Follow the Trail: A Young Person's Guide to the Great Outdoors [Hardcover]

Jessica Loy (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up

An introductory camping guide that belongs in the backpack of every adventurer and budding environmentalist.

Have you ever hung a bear bag? Predicted the weather by examining pinecones and dandelions? Counted a cricket’s chirps to calculate the temperature?

Whether you’re an expert camper or just a beginner, this informative book—with its innovative approach and design—is chock-full of camping ideas that will add spice to your next journey through the woods. Find out how to pick and set up a comfortable campsite. Learn to recognize constellations among the many stars in the summer sky. Uncover new games and campfire recipes that will make the camping experience even more exciting. And that’s just for starters. From what to pack to what to look for once you’re there, this hands-on primer is the perfect tool for a safe and fun outdoor adventure—so pop it in your backpack and hit the trail!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5-A wonderful, informative book told from the perspective of two sisters who are taking three friends on a camping trip. It covers everything from what to take to how to hang a bear bag, how to tell the temperature by counting the crickets' chirps, making maps, and using a compass. There are packing lists and instructions on how to pick and situate an ideal campsite. Safety is an issue, and the girls cover poison oak, ivy, and sumac; snakes; ticks; fire; being lost; and encountering a bear. Full-color, full-page photos that include dialogue balloons, spot art, and boxed tips on various topics complete the package. Common trees, wildflowers, birds, and animal tracks are all identified with pictures, and types of clouds and weather signs are explained. There is a wealth of material packed into these attractive pages. While the book is nonfiction, it unfolds as a story about a camping trip and so it makes an enjoyable read as well as a learning experience. An excellent addition to camping collections.
Cynde Suite, Bartow County Library System, Adairsville, GA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 2-6. From planning to packing to safety, this kid-friendly guide to camping and hiking is loaded with information. Bright, busy pages follow sisters Emma and Lydia and three friends on a camping trip. Activities to identify trees, wildflowers, and animal tracks are interspersed with facts about weather, suggestions for rainy days, and instructions for building a campfire. Colorful photo-collages and drawings show how to hang a bag out of a bear's reach, lay a trail for fellow campers to follow, and identify constellations. This isn't a complete guide; Loy omits many of the tasks that are usually performed by adults--purchasing supplies, administering first aid, and supervising the fire--but it does give children some perspective on enjoying the great outdoors. A list of resources, with organizations and camping magazines, is appended. Karen Hutt
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); 1st edition (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805061959
• ISBN-13: 978-0805061956
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,015,558 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great book for kids, May 31, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Follow the Trail: A Young Person's Guide to the Great Outdoors (Hardcover)

Fun to look at and full of great tips on hiking and camping. My kids really enjoy looking at each page because every page offers something new and interesting. Makes a great gift too.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice for Camping only, August 4, 2004

By 

book family (MN, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Follow the Trail: A Young Person's Guide to the Great Outdoors (Hardcover)

This book's title infers it is about nature walks, including pictures of nature trails and plants. Some of the reviews say it can be used for hikes. However, it is about CAMPING -- overnight.

Many of the ideas could be used without camping overnight. But I know it will feel to my children like we are not reading it start to finish, or not using it in the way it was intended.

For instance, it will say "Games... for CAMPING," "Food... when you're CAMPING," "Animals may share your CAMPSITE," "I like to pick up leaves... at our CAMPSITE."

I think the title should say CAMPING.

But if you are going camping, it is very nice :o)