Pocket Nature: Bird-Watching: Press Pause and Admire the Avian World

by Andrea Debbink

A beginner-friendly and charmingly illustrated pocket guide to backyard birding.

For amateur birdwatchers and aspiring ornithologists, this introductory book offers an easy way to delve into the awe-inspiring world of bird-watching, whether in a park, a forest, on a beach, or a front porch. In these pages, you’ll learn how


Go where the birds are (or might be)


Identify over twenty species of common and non-native North American birds through birdsong, nests, and appearance


Create a bird-friendly habitat in your yard


Engage in community programming to spread avian awareness




Combining bird-watching basics with mindfulness exercises, Pocket Bird-Watching is a wonderful reminder that friendly faces are always around us—we just need to open our eyes and ears to find them.

OUTDOOR Birding is an enjoyable pastime that gets you outside, moves your body, and calms your mind. With mindful activities sprinkled throughout, this portable guide is more than a birding how-to book; it is also an invitation to spend more time in nature and away from screens.



GREAT GIFT  Petite, gorgeously illustrated, and written in an inviting and approachable way, this beginner’s guide makes a great gift or self-purchase for nature and bird lovers. Package the book with a pair of binoculars, a bird feeder, bird seed, or other books in the Pocket Nature series for a delightful anytime gift.



COLLECTIBLE NATURE The topics covered in the Pocket Nature series are perennial—mushrooms, bees, trees, flowers, beaches, clouds, and sunsets will always be there to enjoy and admire. With new titles coming out every season, there will be ever-new opportunities to grow a charming collection that looks great on your bookshelf.

Perfect


Birdwatchers, twitchers, and amateur backyard birders


Anyone interested in learning more about birds and the history and how-to of bird-watching


Nature and wildlife enthusiasts


Mindfulness practitioners and meditators


Birthday, holiday, housewarming, or seasonal gift for nature lovers

128 pages, Hardcover

Published August 19, 2025

About the author

I'm a writer, editor, and habitual daydreamer. Before I became a full-time author, I spent nearly a decade as an editor at American Girl where I specialized in creating imaginative nonfiction content. Today I write books for children and adults. I believe that a good book can change a life—and the world.

Reviews

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, a warning from the jump: I couldn't tell you if everything in this book is accurate or not, because I'm exactly the target audience in some ways. I'm a newbie. Don't even own binoculars yet. So there's your heads up.

My experience with Pocket Nature: Bird-Watching was a fairly delightful one. In terms of the birdwatching section, I can't say I learned anything new (with respect to HOW one birdwatches, anyway. I definitely need a lot of practice when it comes to actual bird identification). I DID learn about the eBird app by Cornell, so I might poke at it? iNaturalist is the only site and app I've used with any amount of frequency, so I'm curious to see how this one compares.

This book contains some bird facts that I think could be enjoyable for a younger audience. It has cute illustrations too, which definitely adds to that “for kids” feel. As a 30+ year old adult, I found myself wishing for photos of actual birds rather than the art after a while, but that's just personal preference.

The language and tone used is very friendly and accessible. Perfect for a layperson who knows basically nothing about birds or a kid at a solid reading level. Definitely take the blurb to heart. I really wouldn't recommend it to anyone who knows more than the basics.

Overall, fun time! 3.75 stars rounded up.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really lovely book and full of great information whether you are new to birding or have been doing it for a while. I, myself, have been birding for 3 years and still learned new things from it.

It is written in a very easy to understand format, and broken down into different sections like understanding bird physiology, bird identification tips, creating a habitat for birds, among other things. This book was very well researched.

I would definitely suggest this book to anyone who is looking to learn more about birds and birding.

The illustrations throughout were lovely too!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

[Christine Gustin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks NetGalley for the eARC of this book!

Absolutely loved this little book! It was cute, informative and inspiring—the perfect book for new birders or anyone interested in learning more about birds in North America.

This book stands apart from traditional field guides in that it’s one-part field guide and three-parts guide on how to enjoy bird-watching. I’ll definitely be purchasing a copy for myself and gifting it to friends as well.

Age Rating: Everyone!

[Anna Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great introductory book into birdwatching and the habits of birds including their interactions with humans. The illustrations are simple, effective and make it easy to read and follow for birdwatchers of all ages.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Pocket Nature: Bird Watching" by Andrea Debbink is a charming and informative guide that blends practical tips with a soulful appreciation for birds.

Like other Chronicle Books titles, it’s beautifully designed, with sweet and whimsical illustrations (and the occasional diagram that outshines any photo).

The book offers advice for beginners and seasoned birders alike, covering everything from creating a bird haven (even on a balcony) to preventing window collisions, along with thoughtful nods to “citizen scientists” and credible conservation resources.

I especially enjoyed the “Flights of Fancy” section, which links birds to cultural history, and the many lovely quotes sprinkled throughout.

Whether you watch birds from your kitchen window or trek out with binoculars, this is a delightful, inspiring read that deepens your connection to our feathered, dinosaur-descended friends.

Thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the eARC of this book.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beginner friendly introductory book offers an easy way to delve into the awe-inspiring world of bird-watching, whether in a park, a forest, on a beach, or a front porch. It s great for new birders, nature lovers for a hobby, and backyard owners who want to bring more birds to thei yard.

I recommend if you are even just a bit interested in bird watching. It’s an excellent book for beginning bird watching. This is a terrific book that is full of information whether you are new to birding or halve been doing it for a while. It would mae a great gift for anyone!

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions are strictly my own.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't quite a field guide, but I enjoyed the content. It's a nice, short introduction to casual bird watching. Easy to read and understand with nice illustrations. It gives a bit of history about bird watching, some listings of some of the most commonly found birds in North America, and some lore about birds.

Thanks to Edelweiss and Chronicle Books for the eARC of this book.

[amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book more than I can express. Get this book for your backyard birders! Your friends that just enjoy well written and designed books, about birds.
I referred to this book on my phone when I was at the seashore last weekend, to identify a bird that I don’t see often enough to remember its name!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this short introduction to bird-watching, which briefly covers the history of bird-watching, why people bird-watch, and how to begin bird-watching. I appreciated the focus on how bird-watching can be a very mindful activity. I also really enjoyed the illustrations through the book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Chronicle Books for an early copy.

[Erelah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley for allowing me to read an arc!!

I am absolutely obsessed with this, I might have to grab multiple in this series for my shelf, I definitely recommend it. I love the art and I also love that it mentions bird poetry!! It really has so much in here!

[Sarah Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

cute and fun and approachable!

[Dail Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable. Short book about birds.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good dense little book on starting or refreshing re bird watching. Targeted at USA audience.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely book! It's perfect for the bird watching beginner as it goes over the physiological traits of birds, why people watch birds and how to get started doing it. What's more, all of that is done in an easy-to-understand way without feeling like a kids' book. The formatting and use of a limited, earthy color palette complements the use of ordinary everyday speech rather than scientific lingo as often as possible. Finally, the generous white spaces on the pages make this book one I'd be proud to keep out for guests to see.