Time spent outdoors is both physically and mentally healthy for all of us. Spending time in nature promotes creativity, relieves stress and is just plain fun – especially for kids. Best of all, most of us won’t need to travel far to enjoy the great outdoors – Westchester County has great places to visit and commune with nature. I found Westchester Magazine’s article, These Are the Top Outdoor Activities in Westchester to be particularly helpful in finding so many wonderful green spaces in our area. Pairing outdoor adventures with great books creates even better opportunities to enjoy the benefits of nature. Listed below are excellent, diverse titles for kids that feature those who have fought for preserving nature, those who have found strength in nature, and those who have appreciated the green spaces around them both independently and with their loved-ones – enjoy!

Rock by Rock: The Fantastical Garden of Nek Chand by Jennifer Bradbury and Sam Boughton
(Preschool – 3rd Grade)
Libby
Library Catalog

“Not a formally trained artist, Nek Chand built the famed Rock Garden in Chandigarh, India, ‘rock by rock,’ using discarded and found materials. Bradbury's text illuminates the artist's intuitive creative process as a means of easing his feelings of dislocation and homesickness after the Partition of India causes him and other Hindus to depart their ancestral villages, now considered part of the new Muslim nation of Pakistan. ‘That missing moved from his heart into his hands, and his hands knew what to do,’ writes Bradbury in the scene where Chand first finds the secluded piece of land on which he builds the garden, with its myriad sculptures, structures, and a ‘maze of tunnels and paths and arches and stairs.’ The garden serves as both a monument to the home Chand lost and a secret means of bringing joy and beauty to his new home. When others discover the garden (now grown to cover over forty acres), they are astounded, and the community rallies to save it from officials who threaten to tear it down in the name of development. Throughout, Boughton's illustrations burst with color. The art emulates Chand's use of found materials in its incorporation of newsprint and fabrics into digital collage. The illustrations make several overt references to some of Chand's actual figures, structures, and mosaics, with back-matter pages treating readers to photographs of the Rock Garden and of Chand himself. Pair with Rosenstock and Nivola's The Secret Kingdom.”–Horn Book Magazine

Forest Fighter: The Story of Chico Mendes by Anita Ganeri & Margaux Carpentier
(Grades 1-6)
Library Catalog

“In this gorgeous summary of the activist's life, readers learn in short chapters that Chico Mendes was born in 1944, deep in the Amazon rainforest. As a child he witnessed how his family and others were being exploited by the landowners who ran the rubber plantations. After he learned to read and write, Chico began to use his skills to help fight for worker rights. He became a spokesperson for the rubber tappers trade union and eventually gained international attention for his activism and leadership. Chico worked tirelessly to protect the rainforest and safeguard the livelihoods of rubber tappers and other forest people until he was assassinated at the age of 44. The illustrations are mural-like and deceptively simple, with beautiful images of rainforest creatures spread throughout. The interplay of textures and shapes fill the pages with life and vibrancy, and text blocks are placed in open areas for easy readability. The powerful narrative focuses on the direct impact of deforestation on Chico's community as well as his revolutionary work to enact change through unionization and protest. The text contains a wealth of information on the Amazon rainforest and the environmental impacts of deforestation, including back matter with Amazon facts, a glossary, and index, but no bibliography. VERDICT This stellar biography of a not-often featured environmental activist is a necessary addition to all biography shelves. A first purchase.”–School Library Journal

Southwest Sunrise by Nikki Grimes & Wendell Minor
(Preschool – 3rd Grade)
Libby
Library Catalog

“The boy of color who stars in this story begins sitting in a plane seat with his arms crossed and a baseball cap over his eyes. Jayden is moving from New York to New Mexico, and he's not happy about it. But on his first morning there, he sees ‘a mountain/ striped in rainbow’ out of his bedroom window: ‘Hey! Who put that there?’ As he starts to explore, exquisitely drafted spreads by Minor (Hi, I'm Norman) alternate between close-ups–desert wildflowers, birds, a tiny lizard–and sweeping, light-filled desert landscapes. The boy's resentment begins to thaw: ‘Where was all this sky in New York City?’ Lyrical lines by Grimes (Bedtime for Sweet Creatures) combine poetry (a flower called a wine-cup ‘spilling its burgundy beauty/ for me to drink up’) with exclamations: about red rock pillars, ‘Daddy should've told me/ this new place has/ its own skyscrapers!’ The boy's experience is touched with remarkable wonder and freedom; he walks alone with a guidebook to nature, musing about everything he finds. Grimes and Minor show what braving unexpected change looks like and introduce the idea of making friends with a distinctive landscape.”–Publishers Weekly

