Title: Virginia Beach Naturally; a guide to enjoying the wildlife
Description: New in 2011, a book that covers the gamut of Virginia Beach wildlife. This text includes chapters on a broad range of subjects such as birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, arachnids, shells, crustaceans, insects (with individual chapters for butterflies/moths, beetles, and grasshoppers), mushrooms, ferns, grasses, wildflowers, trees, geology & soils, habitats, oceanography, stargazing, and weather. There are also chapters that detail local spots for nature observation as well as natural hazards for the intrepid naturalist to consider. Most chapters include a checklist of species that occur within Virginia Beach and many species are tagged with an abundance code. Chapters discuss where and when to find the described creatures and plants, as well an assortment of interesting facts about them. There are suggested activities for people of all ages. Virginia Beach Naturally is 504 pages in length, has over 900 color photographs in a single section of 96 pages (as well as a couple hundred black & whites scattered throughout), and weighs four pounds. The photographs are annotated with information that serves to educate. Scattered Calvin & Hobbes cartoons add humor to the text. Selected theological elements touch on a plane not frequently seen in nature guides. This book should appeal to residents of the city as well as tourists who visit the area. Its contents are almost as applicable to the whole Tidewater region. The wonders of the natural world are a recurring theme in this volume. The book is hardback with a dust jacket.