Waterford's new series of Pocket Naturalists to North American plants and animals highlight the most common, distinctive, and widely distributed species in each category. Like all Pocket Naturalists, these guides provide simplified pocket reference that allows readers to easily identify species at a glance. Many of the guides in the series also provide a review of the taxonomy of species and the key differences between groups. Waterford Pocket Naturalist guides provide a simplified synopsis to many fields of study. They serve as a "first step on the learning ladder" for novices and are a natural precursor to more complex guides that provide comprehensive scientific information.