Books about the outdoors are a great way to get your kid interested in the outdoors but also teach them about nature! They can show children the wonders of nature. Many books also use the outdoors to teach wonderful lessons such as ones about love and family. There are many things to keep in mind when being outdoors such as safety and respect. Whether it be through other people who make the great outdoors their workplace (such as conservationists or park rangers) or a book, both sources are a great way to learn about being safe and respectful to nature. 

There is so much you can do outdoors. Activities like hiking, running, kayaking, and more are some common ones. However, there are even more that are quite creative - building a fairy house among the exposed roots of a tree, creating your own fort out of big sticks, playing pretend explorers; these are just some of the many ideas out there! We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Illustrated by Helen Oxbury is one such book that demonstrates the creativity of playing outside. Join this family as they venture across vast lands and wilderness to try to find a bear! Backyard Fairies by Phoebe Wahl follows a girl as she tries to find the fairies that inhabit her backyard. Encountering magic and clues, join her in searching for those elusive fairies!

Not all kids are thrilled by the outdoors but there is so much joy and fun to be found in them. Books are a great way to show them what nature has to offer. The Not-So Great Outdoors by Madeline Kloepper is one such book! A girl who is quite used to the city is not so thrilled by her family’s plans to go camping. Go with her as she realizes that the outdoors is just as amazing as the city! This book will show kids just how beautiful and wonderful nature is in clear detail. 

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Exploring the outdoors with others is even more fun than by yourself. Whether it be with family, friends, or a pet; each journey is a unique and amazing one! See what your pet can show you in Please Take Me for a Walk by Susan Gal. Let the wonderful pup of this book show you all the amazing things they found outside! 

Adults can enjoy the outdoors as much as kids but sometimes they need reminders to pay attention to the nature all around them. You’re Missing It by Brady Smith and Tiffany Thiessen is a great book where kids show their parents what they’re missing all around them. See both parents and kids enjoy the everyday delights with each other and have fun in the park!

There are also books that teach kids about outdoor skills, survival tips, and respecting the world around them. Just as your kids enjoy what they find outdoors, you want to let other children enjoy it too and not harm or destroy it. As lots of outdoor people say, “leave it as you found it!” Teach your kids this important lesson with the book, Spring Hike by Dineo Dawd. Leaving no trace behind lets everyone enjoy nature together for many days ahead!

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Sovann Hyde is an intern at Cardinal Rule Press and studying at Michigan State University. She enjoys writing and reading in her free time as well as gaming with friends. Jetta, Gryffin, and Bella, her family’s dogs and cat, keep her energetic and curious.