Be Outside


Books

Let's Go Fishing: A Book for Beginners

By Gerald D. Schmidt
Roberts Rinehart Publishers, 2000
ISBN: 091179784X
Age 8+

A wonderful reference guide for fishing for the beginner. Covers safety, fish, tackle, how to find great fishing holes, even how to cook your catch. Includes pictures of people of various skill levels and genders.

Exploring the Night Sky: The Equinox Astronomy Guide for Beginners

By Terence Dickinson
Camden House Publishing, 1987
ISBN: 0920656668
Age 10+

Take a tour of the night sky. Beautiful illustrations and photographs to guide the beginning astronomer to see the beauty of what lies beyond the earth. So grab your telescope and get watching.

Tiger's Tips: Beginner's Golf for Kids Ages 6-106

By Don Emerick
Quality Sports Publications, 1998
ISBN: 188575812X
Ages 8-12

A beginner's guide to golf for kids. Covers the game, the rules, the etiquette, safety, and getting started.

Backyard

By Donald Silver
The McGraw Hill Companies, 1997
ISBN: 007057930X
Ages 6-9

Take a tour of the tiniest spaces of a backyard. Find our how bugs tunnel. See how the simplest of tools can help you discover a world that is usually unknown to the average human. Explore what your backyard has to share.

A Backyard Vegetable Garden for Kids

By Amie Leavitt
Mitchell Lane Publishers Inc., 2008
ISBN: 1584156341
Age 8+

Gardening is not just for adults. This book will guide your child through the planning, designing, growing, and harvesting of their own vegetable garden.

Backyard Bugs

By Richard Ferguson
Dorling Kindersley Publishing Inc., 2007
ISBN: 0756625386
Ages 5-8

Photographic pop-ups make this a unique book to enjoy with your child. Check out this unusual way to see your buggy world.

Old Fashioned Children's Games: Over 200 Outdoors, Car Trip, Song, Card and Party Activities

By Sharon O'Bryan
McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers, 1998
ISBN: 0786405589
All ages

The olden days are back again with this huge collection of games that we thought were gone for good. Learn all the rules, the rhymes, the movements along with stories, songs, and activities to keep your kids moving.

Nature's Playground: Activities, Crafts, and Games to Encourage Children to Get Outdoors

By Fiona Danks
Chicago Review Press, Inc., 2007
ISBN: 1556527233
Age 6+

Bring your imagination with you as you adventure into fun. Build your own toys to fit each season, create your own adventures, and learn to do all of this safely. Includes a special section on playing after dark.

Safe at Play: Outdoor Safety

By Smart Kids Publishing
Candy Cane Press, 2005
ISBN: 0824965930
Ages 2-5

This board book will help you to talk about safe play with your pre-schooler.

Splashing by the Shore: Beach Activities for Kids

By Lisa Mullarkey
Gibbs Smith, 2007
ISBN: 158685884X
Ages 6-8

If you live by the beach, are planning a vacation to one soon, or just want to pretend like you are at the beach, you will have fun learning how to be safe and have a great time in the sand. Crafts, games, facts, activities and party ideas will help you to have a great time near the shore.

I Love Dirt!: 52 Projects to Help You and Your Kids Discover the Wonders of Nature

By Various Authors
Shambhala Publications, 2008
ISBN: 1590305353
Age 8+

No matter where you live, there is a patch of dirt near you. There is magic in dirt that can be released using your five senses. Come and explore what can be found in the dirt near you. Includes a forward by Richard Louv.

Taking Back Childhood: Helping Your Kids Thrive in a Fast-Paced, Media-Saturated, Violence-filled World

By Nancy Carlsson-Paige
Penguin, 2008
ISBN: 1594630437
Age 17+

A parenting guide to help instill a life for children that is full of creative, loving, and safe activities. Guidelines on discipline, television, and other current issues.

Last Child In The Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder

By Richard Louv
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2005
ISBN: 1565123913
Age 17+

This is the book that started it all. With kids increasingly overweight, addicted to video games, and becoming couch potatoes, this book defines what children were meant to be and do. It's time for kids to head outdoors for more fresh air, more adventure, more exercise, and more fun.

Nature Safari: Imaginative Things for You & Your Children to Do Outdoors

By Geoff Sample
HarperCollins, 2003
ISBN: 0007138393
Age 8+

This book will inspire your child into learning about nature first-hand. They can explore every type of habitat in your neighborhood and learn facts, crafts, activities and vocabulary that will enhance their study of these natural neighborhoods.

Introducing Your Kids To The Outdoors

By Christopher Van Tilburg
Stackpole Books., 2005
ISBN: 0811731936
Age 17+

A complete guide to all that the outdoors has to offer you and your family. The book gives you planning guides and suggestions for outdoor adventures including day trips, camping, water sports and the absolutely “must-do” vacations for the best childhood imaginable.

Go Outside: Over 130 Activities for Outdoor Adventures

By Nancy Blakely
Ten Speed Press, 2002
ISBN: 1582460647
Ages 8-12

This book is best used when adults and kids enjoy it together. Some adult supervision is suggested for many of the cooking and craft activities. This is a great resource organized by season. Complete instructions, lists of materials, and safety suggestions are included.

CampOut!: The Ultimate Kids' Guide

By Lynn Brunelle
Workman Publishing Company
ISBN: 0761141227

Bob Artley's Book of Farm Chores: As Remembered by a Former Kid

By Bob Artly
Voyageur Press, Inc., 2002
ISBN: 0896584348

Bob tells the story of his life as a boy on a farm. Check out his series of books on this topic including Christmas on a farm, going to school, and yes, more chores.

When I Was Young in The Mountains

By Cynthia Rylant
Puffin, 1993
ISBN: 0140548750

A charming story of children living a rural lifestyle. Enjoy the things that entertained children when life was simpler.

Owl Moon

By Jane Yolen
Philomel, 1987
ISBN: 0399214577

Jane's father takes her “owling” — something she had to wait to do until she was old enough. This magical adventure is described in such detail that it feels like you are really there. Fabulous illustrations complement this award-winning story.