When you open a NaturExplorers e-book from Shining Dawn books, you immediately notice the beautiful colors and neatly designed text. Neat text is essential to a good e-book – who wants to scroll through pages of hard-to-read information? Nevertheless, after scrolling for a few minutes and getting a glimpse of the first few notebooking pages included in this book, I printed the whole thing and put it into a notebook. I knew it was good enough that I would want a printed copy.
Thankfully, these e-books are packaged nicely in a single pdf format, so that I can quickly and easily print extra copies of the notebooking pages as I want them. Easy access to printable pages is another important feature of an e-book. {I have opened an e-book before and found it divided into sections with just two or three pages in each section. This makes it so difficult to find what you need quickly! }
Next, I noticed the ideas for younger students. This is so important in my home, because I have little ones who demand to do everything their older brothers and sisters are doing. This is wonderful – because they are learning so much at a very young age, but also difficult – because it is frustrating to always have to come up with ideas at their level on my own. Here are just a few of the ideas for younger students included in the Beautiful Birds e-book I received.
The hands-on activities included in the NaturExplorer books attracted both myself and my children almost immediately. Hands-On is so important for elementary-aged children and what child wouldn’t want to make bird-food crusted bagel? Here are some examples of hands-on activities I found in Incredible Creeks.
Curiously, I was scanning through the books and was drawn to different parts of the book completely out of order. During the main part of the book you will also find lots of informational material like this:
And also book suggestions, ideas for including older students, fun activities for outside study, writing activities, references for Bible study, artist and composer studies, poetry tie-ins, internet links, and extra book lists. That’s a whole lot of material!
The NaturExplorer e-books range in price from $4 – $8.95. The Beautiful Birds book is 61 pages in length and costs $8.95 individually. However, I highly recommend the three and five pack bundles which reduce the cost of the books. They also have a monthly $6 special, so right now you can purchase Captivating Clouds for just $6.
My Bottom Line: Frankly, I was delightfully impressed with NaturExplorers books I received. It is not very often I am exposed to a new publisher in the homeschool market these days, but somehow these beautiful nature studies have completely missed my radar in the past. These are definitely books we will turn to again and again for nature study.
The Giveaway: One very lucky reader is going get to pick a bundle. That’s right – the winner gets to pick any bundled set they want. The required comment entry is: Visit the Shining Dawn Books website and tell me which NatureExplorers bundle you would like to win. If you do not answer this question in a comment on this blog post, you will not officially be entered and no further entries will count. To post your comment, scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post and find the comment box. Type your answer to the above question and follow the steps to post your comment. You will then need to scroll back up to the Rafflecopter form and click enter for the first entry. This will open up further entry opportunities for you. Good Luck!
Finished entering giveaways? Keep Hopping thru the Homeschool Crew Blog Hop! Just click on the graphic below.
Disclaimer: I received four NaturExplorer books from Shining Dawn Books at no cost to me in exchange for an honest review on my blog. Here you have it.
Heather @ Blessings Pour Out says
I think we’d like the Pond or the All Girl bundles. I was looking for one with flowers, birds, and butterflies, but did not see one, but those sets look great, too.
Dawn @ Guiding Light says
The “Animal Kingdom” bundle!
Eddie - The Usual Mayhem says
We’re huge fans of the Shining Dawn unit studies and have a good collection going, but I’d love to be entered for the Autumn bundle! Thanks for the giveaway!
Nicole says
Oh my! They all look great! How to choose just one? I’m debating between the Botany Bundle or the Late Summer Bundle. I think I’d pick the Late Summer because my boys love rocks.
Thanks!
Valerie C. says
We love the ” Animal Kingdom ” Bundle
Wendi Irwin says
One of the sad parts of living in the city in the desert when you use to live in the midwest is getting out in nature and doing nature studies with your kids. This summer our small group from church is going up to the mountains for a long weekend and I have been thinking how fun it would be to get some nature studies and enjoy doing them with all of the kids (and probably some of the adult kids as well) when we are up there. So this giveaway is perfect. I would pick the Late Summer Bundle (and I also like the Animal Kingdom Bundle. Thank you for the review and giveaway.
Tracy says
Definitely the animal kingdom bundle. Thanks for the giveaway!
Jeanne Hicks says
If I was picked I would love the Animal Kingdom bundle!!!
hannah oliphant says
We so need this. I’m recovering from major surgery… this would be so fun to get us started again!
Traci says
The late summer bundle sounds really interesting!!
Kristina says
What a lovely giveaway!! I would love the Autumn bundle. Thanks!!
Kim says
I want the Early Spring Bundle!
Erin Long says
I would LOVE the animal kingdom bundle!
TM says
I think I would have to pick the Animal Kingdom bundle. It covers a broad range of topics and looks fantastic. Thank you for the chance.
Julie says
I’d like to receive the Winter Bundle. It’s harder to enjoy nature in the long cold months around here. 🙂
Diane says
Wow, thanks for the chance. Would love the late spring bundle. I am fascinated by flowers and we are in the garden as much as possible.
Susan @Homeschooling Hearts & Minds says
They all look great, I think I’d pick the Botany Bundle.
Rebecca K says
oooh… i’d love the early summer bundle!
amyb says
Rebecca, be sure to check out my other giveaways! They are fantastic!
Marcy Emero says
We like the animal Kingdom bundle
Malia says
The Botany Bundle looks great for my children!
Patricia Christianson says
Botany Bundle is my pick!
annette says
early summer bundle intrigues
Alice Be;lschner says
Thank you for suggesting such a wonderful resource. While I have home schooled our youngest daughter through high school as well as our 3 youngest grandchildren, I did not know such a wonderful resource existed. I am looking forward to using the Nature study birds, butterflies and creeks with our great grandsons.