Customer Reviews

One Small Square: Woods

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What a gem! I was surprised when I discovered this book. The gist of the book is for the child (or adult) to mark off a square space in the woods and begin exploring and learning. This book is a real integration of activities, suggested observations, and fact. The learner is to explore, dig, look, observe and investigate every inch of this square area. While suggesting the learner look for this or that, the author provides factual information about various findings. The book goes into a lot of detail and there are many things that the author thinks may be found. I bet that the learner won't find everything that is mentioned but that is OK, at least the reader can experience it in reading about it in the book if it is missed "in real life".

The book starts off in autumn, assuming the learner begins in the fall and in an area of deciduous trees. A small sampling of what is addressed in this book is why trees lose their leaves, how trees store energy and make energy, examples of camouflage with animals, migration of birds and butterflies, insects, spiders and their webs, lizards and mammals big and small. As the book progresses winter then spring then summer is discussed.

The illustrations are drawn and in color (just like the cover), these are not photographs. There are loads of details in the drawings. At the back is an illustrated guide to creatures grouped by their classification (leaves, mammals, fungi) and an index.

The learner is encouraged to do creative projects such as leaf and trunk rubbings. Also keeping a nature journal or notebook to record the findings is recommended.

I am surprised that so much information and creative ideas packed into this small and very inexpensive book. This is one in a series of "one small square" books and I plan to buy more to use in our homeschooling adventure. Now this is science!

This book provides a small instant field trip to those students who might not have access to woods. It gives incredible details of what goes on in one small square of woods. For those who have access to wooded areas for exploration...safety tips are included as well as supplies needed for collecting data while exploring. I teach second grade and use all of the Small Square books in my teaching.

This book is very versatile in its use. This book can be used as a stand alone book or one that can be taken out into the field and used as a the book was intended. It, also, has great details on how to go about creating your square, safety issues, and what you might discover. For such a small book, it covered all of the seasons.

I think all kids should be drawing as much as possible and this book will suggest that kids draw what they find.


It doesn't try to be a field guide, but it shows many living things in outline. This can be very helpful especially out in field when you don't want to try to carry 4 or 5 books with you.

All in all, I think this book would be a great book for any kid that wants to learn more about the outdoors, whether from their chair or outside.

Highly recommended for 'nature deficit' children. Stunningly beautiful illustrations. I recommend all of the books in this series.

I read all of Donald Silver's "One Small Square" books as a child. I truly enjoyed each and every one, to the point that I wrote Donald Silver to encourage him to write more after I read them all. As someone who has grown up with a passion for the sciences, I highly recommend you share this awesome educational series with your children.