Keeping a Nature Journal: Discover a Whole New Way of Seeing the World Around You

This guide shows how to create a gorgeous ongoing project of a nature journal. It is applicable to kids or adults, though kids might need a parent helper to read and interpret it all. Projects are given for a variety of ages or "all ages" depending on the project. No prior experience drawing is required. The examples given are inspirational without being overwhelming for those of us without a lot of native art talent. Most are shown black and white as would be common if you were out with just a pen and paper, but it also shows colored pencil or watercolor addition. The book shows tons of examples in text and pictures how to add details such as dates, temperature conditions, scientific facts, etc., to your journal. The drawing techniques and examples could to be used to teach a child to enhance lab notebooks rather than a "journal" per se. I use this with all my kids, and they are really taking to the idea, even now grabbing their journal without prompting to run into the yard to draw something. Nature journaling is helping them to be more aware in the world, and recognizing smaller details. There is a companion almost blank (few notes or hints) hardcover journal that you can buy to go with this guide that I highly recommend. The HC journal is tough and withstands kids very well.

I've been getting more and more interested in nature study since doing some reasearch about homeschooling philosophies. Charlotte Mason wrote a lot about nature study and its importance in giving children a well-rounded education. My children are still young (ages 4 and 2) but both immensely enjoy being outdoors nearly all the time. This, along with my 4-year-old's interest in art and draing, made me start thinking about keeping nature journals. She is obviously on the younger end of the age-range for this book, but it really will be helpful and inspiring to just about anyone who is interested in nature. I look forward to using the ideas in this book to start my own nature journal and encourage my children to keep nature journals themselves. This book offers many tips for things to record, think about, and observe, as well as basic drawing adviced. What a lovely book, which is in itself a work of art!

I had already started to keep a nature journal a few months ago when I came across this book and purchased it from Amazon. It's a lovely book and has encouraged me in my journal keeping. I'd begun with keeping track of the birds visiting my backyard feeder and have branched out to comments about the chipmunk who lives behind a step on our patio and the opossum which I've seen under the feeder and urged back to its habitation in an evergreen bordering our lot. I live in a suburban neighborhood and this book has reenforced my impressions that it's amazing what you can find in a small space if you really watch. Because of this book I now expect to at least be able to draw various types of leaves and will attempt to try a bird progressing from the basic egg shape the author recommends and the use of a basic skeleton to flesh out the wings etc. I've always been envious of what my kids were able to achieve in art class using new techniques which were unavailable to me when I was growing up.

This is a beautiful little journal for someone interested in this sort of thing. It has blank pages for sketching or journaling but also sketches and quotes in the margins that add little tidbits of nature information.

As I became more interested in taking up amateur naturalism as a hobby, I found this book while trying to read more about nature journaling. Now, wanting to get into a program for scientific illustration, I have found that this book is a great tool for the beginning naturalist- what tools you will need (scientifically and artistically), suggestions for what information to include, and what methods to employ. Everyone has a different way of doing things, but this book offers a great compilation of different ideas and techniques from different naturalists and artists. A fun learning experience in the natural world as well, this book is great for some of the younger folk to help bolster a love for nature and art while learning about it at the same time.

The covers and pages are printed on very nice paper, the quality is excellent. If you are looking for a "how to book" this will be an excellent choice. It is full of drawings and information on how to keep a nature journal, including a wide variety of examples of drawings and things to write in your own journal. This book also teaches you how to draw and how to observe everything and anything around you. It is all and more than what I had hoped for.

This book makes keeping a nature journal very accessible to even non-artsy folks like me. I was very excited by it and am looking forward to getting back into nature journaling as the light comes back and it warms up enough so my fingers don't freeze when I draw. There are lots of tips and illustrations to show how various natural images can be recorded with simple strokes. After reading any page, I feel empowered to go draw and record my observations- a delightful "I can do this" kind of feeling.

I love this book so much! It’s not a how-to book showing step by step to keep a nature journal. It’s more like an inspirational example or template that shows examples of how to find nature wherever you are. Even someone living in the coty or small apartment will find a way to keep a nature journal with the changing seasons with this book. The measage is noticing nature and beauty right where you are in life. Highly recommend!!!!

Really enjoyed the Journalling through the season a very informative and beautiful book

This book has been on my wishlist for a very long time. I am so glad that we added this to our collection for doing our nature journaling.

This book is AMAZING. If you are interested in Nature Journaling at all this is a must have. Even if you just like journaling this book has a lot to offer. SO glad I stumbled on this.

Amazing nature book. Think best out there as it covers everything I need to know about. Good for beginners like me.

This was a gift, We have been told excellent read and a little space for notes on a rambling trip!