As I look out the window at the fine snow sifting down and rapidly filling the driveway and sidewalks, I sigh and look back at the dazzling male Ruby Throated Hummingbird and cheerful orange Monarch Butterfly on the cover of my new book. I would rather be reading (or seeing real live hummers and butterflies) than shoveling.

This book Hummingbirds and Butterflies is part of the Backyard Bird Guides series by Peterson. The quality of both text and photos is high, as you might expect. At first glance, it may look a bit “text book-y” but when you start to read you’ll find the information is plated up into interesting tastes and tidbits.

It’s a very easy book to read a bit, put down, and then pick up again. While I don’t like to mention the b-word in book reviews, I suspect many copies get read while, erm, seated.

Best For:
Adults reading leisurely at home.

Pros:

• Good photos.
• Short sections of information.
• Chatty, friendly tone.
• Lots of interesting facts and details.
• Index.

Cons:

• Softcover binding does not allow the book to stay open easily.
• Some readers might prefer it to be two separate books.

Size:
288 pages. About 8 by 10 inches in size.

Further Reading
You might also want to read my review of Kaufman’s Field Guide to Butterflies.

Join In
Have you read this book? What did you like about it? Please share your experiences with a comment.