My First Hike Book

A reluctant child goes with Grandpa on his first hike - and to his surprise, discovers the vibrant world of nature. Birds! Frogs! A waterfall! Trees to swing on! "Can we come back tomorrow?"

Children's Literature

Grandpa has taken what seem to be a brother and sister for an outing, in this case a hike. The younger boy is a bit reluctant and wants to go home. His attention is caught by a bird picking up a leaf and flying off; he tries to follow it. The predictable story then leads to an enjoyable outing where they marvel at a spider web and waterfall, look at flowers, swing on branches, and observe other wild animals. The grandfather looks a bit like a gnome, and the faces of all are not particularly appealing nor are the pastel colors. They give the book a washed-out look, and use much too much pink and yellow. While the message to get out and enjoy nature is a good one, this book would not be a first choice to convey it. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot