Someone gave me this book (THANK YOU FOREVER!). I have always wanted to hold a bird in my hands, and now it seems I truly can, since the illustrations are so beautul and detailed, they seem so real! And because the book is so cleverly organized, I can get to the information quickly before the birds hop or fly out of sight. For instance, Cardinals are listed under "Red Birds" duh, how simple can you get? "Beginner's Luck" has me willing to try and identify more. And when the sun goes down, it makes great bedside reading because the information is so well-edited, it's packed with details but not overwhelming. I recently ordered 16 as holiday gifts after testing my book out on both my 10-year-old-niece (who wants to be a veterinarian but she's allergic to animals. Now she'll be able to safely get up close and personal. One book is going to my 95-year-old neighbor whose wife just died and winter's coming up. He's got a bird feeder outside the window where he always sits, and he never had a bird guide, so this book can help him solve bird mysteries. The price value is just right for gift-giving, especially considering the ADDED VALUE of introducing bird-watching as a pastime for a lifetime - one that will connect people to the greater outdoors, which is so wonderful! Each book will go a long, long way. Mine already has a lot of miles on it, as it now goes everywhere with me. It's my constant companion, just like the birds will now always be!