To whom would you recommend this book? I would definitely recommend this book to anyone heading out on a camping trip. The delicacy of the trail map endpapers, the soft, woodsy color palette, and the pacing of the storytelling through pictures all add up to an exceptional picture book. I have really loved many of Pete Oswald’s books (including The Bad Seed and The Good Egg ) but in this book, he really stretches his artistic chops. We all need to see more positive depictions of all kinds of people enjoying parks, hiking and birdwatching… Both characters appear as people of color, which definitely fills an empty niche. I also appreciated that it seemed to be about a single dad and that the child was not identifiably male or female. There’s a great overhead shot that shows the child and dad making their way along a forest trail and a sweeping summit view that features the pair with their arms around each other’s shoulders as bald eagles soar overhead.
The digital artwork alternates between small vignettes that celebrate gorp, Dad’s reassuring hug and the kid falling asleep on the way home with huge sweeping panoramas that celebrate the beauty of nature. Finally, they plant a small seedling and return to their cozy home. They climb into a rugged SUV and head up into the mountains for a day of hiking, birdwatching and climbing. It’s before dawn when Dad enters the sleeping child’s room, meticulously decorated with posters and decorations celebrating the outdoors and with all the clothing and gear laid out for the day’s adventure. What did you like about the book? This beautiful picture book that celebrates hiking and dads was so compelling that I didn’t initially recall that it was wordless! Only after “reading” the whole thing through a second time did I notice the absence of text. Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5+
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