Thank you NetGalley and Ten Speed Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I found Rebecca Lexa to be a very fun, inviting teacher. The Everyday Naturalist is a great beginner's guide to ecological knowledge and has a lot of useful tips and tricks to guide anyone's journey to becoming a naturalist. I enjoyed the formatting of the book as well and the inclusion of illustrations. I wish the book had spent more time highlighting some individual species.

Overall, The Everyday Naturalist is a good starting point for anyone looking to broaden their abilities, particularly those without any ecology background.

Well organized and clearly written, a handy guide for those who want to know a bit more of the woodsy wonders and what can be useful or what to avoid. Written for those who want to start out on the right foot, a great source and springboard for those who want to learn even more.

I've been on a mission to deepen my understanding of the natural world as I work toward becoming a Master Naturalist this year, and The Everyday Naturalist by Rebecca Lexa was an excellent guide along my journey. This book doesn't just tell you what to look for—it teaches you how to think like a naturalist, whether you're in your own backyard or halfway across the world.

Lexa breaks down the key traits for identifying animals, plants, fungi, and other organisms.. Her step-by-step approach made me feel more confident about tackling the mysteries of nature without feeling overwhelmed. Plus, the detailed case studies and beautiful photos really helped bring the concepts to life.

What I loved most is that this book empowers you to move beyond relying solely on field guides or apps. It trains your eyes and instincts so you can truly engage with the environment wherever you go. If you're even a little curious about the natural world, this book belongs on your shelf.

Thanks to Ten Speed Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

The Everyday Naturalist is an inspiring and accessible guide that encourages a deeper connection with nature, particularly suited for beginners. It offers practical tips on identifying plants, animals, and natural elements, making it easy to start or revive a nature journal. While its approachable tone and clear advice are perfect for those new to nature observation, more experienced enthusiasts might find it a bit basic. Nonetheless, its heartfelt message and actionable insights make it a wonderful companion for anyone looking to slow down, observe, and appreciate the beauty of the outdoors.

2 stars

Well, I thought this book was about the identification of animals, plants, fungi, and other organisms we encounter in everyday life, or at least brief characterizations of them. I knew it would be impossible for the book to include descriptions of all species, but I expected it to serve as a mini reference guide for common animals, plants, and fungi—like how to differentiate a moth from a butterfly or how to identify a common sparrow, etc.

However, this book was actually about how to document characteristics when we come across animals, plants, or fungi and how to record these findings using an app or other books. While that might be useful for some, it wasn’t what I was expecting.

That said, it’s still a nice read, and I did learn something from it.

This book is very interesting. Not what I was expecting, very wordy. But I think the drawings are beautiful and the information is interesting.

If you love looking at wildlife, this is very informative. Definitely not for everyone but the ones that care will love this.

Lexi really knows her stuff and she is a friendly, funny, helpful teacher. The book was not what I was expecting in that it is not at all a resource for identification but rather a lot of information about plants, fungi, etc in general and all of the things you need to do to identify anything and do it right. I think I am too far in my own naturalist journey because I felt that I knew what I needed in those regards and was thinking this book was a tool for the identification part. The book is very wordy and in depth, kind of like you’re taking a college course and she’s your professor. It’s excellent for that, but you will need separate guides and books for the actual identification part.

I read a temporary digital copy of this book for review.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC for this book.

This book is an informative guide for those who would love to go into the wild and be field scientists. The information that is provided is very good and simple to understand. It is much easier to grasp than my books to become an environmental scientist 😂.



The one thing that is keeping this from a full 5 ⭐ is that there aren't nearly enough painting or images and the layout of the templates are very simple. I feel like more could have been done on this point.


This would be a great starter guide for the family.

As a total beginner when it comes to identifying animals and plants, I found The Everyday Naturalist to be a super helpful guide. Lexa breaks everything down into simple, easy steps, making it easier to spot key traits and use field guides, apps, and other resources to figure out what you're looking at. The case studies and photos were a great touch and helped me understand how to apply these techniques in real-life situations. While I did feel like there were times when I wanted a bit more detail in certain sections, especially as a newbie, the book still provided a really solid foundation for getting started. It’s a great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about nature and how to identify the species around you!