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Get Outside! Books to Inspire Curiosity About the Natural World

Too often we hear it lamented that today's children do not get outside as much as they should. They are constantly "plugged in," being fed virtual entertainment from television, video games, and the internet rather than actively exploring the world around them. In his influential book Last Child in the Woods, author Richard Louv refers to the chronic lack of interaction with nature as "nature deficit disorder," arguing that it can have serious effects on children's mental, physical, and spiritual health. The aim of this text set is to provide parents and educators with books that will encourage children's curiosity about nature and foster their willingness and desire to explore beyond the boundaries of the man-made world. Not only is this important to children as individuals, it is important for the world as a whole. As humanity's abuse of the planet persists, it is imperative that we instill a love and respect for nature in younger generations so we can redirect our future for the better.

This text set approaches its goals in several ways, using a variety of books. It encompasses both old classics as well as more recent publications, both fiction and nonfiction. Some of the books exhibit the ever-salient absent parent motif, while others revolve around fun family adventures. The common theme of these books is that each one acts in its own way to inspire the reader to be curious about nature and willing to explore. The books are distinguished by how they relate to the main theme of the text set in the accompanying schematic. Finding Wild is labeled as "What is nature?" because it provides a good introduction to the themes of nature and wildness. In this sense, the set could be seen as a controlling text set building on this book, although this is not necessarily how it is meant to be viewed. The other books are separated by "Family adventures" and "Solo adventures" to distinguish the nature of the stories they tell. Do they focus on a child's solitary exploration of nature, or do they tell the story of a family bonding in the context of nature? This provides readers with different ideas of how they can explore the natural world, whether by themselves in their yard or on a family hike. Finally, Grand Canyon is the only nonfiction book in the set, so it encourages curiosity about nature in a different way from the others. Each of these categories provides a unique lens through which readers can view nature and each will encourage curiosity and adventurousness in its own way.

The books

Finding Wild, Megan Wagner Lloyd, Illustrated by Abigail Halpin, Alfred A. Knopf, 2016.

This book introduces young readers to the idea of wild nature by following two explorers through various adventures outside of the tame and orderly city. Vibrant and detailed watercolors convey the beauty of different aspects of nature, from jungles to mountains to forest fires. The text is kept concise but builds on the illustrations with wonderfully poetic figurative language, imagery, and onomatopoeia. The emphatic writing and eye-catching illustrations will appeal to readers in a wide range of ages, but the book would be especially appropriate for mid-elementary readers who are starting to explore poetic and figurative language. Ideal for children who are beginning to be adventurous and curious about nature, this book will inspire readers to try to "find wild" in their own ways.

Flashlight, Lizi Boyd, Chronicle Books, 2014.

In this wordless picturebook, a boy explores the forest at night with his flashlight. The majority of the illustrations are monochromatic, but the illuminating beam of the flashlight reveals vibrant patches of detail in the nighttime landscape. However, this is not to say that the illuminated patches are the only places of beauty and detail. The illustrations are rich with hidden woodland creatures, various plants, and other treasures, and even feature some cutouts, which add detail and provide glimpses of later pages. This book would be especially appropriate for children who are beginning to imagine and piece together their own stories, as they will benefit from the opportunity to interpret the story and put it into their own words.

A Walk in the Forest, Maria Dek, Princeton Architectural Press, 2017.

Simplistic yet colorful watercolor illustrations are accompanied by minimal text in this chronicle of the wonders of the forest. Although the simplicity of the text would be appropriate for younger readers, early elementary-aged readers will appreciate the ideas the book gives about exploring nature. Following footprints and building shelters are two examples of fun forest activities author Maria Dek recommends. This book will spark inspiration and curiosity for readers to explore nature and use their imaginations.

Owl Moon, Jane Yolen, Illustrated by John Schoenherr, Philomel Books, 1987.

