The Naturalist's Notebook

 

About the book

Become a more attentive observer and deepen your appreciation for the natural world. The unique five-year calendar format of The Naturalist’s Notebook helps you create a long-term record and point of comparison for memorable events, such as the first songbird you hear in spring, your first monarch butterfly sighting of summer, or the appearance of the northern lights. Biologist Nathaniel T. Wheelwright and best-selling author Bernd Heinrich teach nature lovers of all ages what to look for outdoors no matter where you live, using Heinrich’s classic illustrations as inspiration. As you jot down one observation a day, year after year, your collected field notes will serve as a valuable record of your piece of the planet. This deluxe book, with a three-piece case, gilt edges, a burgundy ribbon bookmark, and a belly band with gold foil stamping, is a perfect gift for all nature lovers.

My Thoughts

This notebook is divided into two sections - one to teach you on how to become more observant and see what the nature can show us and the 5-year calendar journal.

The first portion of the book is composed of six chapters which will help you become more attentive to your surroundings and become an observant naturalist.   It will provide you with tips and tricks on how to observe the nature wherever you are and will give you some useful tools to have on hands.  One specific chapter provides some ways of learning through the seasons.   The first 95 pages will be instructive on how to become an observant naturalist.

Here are some examples of the pages found in the first section of the book.

The second portion of the book contains the 5-year calendar of observations.  The pages are presented like the example below.  You can use this notebook for a period of five years if you are dedicated in doing so every year or you could span it to every second year if you prefer to make it last longer.   One thing is for sure, you need to spend time outdoors to be able to fully use this book. This notebook will allow you to track the changes happening in the natural world around you.

In conclusion, if you enjoy the outdoors and take the time to stop and observe, you will enjoy having this notebook in your backpack to jolt down your observations.

This book can be found at your favorite bookstore.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Allen for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Zen Doodling

 About the book

Today's hectic lifestyle can leave us burned out. It's no wonder that more and more people are engaging in healing activities such as yoga, meditation, and massage. Artistic expression is also a great way to de-stress. Barron's Zen Doodling, combines the calming benefits of meditation with the soothing effects of drawing for a unique new take on relaxation.

Zen doodling doesn't require any artistic training, and there's no need for special tools or equipment. With just a pen and a scrap of paper, many find that the simple repetitive nature of drawing patterns is spiritually rewarding and can boost creative confidence.

Here, professional illustrator and artist, Carolyn Scrace offers simple instructions and tons of beautiful examples that will inspire artists of all levels to get started in this unique art form. You'll find:

• A range of exercises from simple patterns using lines and shapes, to more complex mandalas, portraits, and even unique personal alphabets that incorporate depth and color
• Great ideas for adding a Zen touch to fabric, journals, china, glass, and more
• Basic lessons on color theory, light and shade, and a helpful glossary of relevant terms
  
  With down-to-earth language and engaging design, Zen Doodling offers a distinctive approach to artistic creativity, and a method for achieving personal serenity.

My Thoughts

I personally find it relaxing and calming to draw whenever I can.  It takes time and patience to get something you have in your mind on a piece of paper.   I remember doodling when I was in school on the side of my paper.  Today doodling has become more sophisticated and can become a piece of art in itself.  We can find numerous books on doodling on the market.  Today I am writing about Zen Doodling.

The book is divided into five sections covering the basics, mandalas, how to be inspired, techniques to experiment, as well as how to use doodles daily.

The book is colorful and offers a ton of ideas to develop your doodling on the go. You will find interesting doodle exercises that will inspire you to be better at it and create your own at some point. If you love to doodle this book can definitively inspire you to expand on your doodling skills.

This book is available at your favorite bookstore.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Allen for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

The Sickening History of Medicine

 The Sickening History of Medicine books  are published at Lerner Books publishing.  It is a series who will take the readers through the history of medicine, using fascinating and sometimes gruesome illustration to describe ancient epidemics, early remedies, and the scientific discoveries that broght us to where we are today.

I have received four titles from this series.

Plague! Epidemic and Scourge Through the Ages

Being sick is horrible but it used to be worse.  Inside this book, you will see evidence of the plagues of the past- rotting skin, dissolving lungs, and sinister swelling all over the body. Diseases like the Black Death wiped out whole towns and villages.  Tuberculosis consumed young people like a bloodsucking vampire.  Smallpox left its victims scarred for life - if they survived.  At the time, no one knew where these killer diseases came from or how to treat them.  Eventually, doctors discovered how these diseases and others were spread.  Being sick isn't quite as sickening as it was in the past.

