I used this book as a starting point to teach my 10-year-old son the facts of life. All of the chapters are well done, and the section on the reproductive system has wonderful descriptions and art, without any of the corniness you find in some books. Great if you like the scientific approach!

I have carried the older edition of this bird book for a number of years, and purchased this new one as the old one had become so dog eared as to be embarassing. Also we knew that many species ranges were changing, and wanted to be up to date on that information. The new edition has the same format (down to the exact page) as the previous, and same illustrations. The many advantages of this guide include:

1) It has every bird you are likely to see in North America 2) Everything about a species is on one page, including illustration, description, range map, and sonogram of song (for many species) 3) Nice comparison charts of similar and confusing species 4) Range maps include migration date lines 5) True pocket size -- you will carry this book with you in the field!

The new edition also has updated nomenclature for species that the bird expert powers-that-be keep changing on us. It also has updated range maps for those species whose ranges are changing. It is printed on a slicker stock than the previous (only time will tell if this is better). It also has a new "quick" index which is handy for locating birds by generic name (crows).

But there are some disappointments.

1) It is probably 95% a reprint of the previous edition, both with respect to descriptions and (particularly) illustrations 2) The little check boxes to mark off birds you have seen are missing from the new edition -- surely that was an oversight(?) 3) They did not correct the one thing that was a true weakness of the previous edition, that the range maps are small and rather difficult to interpret. How much easier it would be if the US state borders were overprinted on these little range maps (or for that matter Canadian provinces and Mexican states)???

But of course, it is still our favorite -- if you have only one bird book, and you want to carry it in your pocket, this is the one to buy.

The Golden Guide to Field Indentifcation of Birds of North America is a handy, not to mention effective, guide to the birds. Accidentals, rarities, stragglers, and casuals are all covered, along with the common birds. This guide includes full color illustrations of birds were and how they are most often spotted, whether gliding over the ocean or perching in dense underbrush, as well as winter, summer, eclipse, immature, chick, juvenile, adult, male, female, breeding, non-breeding, molting, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd winter plumages, if need be. Any bird spotted can quickly be indentified quickly and easily with this guide.

"Birds of North America" is a truly excellent guide. It may not be the most comprehensive, but it certainly is the most useful. It's probably the all-around greatest birding field guide out there. The illustrations are very well done, and the size of the book is easily manageable. This book is detailed enough to accomodate all but the most demanding and professional birders, but user-friendly enough to not overwhelm the amateur.

i really think this is one of the best book for people want to know about ts. it easily combines a ifctonal stroy with the basic factual info. you really care about the people in the story part also.

I think this book was a noble effort by the author, a decent book for the beginning collector. However, anyone seriously interested in collecting toy soldiers should get O'Brien's books for they are more thoroughly researched

This book is a great resource for quickly referencing all aspects of toy soldier collecting, from identification to value. It's written in a knowledgeable, articulate and personable manner with lots of hard to find information for the toy soldier collector. Highly recommended! Frank Hein, Professor and life long collector.

I FOUND THIS WORK TO BE VERY INFORMATIVE. IT IS ENCOURAGING TO FIND A RETIRED NEUROLOGIST AND ACCOMPLISHED ORNITHOLOGIST INTERESTED IN TOY SOLDIERS. THANKS FOR THE EFFORT. JAMES A. MCDONOUGH SR. RETIRED COMPUTER SCIENTIST

This is supposed to be a read alone book . I had trouble with some of the words. I like it very much. Cute little cartoon -like characters all through the book. Very good science starter on human anatomy. Try to find it.