Last week we told you our recommended reads for lovers of nature and the outdoors. This week we’re building on that list with a new audience: kids!
Last week we told you our recommended reads for lovers of nature and the outdoors. This week we’re building on that list with a new audience: kids! There are some great children’s books out there inspired by the woods. We’ve put together a list of ten of our favorites (many of which we read as kids) to share with the children and grandchildren in your life.
Picture Books:
1. The Mitten by Jan Brett
Ever wonder what happens in the woods when you’re not there? Woodland animals react to a boy’s lost mitten in this children’s classic.
2. Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, illustrated by John Schoenherr
This Caldecott medal winner tells a loving story of a father and daughter who go looking for a great horned owl in a snowy woods.
3. I Can Name 50 Trees Today! by Bonnie Worth, illustrated by Aristides Ruiz and Joe Mathieu
Very few books are suitable for introducing kids to trees at an early age. This book gives a wonderful overview in traditional Dr. Seuss fashion.
4. Marsh Morning by Marianne Berkes, illustrated by Robert Noreika
A great book for budding birders, Marsh Morning reveals the dawn chorus of birds in a wetland. With lifelike watercolor illustrations, the book shows red-winged blackbirds, great blue herons, red-bellied woodpeckers and more. The rhythmic writing will have you hearing the music like you were out in the marsh.
5. Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
In this classic Caldecott Honor book, a little girl and baby black bear get so excited picking blueberries that they get their moms mixed up!
6. Would You Rather Be a Pollywog? All about Pond Life by Bonnie Worth, illustrated by Aristides Ruiz and Joe Mathieu
We wanted a variety of books on this list, but these modern-day Dr. Seuss variations are so good, we had to list two. The critters featured in this book are very common, so the information is easily reinforced during walks in the park.
Chapter Books:
7. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Rat, Mole, Badger, and Toad form unlikely friendships in this classic children’s tale.
8. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
This story captures the powerful connection between people and dogs. Billy Colman and his two dogs roam the Ozarks in search of the elusive raccoon, having adventures all along the way.
9. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
This Newbery Honor book tells the story of Sam Gribley. Unhappy in his New York City apartment, Sam runs away to the Catskill Mountains, where he learns to live off the land.
10. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
When his pilot suffers a heart attack and crashes, thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson finds himself alone in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but a hatchet. It will take all his knowledge, determination, and courage to survive.