Strange Medicine, A History of Medical Remedies

It is easy to take a pill when we aren't feeling well.  But did you know that the art of making medicines goes back thousands of years?  Early remedies weren't always so easy - or effective.   Some seemed downright disgusting.  Wine infused with a venomous snake was used to cure fatigue and hair loss.  Snail slime soothed burns, and a mixture of ear wax and mud treated headaches.  Discover more about how medicine was practiced centuries ago and how, eventually, scientists discovered some truly amazing remedies, from the magic bullet that treated syphilis to the insulin used for diabetes.

Quacks & Con Artist, The Dubious History of Doctors

People have always needed doctors. But the doctors of the past might not look like the doctors you are used to seeing!  Sometimes their healing methods were weird, disgusting, or even dangerous.  Doctors in the Middle Ages sniffed patients' urine to diagnose disease, and barbers might cut off a person's injured arm or leg.  The ancient Chinese fought smallpox by blowing powdered pus up the nose.  Many of these old remedies turned out to be dangerous, but others paved the way for modern blood transfusions, vaccines, and anesthetics.  If you're not too squeamish, read this book to learn more about the history of doctors.

Tiny Killers, When Bacteria and Viruses Attacks

Invisible microbes cause sickness by invading our bodies and multiplying.  But doctors didn't always know that sickness was caused by germs.  Most people thought diseases came from smelly, damp air.  But over time, those ideas changed.  A Dutch scientist saw bacteria through his microscope.  Doctors realized that when they washed their hands, fewer people died.  And a doctor in London recognized that disease could spread through contaminated water.  Because of these discoveries, people eventually learned that hygiene was the key to stopping disease.  Hospitals used clean surgical instruments, and cities developed trash removal and sewage systems.  Learn more about the discovery and defeat of bacteria!

My Thoughts

The books are beautifully illustrated and contain fascinating information. The information found is short and direct.   It is easy to read in one sitting or for reading assignments.   I think they would make great starting reference book for a science assignment.  I would recommend to also investigate other source of information as well.  

The drawings are well made and fun to look at.  These books are designed with late elementary children in mind. They are fun to read and look at.  Below are examples of pages found in each of the books.

The books end with a timeline and a glossary for definitions.  This series is geared for grades 3 to 6 children and is packed with interesting information about medicine.   If you have a child who is interested in science particularly medicine, these would be a great series to explore.

This series can  be found at your favorite bookstore.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Allen and Lerner Publishing Group for sending me these books for review purposes.  I was not monetarily compensated for this review.  Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way.  All opinion expressed here are only my own.

Graphic Science Biographies

Do you want your kids to be interested in scientists from the past?  Looking for a way to make them read on the discoveries made long time ago?   Search no longer as Graphic Science Biographies introduces scientists from the past in a fun way - by reading comics.

I have received three of the titles released by Lerner Publishing Group to review.   The titles are Isaac Newton and the Laws of Motion, Marie Curie and Radioactivity, as well as Albert Eisntein and the Theory of Relativity.

Isaac Newton's youth was marked by constant curiosity.  As he began a life of research and experiments, he turned this curiosity into major insights about the working of Earth and the universe.  He even developed three laws to explain the motions of objects.  This graphic biography moves from Newton's childhood inventions to the breakthrough theories of his adult life.   It also spotlight his time at England's Royal Mint, where he combated counterfeiting, and Newton's gift of knighthood from Queen Anne.

At the start of the twentieth century, Marie Curie, a Polish physicist and chemist, stunned the scientific world.  Her research led to the discovery of two elements, polonium and radium.  She also examined the most unusual property of these elements: radioactivity.  This graphic biography follow Curie from her early life in Poland to her scientific education in France.  It also spotlights her work with Pierre Curie and her efforts to treat wounded soldiers during World War I.

Albert Einstein's restless intelligence drove him to ponder the biggest topics the universe has to offer: light, time, mass, energy, and more.   His conclusions changed the way people thought about the laws of physics.  But first, he had to pass his university entrance exams.  This graphic biography traces Einstein's path from his home country of Germany to his studies in Switzerland to his time in the United States.  It also follows his life as an international scientific celebrity and his refusal to stay silent in the face of anti-Semitism.

These books are fun to read and will allow you to discover more about scientists from the past.   I have enjoyed the drawings and the colorful panels through the pages of these books.  I personally found that it is an ingenious way to present the life of scientists in order for kids to learn more about them. At the end of the books, you will also find a timeline, a glossary as well as a list of further resources to expand your knowledge.

These books are available at amazon.ca or any other bookstore.  

