My two oldest children have shown interest in learning about plants and animals here in TX. I am looking for recommendations of a field guide for plants and animals here in TX.

If I was in the NW, I could help lots but since I am in a foreign area - no clues to some of this stuff.

Keith

KHickam- You might consider contacting the Biology department of an area University. Seek out the professors that teach plant taxonomy and mammalogy. They can likely suggest some worthwhile guides for your area. Don't invest in just pretty picture books, as they often lack critical anatomical detail.

Keith,

I may be a bit judgmental here because I'm a wildlife biologist, but botanists speak a totally different language that I have a hard time habla-ing. I've also always been of the opinion that they change their taxonomy about as often as we wildlife biologists change our underwear. My point is that we are talking about kids and picture-books are ideal for them. Botanical terminology will likely bore the snot out of them.

Check out your local state parks. They often have guides for sale in their offices or interpretive centers.

Here's a list of a few suggestions:
1) For a general bird guide, I've always been more fond of the National Geographic guide as opposed to Peterson's or Golden's. There are some great CD's and online resources for bird call recordings. Start with google, but a fun one is:

 http://www.owling.com 

It'll make those overnight trips less spooky for them and more fun.

2) For reptiles, Peterson's is decent unless you can find a more local or regional book. They can be really tough to use to accurately id things.

3) The Peterson's Animal Tracks Guide is fun for kids and adults alike.

4) For plants look for regional guides like:

 http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3D...Texas+plants&x=0&y=0 

Also look for some stuff on ethnobotany or food and medicinal plants. It makes botany a bit more palatable.... boo, hiss... as it gives people a way to use it like geometry as opposed to calculus. Same goes for range plant books for the plains. They can tell you what are good forage plants, which ones might be toxic to you or your animals etc. and which ones may be considered noxious or exotic weeds verses native.

5) Mammals are kinda hard for a few reasons. One, the general books aren't that good. Two, anything you really need much of a guide for you're not likely to see much unless they are dead in hand or flattened by a car. And three, identification of mammals is often done by dental formulas, skull measurements, and body measurements. I guess find a general picture book for them and when they show more interest, move up from there.

Don't know how old they are but make it a game for them to count species they can id or find sign of when they go out. It never ceases to amaze me how little kids get exposed to Ma Nature these days. Too many video games and malls, not enough time getting dirty and getting exercise. Its great that you are trying to help them learn a bit.

Good luck,

Sean

Jay (Keith Jr) is 8 yrs old - he likes to collect rocks, figured that I would help him find arrowheads and fossils in the limestone rocks and stream beds on the farm.

Skye is 11 yrs old - she is more of a tom boy and likes animals more than Jay (he just wants to shoot at them, wild ones of course) we have access to some varied habitat and those plants and animals that cross over from WA (deer, and poison ivy, sumac and oak) I can really help them - but there are lots of furrin tracks I haven't had lots of experience with - especially when it comes to the weird birds around here.

Fun. Our daughter is still to young to shoot things. She's 15 months old. Her first camping trip was when she was 4 months old. Was at 9k' above sea level and it got down to 40 degrees at night. The last was in the Guadalupes and we had a front go through on the last day that dropped the temps to 35. She had a ball. We get her out on hikes pretty regularly. I think I showed her her first mountain lion track at about 5 months. And I've taken her out on a few field surveys for work. She loves owl hoots. Right now everything remotely interesting is a "kitty-cat"... The smaller ones, of course. We've got a little yearling filly in the pasture that she dearly loves who is also a "kitty-cat". We're hoping to add visla pup to the household this winter, partly for her and partly for me.

Sean