Books with title Smithsonian Handbooks: Flags

Written by noted entomologist George C. McGavin, this comprehensive handbook covers all 29 orders of insect as well as spiders and terrestrial arthropods. It’s packed with hundreds of annotated photographs and illustrations to help you discern the many types of insects and gives you a brief description of each insect family with main characteristics, including life cycles, the environment in which they thrive, and a photographic guide to assist you in categorizing the insect group. It’s an indispensable handbook for beginners and enthusiasts alike. Smithsonian Handbooks are the most visually appealing guides on the natural world in the book marketplace. Featuring more than 500 full-color illustrations and photographs, along with detailed annotations, Smithsonian Handbooks make identification easy and accurate.

Published in association with the Smithsonian Institution, this accessible, attractive, and detailed handbook combines 1,500 vivid full-color photos with descriptions of more than 700 species. This authoritative, systematic and clear photographic approach marks a new generation of identification guides. This comprehensive book explains what an herb is, identifies which parts are collected and prepared, and describes different uses for each—from cooking and medicine to beauty treatment, aromatherapy, and crafts. Essential details of the species’ size, habitat, and natural range complete every entry, and a concise glossary explains technical and scientific terms. Each expertly written entry combines a concise description with annotated photographs to highlight the herb’s distinguishing features and chief uses. Color illustrations show the whole plant or tree in its most typical form, while color-coded bands provide quick reference facts. The guidebook is authored by Lesley Bremness, writer and presenter of the TV show The World of Herbs, who has studied exotic herbs from all around the world. She is also a gifted organic gardener, having first been “discovered” when she won an herb garden design competition at the Chelsea Flower Show, London.

The most visually appealing guides to the natural world that one can buy. Packed with superb full-color photography, detailed descriptions, and highlights of key facts, Mammals is the latest addition to the Smithsonian Handbook series. Including more than 500 profiles each with its own spread, there isn't a more reliable identification guide on the market.