         

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Allen and Lerner Publishing Group for sending me these books for review purposes.  I was not monetarily compensated for this review.  Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way.  All opinion expressed here are only my own.

Owling

Owling: Enter the World of the Mysterious Birds of the Night
By Mark Wilson
Published at: Storey Publishing
About the book
From Hedwig, the Snowy Owl of Harry Potter fame, to Winnie-the-Pooh’s beloved friend Owl, this wide-eyed bird of the night has found its way into young hearts and imaginations everywhere. Owling invites young readers into the world of real-life owls, to learn about their fascinating behaviors and abilities. 

Wildlife photojournalist and nature educator Mark Wilson presents a one-of-a-kind look into the mysterious lives of these distinctive birds. Dramatic images of the 19 owl species of North America nesting, flying, hunting, and catching prey are accompanied by information about the birds’ silent flight, remarkable eyes and ears, haunting calls, and fascinating night life. Kids will learn how to spot owls; identify their calls, plumage, and pellets; and even carry on a hooting conversation with a nearby owl.

My Thoughts
My daughter has fallen in love with owls ever since she read the book series titled Guardians of Ga’Hoole.  To be honest I have lost count how many times she has read this series in the past two years.  Every time she sees something that is owl related she is delighted.  More recently, we had the privilege to see a snowy owl in a field near our home as we were going to church.  My daughter was all excited to have seen one in the wild.


She isn’t the only one who enjoy seeing owls.   I love anything related to bird watching. Needless to say that having the opportunity to review Owling is extra special in this household because I know that my daughter will particularly like this book.

The book is packed with information concerning owls.   The table of contents is very precise in what it covers.

• Chapter 1: All About Owls – This chapter will present you information about owl like the parts of an owl head, it’s body parts, the fact that owls can turn their head in circle, their eyes, night vision, hearing, their predatory skills, their flight, their feathers, their feet, their beak, and so on.
• Chapter 2: Introducing the Owls – This chapter starts with the scientific names for owls and then jump directly in presenting all the different owls we can see in the wild,  More specifically, you will learn about Owls of North America, Barn Owl, Flammulated Owl, Western Screech-Owl, Eastern Screech-Owl, Whickered Screech-Owl, Great Horned Owl, Snowy Owl, Northern Hawk Owl, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Elf Owl, Burrowing Owl, Spotted Owl, Barred Owl, Great Gray Owl, Long-eared Owl, Short-Eared Owl, Boreal Owl, and Northern Saw-whet Owl.  For each of these owls, you will learn their scientific name, their old names, how to identify them, their range and habitat, their voice, their nesting behavior, their hunting habits and their menu. 
• Chapter 3: How to Find Owls – This chapter will allow you to discover when and how to find owls in the wild. You will also learn about owl pellets and how to build an owl house.
• Chapter 4: Working with Owls – This chapter will present you all the different jobs that allow someone to work close to owls whether you are a wildlife specialist or an artist.

The book also includes a glossary, a list of places to see owls in captivity. an index as well as a metric conversion chart.  Just to give you an idea of what the pages look like in the book check the pages below.

As you can see this book contains numerous pictures, a ton of information as well as fascinating facts about owls.   It would make a wonderful gift to someone who enjoy birds in general or is a fan of owls of all sorts. This book is also great for someone who desire to make a school project on owls.,,It is a fabulous reference when studying birds.

Owling is available for purchase at your favorite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Allen for sending me the above mentioned book for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Keeping a Nature Journal

Keeping a Nature Journal – Discover a Whole New Way of Seeing the World Around You
Written by Clare Walker Leslie & Charles E. Roth
Published at Storey Publishing

About the book

Experience the splendor of nature with fresh eyes! Featuring an inspiring portfolio from Clare Walker Leslie’s nature journals, this guide offers easy-to-learn techniques for capturing the world around you in pictures and words. Encouraging you to make journaling a part of your daily routine, Keeping a Nature Journal is full of engaging exercises and stimulating prompts that will help you hone your powers of observation and appreciate new aspects of nature’s endlessly varied beauty.

My Thoughts

I have been doing bible art journaling for a few years now and as time goes by I am always eager to learn new techniques on drawing.   I have been seeing this particular book numerous time through the years but never ended up getting it.   I got the opportunity to review it and I have learned quite a bit while reading and trying the techniques presented in the book.    This is the 2nd edition of the book and in includes 32 pages of color portfolio from Clare’s latest journals.   Most of the rest of the book is black and white drawings. 