Somewhere by Robie H. Harris & Armando Mariño
(Preschool – 2nd Grade)
Library Catalog

“A tropical landscape alive with colorful birds, butterflies, and flowers makes an ideal place for a brown-skinned child wearing a dress and a baseball cap to explore alone, without their father. In a tropical city that could be Havana, with classic building facades painted in many colors, the two enter a park together. Wanting to go ‘Somewhere new./ Somewhere/ I had never, ever been before,’ the child sets off, ‘step-by-step, / making footprints/ in the mud,’ the father visible nearby behind some greenery. In watercolor and ink illustrations with dappled textures, debut illustrator Mariño paints the child as they find treasures along the way (‘a shiny peso!/ And a big green leaf!’) and arrive at last in a place that feels initially ‘somewhere new./ Somewhere so nice./ Somewhere so quiet,’ and soon enough, uncomfortably remote. Sure their father is ‘lonely without me,’ the figure takes a moment to retrace their steps until good thinking and confident self-talk offer the way. Daddy's affectionate gestures are welcoming as the child puts the found flower into his hair. Harris (It's Not the Stork!) writes a familiar story about experimenting with independence, and Mariño's paintings give it visual richness.”–Publishers Weekly

Zoe and the Fawn by Catherine Jameson & Julie Flett
(Preschool – 1st Grade)
Library Catalog

“A young girl and her father are out feeding their horses when they discover a fawn under a tree. They set off to find the fawn's mother, encountering other woodland animals along the way. Jameson is a debut Native author from the Okanagan Nation, and the book includes Okanagan words for the animal names in addition to the English names. Fleet's illustrations use a lot of white space and create the setting through a few pieces of shrubbery and spare images of flora and fauna. The dialogue follows a pattern. The child asks about the different animals and then repeats that they “are not the fawn's mother,” which helps emphasize the new words in the text. VERDICT A fun informational title with themes of family, learning, and exploring the wondrous natural world.”–School Library Journal

My Forest is Green by Darren Lebeuf & Ashley Barron
(Preschool-2nd Grade)
Libby
Library Catalog

“A child narrator, created from cut paper and paints, introduces readers to the beauty of life's ‘forest,’ both figuratively and literally.From the balcony of a high-rise apartment, the child can see the top of the urban forest nearby. However, there's also an indoor forest, one made of the child's own artwork depicting all the wondrous things found in nature. A double-page spread that reads ‘My forest is crispy…and soft’ depicts the child scuffing through fall leaves and gazing at a mossy spot in borderless horizontal panels on verso, while on recto those leaves are taped into collage images and replicated with sponge paints in corresponding panels. The child's forest has many facets: It is ‘tall,’ it is ‘short’; it is ‘fluffy…prickly [and] rough.’ Every page introduces many characteristics that define the child's world, and each is paired with both encounters with flora and fauna and creative use of varying art media to capture their essence. Colorful multimedia spreads convey the joy of discovery and model the different ways art can be used to express colors, textures, and feelings. Simple text offering a plethora of adjectives, some surprising (‘dangling yellow, tiptoe gray, peekaboo purple’), and illustrations that are simultaneously complex and accessible make this a book to enjoy on many levels. The child has beige skin and straight, black hair, as do mom and a baby sibling.Nature and art intertwine in this multifaceted homage to the beauty and creativity that surrounds and resides within each of us.”–Kirkus Reviews

I Talk Like a River by Scott Jordan
(Preschool – 3rd Grade)
Libby
Library Catalog

