural science, and conservation, as well as numerous honorary degrees, medals, and citations, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Peterson Identification System has been called the greatest invention since binoculars, and the Peterson Field Guides® are credited with helping to set the stage for the environmental movement.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (April 20, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395670691
• ISBN-13: 978-0395670699
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 3.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,642,414 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Only good for kids., August 25, 2000

By 

Emily A. Whitfield (Norristown, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Peterson First Guide to Urban Wildlife (Peterson First Guide (R)) (Paperback)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars City Kids Meet Nature, August 14, 2008

By 

Maggie Brasted "co-author of Wild Neighbors: ... (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Peterson First Guide to Urban Wildlife (Peterson First Guide (R)) (Paperback)

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.

3.0 out of 5 stars a handy little book for beginners, June 13, 2011

By 

Jean E. Gazis "Freelance Writer" (New York City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Peterson First Guide to Urban Wildlife (Peterson First Guide (R)) (Paperback)

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.