August Book Reviews

Back-to-school time is upon us! Whether you're sending your child off to school for the first time, or you're a seasoned veteran, the return of school can bring a range of feelings and emotions as well as challenges. This month, check out these books for kids and adults! 100 Days of Real Food on a Budget by Lisa Leake As a teacher, back-to-school time can be an extra challenge. Meals can be one of the biggest challenges since I'm away from the house all day. This book not only breaks down the cost of ingredients for each meal, but also comes with a comparison chart of the same ingredients from different stores. However, the section I've used the most is the slow cooker section. Both recipes I've tried have involved very little prep work (great time saver!) and were delicious. The Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken doesn't even require the chopping of any ingredients! It's not overwhelmingly spicy, so it was a hit with the kids too. An added bonus is that the leftovers freeze easily, so you can store some away for the future. The Slow Cooker Cuban Pork only requires minimal chopping and can freeze easily as well. With the upcoming Hike it Baby 30 Challenge approaching, slow cooker recipes make dinner easy and allow you to hit the trails and come home to a complete dinner! Another good recipe is for Oatmeal Cookie Energy Balls, which are easy to take on the trail for a quick and easy snack that doesn't make a mess and uses minimal ingredients. If you have older children, there's also a school lunch section to help make packing lunches fun and easy. My favorite feature of the book is that there is a picture for each recipe. Kids can look at the pictures and help decide what to make for dinner or snacks. I've been including some pictures of what I've tried on my Instagram for those interested in seeing the final products. The Night Before Preschool by Natasha Wing Do you have a little one starting preschool this fall? Is he/she nervous about what lies ahead? This book may help calm the jitters of anxious kids about to start their school journey. Told through rhymes, this book will engage young students beginning school. Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage to Be Who You Are by Maria Dismondy School can be difficult for kids as they navigate friendships and try to have the courage to do what is right. This book also empowers kids to be who they are despite the opinions of others. This book would be great for kids to hear before the start of the school year or for teachers to use in their classrooms to teach character traits and encourage positive behavior. What If Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick What If Everybody Did That? helps kids see the consequences of their actions. Great for showing kids how their actions can impact a community, this book gives kids something to think about as they start a new school year. Fourteen examples of cause-and-effect behavior are given, so there is something for all kids to be able to relate to. The mixed media and illustrations make this book visually appealing to kids as well. Hike it Baby now has a Goodreads Group! Join today and add books to our bookshelf! Looking for more member reviews? Search our blog for other Book Review posts!  Submit your review here for a chance to be included in an upcoming blog post! 

While National Park Week is celebrated in April, why not celebrate our National Parks all year long with books! Try reading one of these books and get inspired to take a future trip! All Aboard! National Parks by Kevin & Haily Meyers This wildlife primer is a great way to introduce the youngest of children to the national parks! Children begin their journey by boarding a train and travel the country by visiting some of the most amazing parks. They'll meet an animal common to each park as they pass through by train. Bright colors, whimsical illustrations and landforms of the parks will capture the attention of the youngest of readers. A collection of animal prints is also featured in the book. Mule Train Mail by Craig Brown Meet Anthony. He may look like a cowboy, but Anthony is actually a postman. Working with his team of mules, Anthony makes the mile-long trek down the South Rim of the Grand Canyon delivering mail, groceries, water and more to the people of Supai, a village at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Anthony and the mules endure steep trails and even rain to make sure the villagers get their mail and other necessary supplies. Detailed, colorful illustrations show readers what the Grand Canyon looks like from all angles, not just from the top. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of this book will go to the Havasupai Head Start program, which helps children in Supai develop early reading skills. Your Guide to the National Parks by Michael Joseph Oswald With so many national parks to explore, it may be helpful to sit down with a book and explore all of your options before planning your trip. Your Guide to the National Parks contains more than 450 photographs and plenty of kid-friendly activities. If you're looking to visit more than one park, Oswald includes 11 suggestions for multi-park road trips that include sites of interest as you venture from one park to the next. Lodging information and hiking trails are also included, making this book a perfect companion as you hit the road to explore America's treasures. For more information, including maps of the parks, visit www.stoneroadpress.com. National Parks Guide U.S.A. by National Geographic Kids Are your summer travel plans taking you to a national park this year? If so, grab a copy of National Parks Guide U.S.A., the kids’ companion to National Geographic Guide to National Parks of the U.S. In this guide, you’ll be able to read about the different regions of the country and the national parks that find their homes in each region. Within each region, there is a guide for the specific national parks where readers will find pictures, history and websites. The individual sections also provide ranger tips, where to find the best views, checklists for what to do and maps showing some of the sites you don’t want to miss! Readers will also be able to discover what plant and animal life to expect in each of the parks. This guidebook would be especially helpful in getting older children excited for a trip to a national park, and it will have them helping plan trips for the future too! Hike it Baby now has a Goodreads Group! Join today and add books to our bookshelf! Looking for more member reviews? Search our blog for other Book Review posts!  Submit your review here for a chance to be included in an upcoming blog post!  ABOUT OUTGROWN OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their first steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, benefit from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org  EDITOR’S NOTE: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.