“In this lyrical and empowering picture book, Canadian poet Scott tells a story based on his own experiences as a boy who stuttered. In simple, evocative language, he captures the isolation, social devastation, and self-doubt of a child who feels incapable of communicating his thoughts and offers an affirming way to think about difference. As the boy's dad picks him up from school one day and takes him for a walk by the river to de-stress and relax, the narrative goes beyond the calming solace found in the natural world to make a more profound comparison and connection. The man reassures his son that his speech is like a river. Using this imagery and language, the boy is able to think about his dysfluency in a new way, realizing that sometimes his speech is ‘bubbling, whirling, churning, and crashing’; sometimes calm and smooth, just like the ever-shifting waters of the river. Smith's… verdant and light-infused paintings pack an emotional punch and provide the perfect complement to the poet's words. The varied layouts and dazzling spreads keep the boy center stage and lovingly framed. An expressive double-page close-up of the boy's face opens to a spectacularly effective gatefold of the child in the embrace of the river's sparkling water (Smith captures the play of light on water like nobody else). I Talk like a River is not mere bibliotherapy; it is instead a meditation for all children on self-acceptance, finding one's voice, and reconsidering what is labeled as normative. An important and unforgettable offering presented with natural beauty and grace.”–Horn Book Guide

Mii maanda ezhi-gkendmaanh/This is How I Know by Brittany Luby & Joshua Mangeshig P awis-Steckley
(Preschool – 2nd Grade)
Libby
Library Catalog

“An Anishinaabe grandmother teaches her grandchild that by close observation, the natural world of plants, insects, animals, and birds will reveal how to know when seasons change from one to the next. Written in English and translated into Anishinaabemowin by the Corbieres, an Anishinaabe father and son pair, the story begins with the question, “Aaniish ezhi-gkedmaanh niibing? / How do I know summer is here?” This question is repeated for fall, winter, and spring, the Anishinaabemowin always preceding the English on the page. The grandchild learns how to recognize nature's signs of the changing seasons by watching and paying attention. With easily understood explanations, the elder shows how nature accommodates plants and animals, birds and insects. ‘When yellow Bumblebee collects purple fireweed…blueberries drop readily, [and] the sun slips into an orange dream,’ summer is here. The arrival of fall is signaled ‘when Mallard feasts on yellow corn, and Black Bear licks the ant pile clean’; winter is on its way when ‘gray Mouse sneaks inside for warmth’; and spring is heralded by “brown Peeper sing[ing], ‘Goodnight, little one.' ” Luby draws on her Anishinaabe heritage and time as a child with elders as inspiration for this gentle intergenerational tale set in the present day. Ojibwe Woodland artist Pawis-Steckley renders the scenes with bold outlines and jewel colors, many figures gently styled with traditional designs… In this lyrical, bilingual story, a grandmother's knowledge reveals wonders.”–Kirkus Reviews

The Rescuer of Tiny Creatures by Curtis Manley & Lucy Ruth Cummins
(Preschool – 3rd Grade)
Libby
Library Catalog

“All critters deserve protection–even icky ones. So believes Roberta, whose self-appointed job it is to rescue unloved creepy-crawlies. Classmates scoff, but she's undeterred, ensuring that bees, worms, beetles, spiders, and others of their ilk–many-legged or legless–are not trampled or otherwise mistreated. Her kindheartedness isn't always appreciated: Mom won't allow a snail in her garden, and a dragonfly can bite. Then comes the day when not only spiders, but classmates and teacher require rescuing. When a horde of ‘stripy specks with legs’ invades her classroom, Roberta springs into action with a nifty idea that entails her enlisting the aid of a classmate proficient at origami. What happens next not only involves the safe rescue and release of numerous baby spiders, but also earns new respect among Roberta's mates for tiny creatures–and, especially, for Roberta and her knowledge. An added bonus is a budding new friendship. This charming, understated tale will encourage young readers and listeners to reevaluate their own ideas about creatures they might have previously ignored or disliked. Interesting facts about some creatures occur unobtrusively throughout the narrative. Roberta and her family present White, and the lively illustrations depict other humans as racially diverse; rescuees are equally diverse and appealing. The backmatter includes information about Roberta's creatures and instructions for creating a paper origami box… A welcome portrayal of a young female undaunted by bugs and slime.”–Kirkus Reviews

Broken Butterfly Wings/Alas de mariposa rotas by Raquel M. Ortiz & Carrie Salazar
(Preschool – 3rd Grade)
Library Catalog

