Zoologist Jim Kavanagh has made a career out of introducing novices to plants, animals, the sciences and world cultures. In addition to creating over 500 simplified nature guides, he has also authored guides to languages, cities and outdoor skills. An avid traveler and backpacker, Kavanagh’s path has taken him around the world to many remote destinations including the upper Amazon, Africa, Australia, and the Arctic Circle (and this is just the As). He is also the author of a series of state-specific guides to common species and natural attractions and a children's book on evolution.

With 650+ titles in print and 6.5 million copies sold, Waterford Press publishes the largest line of folding-format reference guides in the industry. Our mission is to connect people to the natural world by making knowledge about wildlife identification, outdoor recreation, travel, and safety and survival skills accessible to a wide audience.