Jane Yolen's iconic Owl Moon is most likely not anything new to most readers, but it fits perfectly with this text set due to its focus on an adventure to explore nature. Narrated from a young girl's point of view, the book chronicles her late-night trek to catch a glimpse of an owl in the woods with her father. The text perfectly mimics a child's explanation of the story while also blending in beautiful elements of figurative language, making it great for early- to mid-elementary readers. Schoenherr's illustrations use the soft, shadowy tones of a winter night to build the atmosphere of the landscape, while his creative use of perspective enhances the sense of scale and detail. The book also does away with the absent parent motif, focusing on a parent-child adventure. This will inspire similar nature-based family bonding activities.

On a Magical Do-Nothing Day, Beatrice Alemagna, Harper Collins Publishers, 2017.

When her mother takes away her portable video game, a little girl takes it back and promptly runs out to the woods to hide from her mother and play it. However, she quickly discovers how much fun there is to be had in the forest when she loses the device to a pond and is forced to explore the real world. Using a palette of dark, earthy browns, greys, and greens, Alemagna turns the forest into a beautiful landscape of subtle fantasy. The protagonist forgets about her game and revels in her new discoveries, setting a perfect example for young readers who may have become too attached to video games and TV.

Daniel Finds a Poem, Micha Archer, Nancy Paulsen Books, 2016.

This vividly colorful book introduces children to the idea of poetry by comparing it to different aspects of nature. When Daniel first learns the word "poetry," he asks all the animals in the park what they think it means, each one giving their own metaphorical response. The author uses figurative language to introduce readers to the idea of poetry by comparing it to the beauty of nature, conveying that poetry can be different for different people. The book culminates in Daniel's own poem, which combines the animals' ideas into one piece encompassing these uniquely wonderful aspects of nature within their own urban park. The book conveys that the beauty of nature can be found even in unlikely places, which will inspire urban children to enjoy nature in their own ways.

We're Going on a Bear Hunt, Michael Rosen, Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, McElderry Books, 1989.

Ripe with repetition and onomatopoeia, this familiar classic is perfect for preschool readers and those who are beginning to be able to follow along with the simple text. The illustrations are done in a combination of black-and-white and color, with the color emphasizing the onomatopoetic parts which young readers love to read along with. This is another book that eschews the absent parent motif, instead using the family as the centerpiece of the plot. This makes it fun to read along as a family and can inspire readers to undertake similar family adventures in imaginative play or in the real world. Geared towards a younger audience, it will encourage an adventurous spirit early in life.

Grand Canyon, Jason Chin, Roaring Brook Press, 2017.

The only nonfiction book in this text set, this stunningly-illustrated introduction to the ecology and history of the Grand Canyon plays a different role from the other books. While the others encourage curiosity about nature by showing fictional stories of adventure and exploration, this one will build readers' curiosity with its plethora of facts and its incredible realistic illustrations. Jason Chin, an award-winning author and illustrator, provides rich information about this natural wonder throughout the book, in the text as well as the illustrations. While the art is beautiful and detailed by itself, it is augmented by labels, captions, and diagrams explaining different aspects of the canyon. The illustrations also follow the trek of a father and daughter as they explore the canyon, creating a background storyline to augment the informational text. With its richly informative text and detailed illustrations, this book will encourage an appreciation for the natural world in older readers (perhaps mid- to late-elementary age) who are developing a curiosity about science and natural history.

Take it further!

This text set is meant to engender a love for nature in readers and foster their curiosity and willingness to explore. Thus, it should be accompanied by real-world activities in nature. The best ways to build on this text set would be to encourage children to play and explore outside and to plan family activities such as hikes or camping trips. Included are links to some websites that may be of interest to those who would like to further develop their children's connection with nature.

Thanks for visiting, and Have fun outside!

References

All pictures from Google Images

Louv, Richard. Last Child in the Woods. Algonquin Books, 2008.

Created by Matthew St. Pierre

Created By
Matthew St. Pierre
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