“After waiting patiently for the mail, Gabriela finally receives a present from her aunt Sylvia: beautiful, glittery butterfly wings. Gabriela is eager to try them out; she flaps her arms up and down as she tries to get them to work, but they just won't lift her off the ground. When Gabriela's father finds her using tools to try to get her wings to work, he helps her realize her wings really do work—and with his help, the little girl spreads her wings and pretends she travels to El Yunque rain forest in Puerto Rico. This lovely bilingual book, with its soft hues and flowing text, will help readers see that every day can be extraordinary if we use our imaginations to fly. Readers will want to learn more about El Yunque National Forest and will be encouraged to try out their own make-believe voyages. VERDICT A good addition to Spanish and bilingual picture book collections.”–School Library Journal

Almost Everything, Yet Nothing by Hiroshi Osada
(Preschool – 3rd Grade)
Library Catalog

“An adult and child set off in a rowboat for an overnight camping trip in this author-illustrator team's (Every Color of Light, rev. 9/20) latest collaboration. Osada's poetic text is a series of phrases and riddles exploring everything water can be, from the profound (‘It has no color, but can be any color. It has no shape, but can take any shape’) to the playful (‘It is the pee of life’). Arai's impressionistic illustrations, in bright shades of sky blue and spring green, move the story forward while giving form to Osada's observations. Some paintings focus on the concrete, such as a waterfall demonstrating how water ‘cascades and courses.’ Others match the text's fancifulness, as when the characters row on a sea of stars. The words and pictures together become the story of an older person imparting wisdom to a younger one as they explore the world together.”–Horn Book Magazine

Climb On! by Baptiste Paul & Jacqueline Alcántara
(Preschool – 3rd Grade)
Library Catalog

“A girl and her father, both brown-skinned, hike to the ‘tippy top’ of a mountain in Saint Lucia. ‘It's a great day for watching futbol,’ says Daddy, but his daughter wants to go hiking, and she's raring to go. Dad reminds her that they have to pack their knapsacks. Soon after, they're off! As they leave their seaside village, the girl shoots ahead eagerly while her father paces himself. Ascending the lushly forested slope, they admire tropical flora and fauna. Dad struggles and pauses to rest, but the spirited girl is undaunted; full of joyful abandon, she leaps over boulders, skirts the insects that attack Dad, and uses a vine to swing across a river, much to her father's dismay. There are mishaps (nothing too serious!), but the pair persist and ‘mouté! Climb on!’ Paul's text is narrated with brio and exclamations aplenty. Short sentences create a sense of urgency that mirrors the girl's excitement and haste. Saint Lucian Creole words appear throughout and are glossed in-text, adding cultural authenticity; unfortunately, the words are othered with italicization. Alcántara's signature motion-packed art, rendered vibrantly in pencil, marker, and gouache with digital touches, lends itself well to a story centering physical activity. Varying visual perspectives allow readers to better feel the characters' emotions and appreciate the spectacular setting. A surprise seek-and-find challenge at the end can be enjoyed by a broad age range. A lovely–and needed–book about the rewards of persistence and Black people enjoying nature.”–Kirkus Reviews

How to Solve a Problem: The Rise (and Falls) of a Rock-Climbing Champion by Ashima Shiraishi & Yao Xiao
(K-3rd Grade)
Libby
Library Catalog

“A teen rock-climbing star describes how she approaches a climb, mapping it out one step at a time. Olympic-hopeful Ashima Shiraishi addresses readers directly, explaining that climbers call the rocks they face ‘problems.’ Her first-person narration is relatively simple, often featuring a single line on a page. Shiraishi describes facing one difficult climb, breaking it down into familiar steps and using similes to identify each distinctive part. She climbs, falls, and climbs again ‘with the new information / the fall had given me.’ This New York-born, Japanese American phenom is given a heroic treatment in digital illustrations by illustrator Xiao. The cover showcases Shiraishi hanging by her fingertips, almost flying, against a backdrop of sky and mountain. Early spreads showcase her climbs in Central Park before attempting the challenge at the heart of her story. After tracing her path up the rock, Xiao depicts Shiraishi reaching for a path through the stars. A final spread repeats the night sky motif with a more detailed history of her accomplishments through age 15. Publisher Christopher Myers introduces this teen author and athlete as someone who is ‘one of the best in the world at what she does’ but with a secret superpower: ‘the ability to try again after failing.’ VERDICT A well-told story that could be an inspiration to young readers.”–School Library Journal