first book of nature & nature journals

this usborne book has been our "science" to this point. we've spent about a year reading this 167-page book that compiles 7 smaller books: birds, trees, flowers, butterflies and moths, wild animals, fishes, and creepy crawlies. there is so much info packed into each colorful page. we try to read outdoors so that we can see what we're reading about immediately. i've learned tons and the kids have some interesting vocabulary that they use when we're out and about in nature. we could probably read it again this coming year and they'd not mind because they'd learn many new things. even sy gathers in for this reading!
we were trying to keep "nature journals" as well. but we've given up for the time being. i bought these spiral notebooks with the top 1/2 of the pages blank for drawing and the bottom half with lines for writing. the boys would draw something in pencil out in the yard and come in to write a sentence or 2 about their drawing. unfortunately, i cannot draw and they have not been avid drawers or colorers so there is very little development with their art. many times they chose to draw something from the garden, a tomato or pumpkin perhaps, and it was basically a circle. so i have decided to shelve these until we can get some "formal"-ish drawing instruction. anyone? anyone?