Behind the Books

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." — John Muir There is something special about camping in the summer. From setting up tents and roasting marshmallows to exploring trails and falling asleep under the stars, camping creates memories that often last a lifetime. Whether your family camps every year or simply enjoys stories about outdoor adventures, these picture books celebrate the fun, friendship, and unexpected surprises that come with spending time in nature. A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee By Chris Van Dusen  Mr. Magee and his dog Dee head into the mountains for a relaxing camping trip, but a marshmallow-loving bear accidentally sends their camper rolling toward a waterfall. Filled with rhyming text, humour, and adventure, this camping classic is a fun read-aloud for summer or anytime. Buy on Amazon   Buy on Bookshop Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping by Melanie Watt Scaredy Squirrel likes to plan for every possible disaster, which makes camping s...

Spring is when we start thinking about gardens again. For those of us in Canada, it often means waiting a little longer for the ground to thaw, watching for those first signs that the soil is ready, and planning what might grow in the months ahead. For little ones, that waiting can turn into curiosity. What’s under the dirt? Where does food come from? What happens to all those scraps and seeds? Here are a few books that lean into that curiosity, with stories about soil, seeds, and the small worlds that help everything grow. Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt By Kate Messner Illustrator Christopher Silas Neal  🌱 Buy Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt on Amazon A beautifully layered look at what’s happening above and below the soil as a garden grows through the seasons. This one works especially well with early spring, when not much is visible yet but everything is starting to shift underground. The Tiny Seed By Eric Carle 🌱 Buy The Tiny Seed on Amazon A simple, familiar stor...