What are you reading? Book reviews

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! 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.

August kicked off with World Breastfeeding Week and ended with kids heading back to school. Wherever your child falls on this feeding to schooling spectrum, we've got you covered with some books! Mr. Bear's New Baby by Debi Gliori Mr. and Mrs. Bear have a new baby! While everyone else in the forest is asleep, Mr. and Mrs. Bear are trying to calm the new baby. The new parents try to decide what the new baby needs, and Mr. Bear suggests some milk from her mommy. This can help lead in to a conversation with your children about how other animals also feed their babies. They may also have some other questions about breastfeeding too. As the night goes on, other forest animals help the new parents try and get baby bear to sleep. In the end, it is the advice of Small Bear that helps the family get some much-needed rest. If you have a new baby at home, your children may enjoy hearing what life is like from the animal perspective. We Have A Baby by Cathryn Falwell This simple text book will help young children understand everything to expect with a new baby in their home. Large images dominate the page, including an illustration of the mother breastfeeding the new baby. This book would be helpful to those children awaiting the arrival of a new baby so they can see what a new baby will need and talk with their parents about how they can help. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn If your child is a little nervous about starting school this year, this book may help to ease some anxieties. Mrs. Racoon helps ease the fears of Chester as school is starting in the forest. Mrs. Racoon shares a special tradition with Chester that will help him as he transitions from days at home with mom, toys, and books to starting the new school year. Meet some other forest animals along the way as Chester's feelings change from anxious to excited. Timothy Goes to School by Rosemary Wells Timothy is about to start school! Join him and the other animals as they navigate their way around the start of the new year. When things don't go the way Timothy expects, he's ready to quit school. Discover the true meaning of friendship with Timothy and how to deal with tough situations at school. Hike it Baby 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!