Mammals of North America is the latest entry in the Kaufman Focus Guides series, launched to much acclaim last year with Kenn Kaufman’s Birds of North America. This innovative nature series uses digitally enhanced photographs, rather than drawings, to help users identify each entry. The new guide, Mammals of North America, limits its scope to those wild mammals known to occur on our continent, and the result is a perfect gift for campers and avid outdoorsmen. With keys for recognizing every animal from the elk to the marmot, this user-friendly guide also includes a map of the area in which each animal is likely to live, as well as the size and appearance of the animals’ tracks. “For the most part, mammals are what we have in mind when we think about the thrill of seeing wild animals,” Kaufman writes. “Let a fox or deer cross the path, let even a chipmunk approach the group, and it will become the center of attention. The mammal trumps everything else.” Amy Scribner is a writer in Olympia, Washington.

What is it about sea turtles that make them so mysterious? Is it the laborious egg-laying process, in which thousands of females lumber up the beach to deposit their eggs? Is it their immense size? Their prehistoric roots? According to author James R. Spotila, the director of the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation at Drexel University, it is all of this and more. In Sea Turtles, he writes, “The seven species alive today are ancient reptiles living dinosaurs if you will swimming through our oceans just as they did one hundred million years ago.” Sea Turtles is a compelling look at these ancient creatures, which can live for decades and reach weights of up to 2,000 pounds. Spotila traces the history and life cycle of the sea turtle, as well as efforts to preserve the seven species, many of which have been hunted to the brink of extinction. Sea Turtles profiles several individuals and programs aimed at saving the turtle. Beautiful color photos and lyrical writing make this book a must-have for any nature enthusiast on your gift list. Amy Scribner is a writer in Olympia, Washington.

If you’d rather walk on the wilder side, The Encyclopedia of Animals: A Complete Visual Guide chronicles all six animal groups, with special attention paid to conservation efforts for endangered species. Every page includes lush photos and fascinating facts that lend to hours of browsing. One quick flip through the pages reveals that bats can fly at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, and sperm whales have gullets large enough to swallow a human. A gorgeous guide to the animal world, The Encyclopedia of Animals is comprehensive enough to use as a reference, and lively enough for children and adults alike to page through just for fun. Amy Scribner is a writer in Olympia, Washington.