Handbook of Nature Study [Paperback]

 

 

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The Handbook of Nature Study by Comstock is a wonderful book with a lot of great information. It will bring out the love of nature in everybody. Such a great book deserves to be properly published. This printing ("Benediction Classics": red cover with a chipmunk)is aweful. The pictures are hard to make out, some writing are badly printed. It looks like it was simply photocopied! Not only that, but one whole section is missing and there is no index!! There are about 200 pages missing!! I am very disappointed!!

Have you ever taken the time to learn more about the nature that surrounds us? From a tender age, I always loved discovering the outdoors. Okay, I will admit I am not a huge outdoor fan but I like walking in the woods, observing the birds and seeing the chipmunks scurrying around. And I want my kids to discover more about the nature at camping or just in our city. I try as much as I can to guide them in the observation of life and the creatures living in the woods or even in the backyard (we have two rabbits there!).

I will admit that I had found a free copy of this Handbook of Nature Study on the internet but I had mixed feelings about carrying the iPad in the woods. So I decided to see if I could get a copy of the book through Cornell University Press. I had not heard back from them and I was debating between purchasing it as a hardcopy from amazon.ca. Imagine my surprise one day when I received a package and I had no clue whatsoever what was in it. I opened the envelop and right then and there I realized that it was my copy of the Handbook of Nature Study. Since it's arrival, I am devouring the chapter called "The Teaching of Nature-Study" and I love it.

The book is quite thick - more than 887 pages. But it is packed with information about everything you can find in nature; birds, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, insects,plants, rocks and minerals, soil, climate and weather, skies and more. There is something for everyone in this marvelous jewel - hum I mean book. For me this book is indeed a jewel in itself as it is opening numerous opportunities to our family. You see we love to camp and we do explore our campground but having this book will help to go on a scavenger hunt and discover the woods a bit more.

Recently, as we were sitting in the living room, I took the liberty of reading out loud about the robin a bird that was just starting to arrive as Spring was there. I thought I knew everything about the robin - Ah! I was wrong. While reading the pages about this common bird in our area, I learned that the male robins arrive first and do not sing until their mates arrive. I honestly never realized that. As I write this, I know that robins are working hard to find material to build their nest. We had the privilege to see such a nest last year in the tree of our neighbor. Two eggs were laid. Though I didn't disturb them when the babies were born, I was able to catch a few pictures with my camera. A couple of years before that, we had seen a robin nest with babies in it while camping in the Syracuse area. The nest was tucked in the playground structure and when we came back 10 days later on our way back home, we saw the difference in the birds. It was one of the highlights of our trip.

The Handbook of Nature Study will not only inform you on what you can find in nature. At the end of each lesson, you will find ideas of things you could do as well as questions for the pupils to answer on what you have read. For example some of the questions would be "What does it find to eat when it first comes in the spring? How does this differ from its ordinary food?" or "Does the robin begin to sing as soon as it comes north?". (If you are this far in my review of the book then you should be able to answer that question... *grin*)

I seriously think that every homeschool home should have a copy of this book and that it should be used every month of the year through the seasons. It is a gem in itself and contains so much information that you can easily use it as the years go by. As the kids gets older they can decide to drawmore what they observe in a nature journal. What a great way to explore art via nature-study!

While I do not agree with everything the author asserts about teaching methodology, I doubt there is any other book on the market that is as comprehensive as this one. What other textbook can be used with equal effectiveness in both kindergarten and high school? Lessons are short and easy to follow. It covers almost everything including agriculture, wildlife, geology, astronomy, etc. Marine life and oceanography are not included. Some minor flaws. For example, the author confuses selective breeding with evolution theory. However, such flaws can be overlooked and they do not detract from the value of the lessons.

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2.0 out of 5 stars A treasure of a book like this deserves to be printed properly!
Comstock's book is one to treasure for life, whatever your age. I fall in love with nature every time I open its pages, and it fully deserves five stars. Read more

Published 10 months ago by E. Smith

4.0 out of 5 stars Excited About Nature
We purchased this book for our two little ones and have enjoyed running to get the book when we see unusual and interesting bugs, leaves, etc. Read more

Published on Aug 28 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars The most detailed nature handbook available.
This handbook was written for school-aged children by a professor at Cornell University in New York. Read more

Published on May 17 2001

3.0 out of 5 stars Good book depending on your location
I checked this book out of our local library because it was recommended for homeschoolers and because of the reviews here at Amazon.com. Read more

Published on Dec 16 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BOOK!!!!
This is a wonderful book for studying ANY aspect of nature (except ocean life.) Thoroughly discusses all details of any living thing that you could dream of... Read more

Published on Aug 16 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for All Ages!!!
I bought this book today, sorry, not from Amazon, but from the zoo! I love this book! It is a great reference for teachers and children, or just anyone wanting to learn more... Read more

Published on Jun 5 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars The ultimate Nature Study resource guide
This book was originally written for elementary school teachers with little knowledge of common plants and animals. Read more

Published on May 20 1998

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