Monday, June 19, 2017

Outdoor Adventures: Books For Great Outdoors Month

At the start of summer, thoughts inevitably turn toward outdoor adventures, whether it's catching a baseball game, embarking on an early morning fishing adventure, or simply flying a kite on a windy day. So, it's not surprising that June has designated as the official Great Outdoors Month. Here are some of my favorite books celebrating the fun of the great outdoors:




Of course, baseball officially gets underway in the spring. But late sunsets and lazy days of summer make watching baseball games an ideal summer pastime. Baseball Is...  is a superb celebration of baseball's history (including the Negro Leagues and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League) and the joys of winning the World Series. This is a great read aloud for young baseball fans!





Sam is really looking forward to his fishing trip with Dad...until little sister Lucy wants to join in the fun. Gone Fishing: A Novel in Verse is a sweet, touching, and funny story about siblings, family adventures, and, of course, fishing. Each poem is told in a specific style, which makes it a great way to learn more about poetry. (There's also a sequel: Gone Camping: A Novel in Verse.)



Kimmy is determined to make her own kite, despite everyone's doubts that it will fly. After all of her hard work, will her special kite fly? Kimmy's Marvelous Wind-Catching Wonder is an adorable story of creativity, hard work, and determination.



If you think you have to make a special trip to a big park to go bird-watching, think again! Getting started with bird-watching can begin in your own backyard. Look Up! Bird Watching in Your Own Backyard is an eye-opening (and funny, thanks to the snark supplied by the birds in the book) read destined to inspire budding ornithologists.



With no early morning alarm bells for school to worry about, summer nights are perfect for astronomy nights. Looking Up! The Science of Stargazing (part of the terrific Science of Fun Stuff series) is an energetic introduction to stargazing.



Kate Messner's nature-themed picture books are absolute stunners. Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt is a gorgeous look at the seasons through a vegetable garden; don't miss her follow-up, Over and Under the Pond.

Remember, the best time to visit your local library is when it's simply too hot to enjoy outdoor activity! Check out our summer reading program for (free!) ways to enjoy the entire summer.

Jennifer Schultz, Youth Services Librarian, Fauquier County Public Library



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