In a world where every answer seems to be on a phone, it is easy to forget how useful a printed book can be. A field guide is a book that shows the animals (or plants, or shells, or mushrooms) of a region, with pictures, descriptions, tips for telling similar species apart, and notes on what each one eats and where it lives. Yes, it takes effort to carry one and flip through it. Most naturalists think it is worth it, and many of them own a shelf full. Different guides suit different needs. A guide to just your state has room for more detail and fewer pages to sort through.
This lesson is part of Certified Junior Herpetologist. Enrollment is self-paced, with no deadline to finish (about 30 hours).
