Nature's Notes

Remember when I raved over The Secret Life of Backyard Bugs? Well, this is Judy Burris' and Wayne Richards' latest book: Nature's Notes: Bite-sized Learning and Projects for All Ages 
(c. 2012).  And I've had a tough time trying to review it for the past 2-3 weeks because the kids won't let it out of their sight!

The title Nature's Notes best explains this 6.25"x8.25" (perfectly kid-sized) spiral-bound book.  Each chapter is filled with nature trivia and coinciding projects, such as:

• how to best photo nature
• how to make hummingbird food
• how to distinguish poison ivy
• how take care of a caterpillar until it turns into a butterfly

Think of it as a kid's hand-held, printed version of Pinterest.  There's even lined pages and sketch pages provided in the back for kids to record their own observations.  I also like the folder-like, pocket-flap in the front to hold additional papers, leaves, pressed flowers, etc.

But I especially like how the like-minded authors of Nature's Notes

• encourage kids to find beauty throughout creation by observing and experiencing the natural world around them and 
• spur kids' innate curiosity through hands-on activities and age-appropriate direction.

So check Nature's Notes out for yourself.  Just make sure you have time to look over it before the kids get ahold of it!

Can my young readers spot the hidden animals (there are three)?

***These book images are all used curtesy of the authors' blog: http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/ ***

The Secret Lives of Backyard BUGS

It's spring, and we've been spending most of our time outside.  The kids have been chasing butterflies, climbing trees, and playing with bugs!  Thanks to our friend Caleb, we've enjoyed seeing baby Praying Mantis that had just hatched out of a pod-like house.  Now they watch three caterpillars (that Momma has been keeping alive for several weeks!) in hopes to see evolve from chrysalis to butterfly (fingers crossed).

Needless to say they've all been quite keen on identifying these various creatures.  So we've needed a little help (to say the least) from written sources.

So I dedicate this post to all my "bug" lovin' young friends.  Here's the book that the kids have monopolized for the past few days.  I recommend The Secret Lives of Backyard BUGS by Judy Burris and Wayne Richards to friends of all ages.  The photos are phenomenal!  The explanations are just long enough to inform and just short enough to keep a child's attention span. 

The Secret Lives of Backyard BUGS explores insects of all varieties, from beetles to wasps and icky stink bugs to beautiful butterflies.  Including life cycles and quick guides while identifying host plants, this book presents it all in a simple, easy-to-read format (I know that sounds like a contradiction, but you'll have to trust me!).  Each page has just enough information and pictures to inform without overwhelming the reader's senses.

And I've learned quite a bit along the way too!  I thought all dragonflies were alike.  Au contraire my friends, enter the damselfly.  If you'd like to know the difference, be sure to check out The Secret Lives of Backyard BUGS.  Your kids will thank me!

Update: we watched two of our caterpillars make cocoons!