It’s Perfect Picture Book Friday!
And that means the weekend is nearly here!!
And that means it’s a perfect time for today’s Perfect Picture Book and a hike!!! (Something I’m always up for 😊)
Title: The Hike
Written & Illustrated By: Alison Farrell
Publisher: Chronicle Books, October 2019, informational fiction
Suitable For Ages: publisher says 3-5, but there’s a lot of information that would appeal to older kids
Themes/Topics: nature, hiking, cooperation, group activities
Opening: “We are going on a hike.”
Brief Synopsis: Three friends and their dog set off on a hike, noticing a lot about nature and having adventures along the way.
Links To Resources: The whole book is a resource – Wren’s notes throughout, and several pages at the end of the story devoted only to her notes and pictures – so there are a lot of resources to be found right there. Take a nature walk. Make your own nature notebook/sketchbook and write and draw the things you see. Go for a hike with your family. How To Make A Nature Journal/Notebook; Video: How To Make A Leaf Collage
Why I Like This Book: I find this book so appealing! The story text is quite simple (hence the 3-5 age range.) But the art is full of birds, animals, plants, and all kinds of other things found in nature that you might see on a hike – tons of little details for young readers to look at and learn about. One of the children in the story, Wren, keeps a sketchbook and draws little pictures and jots down interesting facts. The kids have to follow the trail, using a map (and I love that it’s an actual map and not GPS on a phone!) The kids look like they’re having so much fun outdoors together, doing something real, physically active, and educational as well as entertaining. By the time they get home, the stars are coming out and the art includes phases of the moon and constellations. It’s really just all around delightful!
(from the back matter)
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊 Go for a hike! 😊
Susanna Leonard Hill 
This sounds like a lovely book, one that should inspire many family adventures.
It really is, Norah! One of those books you read and think, why didn’t I think of writing that?!
There are too many of those, Susanna. 😉😊
Haha! I know what you mean! 🥰
I’m new here and enjoyed your review. I just put this book on hold at my library. Thanks for the recommendation!
So glad to have you here, Rebecca! I’m glad you enjoyed the review and hope you like the book!
What a perfect summer story. Who’s ready for a hike into nature? I love the gorgeous illustrations and how prepared the kids are with sketchbooks and maps. Perfect gift book.
Yes, Pat, and I love how it encourages kids to get outside and do something real! 😊
A perfect book as we start the long weekend!
I’m glad you agree, Patricia! I’m guessing you and I both will be hiking with our dogs this weekend 😊
Mom and I love a nature walk. Once I tried to eat a bug, but Mom wouldn’t let me. Then I tried to eat a nail. Nope. Why was there a nail in nature anyway? Go figure. I need to check Wren’s notes…
Love and licks,
Cupcake
You and Violet are clearly twins separated at birth, Cupcake! It isn’t a walk if she doesn’t try to put EVERYTHING she sees in her mouth (and swallow it if she can get away with it!) I hope you don’t find any more nails in Nature!
Wren!! What a perfect name for a sketcher-hiker-nature lover! Too bad there aren’t a pair of twins named El, so you could have El El Bean….ha.
Love the art! Love how inquisitive these kids are, as kids tend to be when you let them run wild in nature. A great book to inspire kids to get out and see the world around them! Thank for featuring this book, Susanna. It had not been on my radar.
Hahaha! El El Bean! 😊 I didn’t even think of that, Jilanne! Glad you like the book!
This is the kind of book that, when I read it, I say…how come I didn’t write this! What a delightful book…simple, yet with so much going on. Makes me think back fondly to all the hikes Stuart and I took when we lived in Colorado.
Exactly, right, Vivian? Me too! It is just beautifully done!
Lovely book and great choice as schools are just getting out!
Glad you approve, Jules 😊 Have you read it?
I love the excitement this evokes through the words and illustrations.
What a treasured.
Thanks, Susanna
You’re welcome! I’m so glad you like it!
This book sounds fantastic! Wren, the perfect name for this character as well!! The backmatter ,which contains Wren’s sketches, is the perfect addition to this story! 🙂 Thanks Susanna! Have a great weekend!
🙂
Glad you like it, Susan! It’s such a delightful book! Have a great weekend too!
This is a book for ME!!
Yes, Joanna! It totally is!!! 😊