Title: My Hike in the Forest
Author & Illustrator: Neecy Twinem
Publisher: Muddy Boots, 2017
Ages: 5-8
Themes: animals, plants, forests, adventure, hiking
Genre: Nonfiction
Opening:
Down the soft path and into the lush forest, we eagerly begin our hike. All is quiet, but we know the woods are full of life. What will we encounter today—birds, flowers, maybe even a deer?
Synopsis:
A book about hiking and exploring. Young readers will be guided along a path in a deciduous forest that reveals fairly-like ferns, beautiful songbirds, a frog, a chipmunk, some wild turkeys, and even an appearance by a whitetail deer!
Why I like this book:
My Hike in the Forest is the perfect book to encourage young reader to put on their hiking boots, if possible grab a camera and some binoculars, and head off down some nature trails in their local forest. The illustrations are very lush and evoke the intense greens of a deciduous forest.
With lyrical language, each double-paged spread introduces the readers to common flora and fauna found in a typical deciduous forest, many of which will be familiar to children. The border of each spread contains some more simple facts about the species encountered, for example, “baby rabbits are called kittens,” and “snakes stick out their tongues to pick up smells and feel things.” The corners of the borders contain objects found on the end pages—backpacks, binoculars, compass….
Activities/resources:
There is a scavenger hunt at the back of the book, which invites to experience the hike in a different way.
Penn State has some excellent lesson plans (K-5) about forestry and natural resources.
Fantastic Fun and Learning has five fun forest science activities for kids
Kids Craft Room has an excellent leaf-threading activity helping younger children develop fine motor skills.
bichobolaecocostura.blogspot.com has some great craft ideas kids could do right now in the heart of fall.
Each week a group of bloggers reviews picture books we feel would make great educational reads. To help teachers, caregivers and parents, we have included resources and/or activities with each of our reviews. A complete list of the thousands of books we have reviewed can be found sorted alphabetically and by topics, here on Susanna Leonard Hill’s website.
In my 20's, with only my guitar and a rucksack, I wandered the continents, immersing myself in the lives of some wonderful people, projects and stories, which changed the way I view my responsibility to others and this earth. Right now I'm a European transplant in the US who writes books for children and young adults. Stories can help us not only navigate our world but can connect us to others, and allow us to inspire and help each other. I believe that equity and empathy should be at the core of our all actions, words, and stories.
I am also a school librarian and I get a kick out of book-matchmaking! And I use the pronouns she/her.
Don’t think I’ve ever seen a picture book about a hike in the forest — backpack and all. Sounds like this story would have spoken to you as a child. Will admit I would have loved it to. Loved to explore creek beds and the nearby woods as a child. Will keep this one in mind for our growing great grandson.