3 Outstanding Outdoor Activity Adventure Books for Kids

A Nature Activity Booklist
The Children’s Book Review

What to Expect: Nature, science instruction, interactive, discovery, and learning.

The snow is finally melting and Spring is in the air—now is a great time to get kids outdoors after months of being cooped up indoors! There’s lots to learn and discover when you venture out into the wild—but it can be easier to make discoveries and have fun if you have something to guide you. These three activity books are the perfect companions for elementary-aged explorers to take with them on their outdoor adventures.

Here are three books to keep kids and families busy outdoors:

Coast to coast, the United States boasts some of the most spectacular protected outdoor spaces in the world—the National Parks! Whether they are taking this book with them on their visits or simply armchair traveling (or planning their next great outdoors adventure), America’s National Parks activity book invites readers to explore these wildly varied spaces through crosswords, mazes, fun facts, spot-the-difference activities, and more. The fun cartoon artwork and interactive design will keep kids busy and thinking about nature, even when it’s too wet to explore outside.

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Make This Book Wild

Created by Jo Schofield, Fiona Danks, & Anna Ivanir

Ages: 7-9 | 112 Pages

Publisher: Quarto Publishing, PLC (2022) | ISBN-13: 978-0-71126-698-8

Kids are used to being told to keep their books clean, neat, and safe—this book is NOT meant for that kind of treatment! From a page that can be torn out and smeared with snacks to become a butterfly feeder to a page on which readers are encouraged to dollop mud to design mud-monster artwork, this is a book that literally provides readers with tools for outdoor fun. Every page is also covered in beautiful hand-drawn artwork, some of which have been left uncolored so readers can personalize as they wish. Designed to be taken outside, used, loved, and worked on, this book encourages readers to get their hands and equipment dirty as they explore nature up close and personal.

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Nature Activity Book

Created by Alain Gree

Ages: 5-8 | 64 Pages

Publisher: Button Books (2020) | ISBN-13: 978-1-78708-047-8

Some readers need a bit more encouragement than others to get outside and explore. The Nature Activity Book helps readers get comfortable with nature’s sights, smells, and experiences through gentle activities that can be completed indoors. Mazes, coloring, word searches, and more—as well as several pages of colorful stickers—help readers engage with the natural world, from eggs and the growth of plants to ocean safety and underwater life. The bright retro artwork helps readers see nature as safe and inviting, encouraging readers to get excited about spending time outside.

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