A Field Guide to Nature Journaling (Review)

I’ve kept a nature journal for years, and I still get excited when I find a book that inspires me to see and document the world differently. That’s exactly what happened when I picked up A Field Guide to Nature Journaling: Hike and Draw Guide Books by James Samuel Sisti. Whether you're just getting started or you've been journaling for a while, this book offers something that’s rare: a thoughtful, field-tested approach to observation and creativity that’s grounded in real experience.

If you’ve ever felt unsure what to draw, how to describe what you’re seeing, or wished you could better capture your outdoor adventures, A Field Guide to Nature Journaling might just be what you need. It’s become one of those books I recommend to anyone asking how to begin — because it meets you wherever you are.

A Field Guide to Nature Journaling: First Impressions and Why It’s Worth Your Time

This isn’t just a collection of drawing tips. It’s a mindset guide. What really struck me is how it encourages curiosity and exploration, rather than perfection. There are practical exercises for sketching plants, animals, landscapes, and even sound maps. But the deeper value is in how it helps you see — not just look.

James Sisti brings the tone of someone who’s been doing this a long time and still enjoys the process. I especially appreciated the sections on documenting findings ethically, and how to engage with the wider community through things like Citizen Science. I hadn’t expected that from a journaling guide, and it added a whole new dimension to how I think about my practice.

You can see how this fits into the bigger picture by checking out my overview of nature journaling basics and why nature journaling is so beneficial.

Key Points

• You don’t need to be an artist to start — observation and note-taking are just as valuable.
• The prompts and exercises are designed to lower the barrier to entry and get you going, even if you only have 5–10 minutes.
• There are unexpected gems in here: ethical collecting, citizen science participation, and how to socialize your findings in a thoughtful way.

What Makes This Book Unique

Most nature journaling books lean hard on one side — either they’re too artistic or too scientific. This one balances both.

Built for Beginners and Curious Minds

Even if you’ve never drawn outside before, this book gives you a clear entry point. I love how it breaks things down into small, doable steps. It doesn’t say “go draw a bird,” it says “try to draw a quick gesture sketch of a bird you saw this morning, even if it only lasted three seconds.” That’s a realistic place to start. There’s a whole section on how to slow down and build a habit, which pairs really well with these nature journaling activities I've used with adults and kids alike.

Visuals That Teach, Not Intimidate

The sketches and examples inside are instructional, not just pretty. There’s a ton of variation, so you’re not left thinking your work has to look a certain way. What helped me was seeing pages that had both quick scribbles and more detailed sketches — it gave me permission to be messy. It reminds me a bit of the examples I share in my post on nature journaling for adults, where the focus is more on exploration than results.

How I Use It in My Own Practice

I don’t follow the book step-by-step, but I dip into it often — especially when I feel stuck or uninspired. It’s kind of like a spark. Sometimes I’ll pull a prompt from it before a creative nature journaling excursion, or I’ll revisit the tips on drawing fast birds when I’m out hiking.

One tip I picked up from the book that changed everything for me: don’t worry about making a finished page. Just start with the date, location, weather, and a quick note about something interesting. That little structure gives me momentum.

It’s also helped me plan and lead nature journaling workshops, because the structure makes it easier to adapt exercises to different ages and attention spans. I’ve used some of the call-and-response style observation prompts with small groups, and it always gets people engaged.

Who Should Get This Book?

If any of these sound like you, I think you’ll get a lot out of it:

• You’ve tried journaling before but gave up because you didn’t know what to write or draw
• You want to get your kids outside and learning in a hands-on way
• You’re a teacher looking to introduce nature journaling in the classroom
• You just want a peaceful, enriching hobby that helps you unplug

When I first started, I was overwhelmed by how “perfect” nature journal pages looked online. This book was a breath of fresh air. It gave me permission to journal for myself — not for show.

I’d also recommend pairing it with a solid setup of supplies and a dedicated nature journaling bag so you can grab and go.

Strategic Takeaways for Your Journaling Practice

Once you’ve read it, here are a few ways to make the most of what you learn:

• Try a daily or weekly prompt from the book or from my site, and don’t worry if your journal looks messy.
• Pick one theme to focus on for a month — like plants or birds. I’ve done this with flowers in spring and mushrooms in fall. It really sharpens your eye.
• Join or start a local event around International Nature Journaling Week to connect with others and stay inspired. Having a community, even a small one, makes the practice more sustainable.

More Ways to Explore

If this book gets you excited about field sketching and naturalist thinking, there’s a lot more to explore. I’ve put together guides on everything from watercolor nature journaling to planning a journaling adventure around travel or seasonal changes. You can also browse real-life examples to see how different people approach the practice.

Nature journaling doesn’t have to be daily, perfect, or impressive. It just has to be yours.