This book will open up a whole new way to look what is going on around you.  Personally, I find it peaceful and relaxing to sit down with a sketch book and draw.   The book is divided into four parts.  Part One will guide you on how to get started.  And please do not give me the excuse that you are not skilled whatsoever in drawing.  I, myself, is the perfect example in how someone can develop the skills and draw better.  I remember when I was in high school and I disliked my art classes.   It was always difficult for me that year to get better….  But unbeknown  to be the genes in my body would blossoms when I would be in my…. wait for it….. FORTIES!   Yes you have read this right.  I have learned to enjoy drawing and painting in my forties and as I am at the edge of turning fifty next year, I am looking forward to see how this journey will develop itself in the years to come.

Part Two will provide plenty of tips and tricks to draw through the seasons – whether you decide to do an ongoing journal or specific season journals.  Part Three presents the new selection of pages from Clare’s journals this time in color.   Finally Part Four is giving you a lesson on how to enjoy and develop the skill of nature journaling.  You cannot miss the examples and techniques presented.  One thing I will tell you is that practice makes you better as time goes by.  So do not hesitate a minute and grab this book, a sketch book and pencils to practice drawing.

I was inspired by one of the examples found in the book.  The tree presented looked as though it was a spring or summer image.  However, I decided to change it a bit and create a more late fall/winter image.   I am quite pleased with the result.

Another thing that I think is great for this book is that at the end of the book you can have a suggested scale for teachers to assess nature journaling skills.   As a homeschooler I think it is fabulous to have guidance of this sort because it can be difficult to grade assignments.  

This book is definitively a great resource to have if you desire to develop a new skills, if you desire to be better at drawing, if you homeschool, or if you do bible art journaling (because like it or not nature is perfect to illustrate verses!).  

The book Keeping a Nature Journal is available to purchase at your favorite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Allen for sending me the above mentioned book for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

The Beginner’s Guide to Dehydrating Food

The Beginner’s Guide to Dehydrating Food – How to Preserve All Your Favorite Vegetable, Fruits, Meats, and Herbs
Written by Teresa Marrone
Published at Storey Publishing

About the book

This essential companion for putting your food dehydrator to work features instructions and techniques for drying all the most popular fruits and vegetables, along with meat and herbs. You’ll learn to dry fruits and vegetables at their peak, giving you an easy and economical way to stock your pantry with apple rings, mango slices, banana chips, dried soup beans, tomatoes, and much more for year-round enjoyment. In addition, drying guidelines for specialty items like meat jerky, fruit leather, dried herb and spice mixtures, backpacking meals, and even baby food round out this friendly handbook.

My Thoughts

We have purchased a stackable-tray dehydrator a few years ago.  Our goal was to be more versatile in storing food and explore the possibility of dehydrating food.   We didn’t know how to do it properly and got discouraged…  We kept the dehydrator and used it sporadically when drying nuts which make them crunchier.  But when I stumbled on this book my interest in using the dehydrator more often and for a variety of food got sparked again.   I was delighted to receive this book to review and was not disappointed with what it had to offer.

The book is divided into three parts.  Part One will introduce you to the techniques for drying food at home and the different methods and equipment that can be used. Part Two will show you how to dehydrate the fruits and vegetables, the herbs and spices as well as meat and poultry.   This section will go through detailed explanation for each food included like mangoes, or watermelon, asparagus or peas and so on.   For each food item presented in this book, you will learn how to prepare it, how to verify if the dehydration is done, how much it will yield, how to use it.  You will also discover which drying methods are the best for the food in question.

The third section of the book will encourage you to make the most of your dehydrator.  You will learn how to make leather or candied fruits.  You will also have a whole chapters with recipes using the food you have dehydrated.

You do not need a dehydrator to make this book a great reference in your kitchen.  Why?  Because the author also gives instruction on hos to dehydrate using your beloved oven or in the case of herbs, how to dry them in the air.

I wanted to try something new – no nuts this time…   A friend had given us some rhubarb and there was quite a bit of it.  I quickly checked in the book and rhubarb did have some instructions.  So I followed the instruction on how to cut my rhubarb stalks.  And programmed the dehydrator to dry it.

It took between 6-10 hours to dry the pieces of rhubarb.

Once dried, you can store it in jar for future use.  You can rehydrate them for sauces, pies, or other cooked dishes by simply pouring boiling water using the ratio suggested in the book.  

What I particularly like about this book is that for each food item presented in it, you can visualize the before and after because a picture is include for each.    That way you know exactly what to expect when drying your food.   It is a great book to own if you like doing these kind of things.   I think it has tremendous potential for any household.   I am looking forward to use this book more often during the fall season.   It can be very useful as well if you decide to purchase riper than usual fruits and vegetables from the market at a reduce price.   We often take advantage of this for peppers or avocados.   Having this book opens up new possibilities for us.

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Allen for sending me the above mentioned book for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Mason Jar Science

Mason Jar Science – 40, Slimy, Squishy, Super-Cool Experiments
By Jonathan Adolph
Published at Storey Publishing

Summer has arrived and with it school’s out which means your kids are at home.   What can you do to keep them busy and learning at the same time (without them figuring that out…)?   Simple do some cool science experiments when they are bored or the weather is not allowing them to go outdoors.  Today I am presenting you an awesome book which will allow you to do some fun things using the good old Mason jars that are hiding in your cupboards.

The book starts by presenting the scientific method which is followed to solve mysteries and then is separated into five sections.  Through the pages of this book you will be able to do 9 experiments based on Chemistry, 10 experiments based on Earth Science, 8 experiments based on Botany, 8 experiments based on Biology, and 8 experiments based on Physics.

Each experiment lists the materials and the instructions needed to complete it.   It will also guide your “student” for what to watch for and explain what is happening.   Like it or not, this book will help them to visualize some concepts seen at school or concepts that will be presented in the upcoming school year.   Personally, I think it is a great book to help them experiment fun things in science when they desire to learn more about something.  However, I would strongly suggest that they ask an adult before making these experiments and that the child do clean up afterwards.  Nothing is more frustrating for a parent that to clean up after a child has decided to do some science but left the mess behind. 

However, this book is fun to explore whether you desire to cover all the experiments in one specific section or if you prefer to go randomly.   There is something fun to learn for each of the experiments.   As a plus side, the child can explain back to the parents and siblings what he/she has learned while doing the experiment during supper time. 

This book is definitively great to keep your kids busy this summer and to explore fun activities that involve science.

Mason Jar Science is available for purchase at your favorite bookstore as well as Amazon.ca and Amazon.com.

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Allen for sending me the above mentioned book for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

The Curious Nature Guide

The Curious Nature Guide – Explore the Natural Wonders All Around You
By Clare Walker Leslie
Published at Storey Publishing

About the book

With dozens of simple prompts and exercises, best-selling author, naturalist, and artist Clare Walker Leslie invites you to step outside for just a few minutes a day, reignite your sense of wonder about the natural world, and discover the peace and grounding that come from connecting with nature. Using stunning photography as well as the author’s own original illustrations, The Curious Nature Guide will inspire you to use all of your senses to notice the colors, sounds, smells, and textures of the trees, plants, animals, birds, insects, clouds, and other features that can be seen right outside your home, no matter where you live. Sketch or write about one exceptional nature image each day; learn to identify cloud types and the weather they bring; or create a record of what you see each day as you walk your dog. Easy, enjoyable, and enlightening, these simple exercises will transform your view of the world and your place within it.

My Thoughts

I love nature – exploring the woods or walking in the neighborhood is always a fun activity to do whether alone or with family/friends.

So I was curious about this book.  How could it make exploring nature more fun and entertaining.   As soon as I grabbed the book and started reading it I was hooked.  

The author has beautifully reduced the table of contents to three sections – begin, discover, connect.

Begin – first, you need to pause.  Wherever you are, open your senses to the world of nature around you.   This section will give you some tips on how to pause and enjoy what is around you whether you are in the woods or in a park in the downtown area.  There is always something to enjoy.

Discover – This section will help you identify what trigger your curiosity.  Take a closer look at the clouds, the night sky, the plants and animals, rivers, rocks and so on.  This weekend I was doing Uber and a young lady requested a ridesharing.   At some point she simply said “I love the clouds.”   I lifted my eyes and looked at the clouds – they were ok but not the beautiful white puffy ones.  Then she proceeded to tell me that she came to Canada from India back in December.  In India there is so much pollution that they do not see the clouds.  Then it dawned on me…. for us Canadians we probably take the clouds for granted because we see them all the time.   I am thankful for her comment because it made me realize that we are blessed to be able to see clouds on a daily basis.

Connect – This section is interesting to me.   The author encourages you to journal and meditate on nature.  Personally I would prefer just drawing what I see but everyone is different.   I would also bring my faith in my drawings and observations of nature.   But the author encourage you in developing a new way of connecting with what you have observe – could be drawing, writing a story or a poem, using photography, anything.

 

 

Through the pages of this book, the author is slowly expanding your senses and your observation skills in order to help you to be more aware of the nature surrounding you on a daily basis.  This would also be a great book to discover as a family, for homeschoolers, or within a class.

The Curious Nature Guide is available for purchase at your favorite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Allen for sending me the above mentioned book for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.