The Not-So Great Outdoors

The androgynous narrator of this picture book is clearly displeased with her/his outdoor family vacation. The farther the family goes, the more lacking nature seems, with nothing comparing to life in the city – until, that is, a group of bears is spotted, making the outdoors a whole lot more interesting and exciting. Once the narrator’s interest is piqued, s/he begins to see all the possibilities nature holds and finally begin to enjoy her/himself. Gone is the negative attitude and found is the thrill of outdoor adventure.

This charming picture book will ring true for a lot of people, those who either remember the days they were dragged around doing something they didn’t want to do, or those who struggle with keeping their own children engaged. The text is kept to a minimum on each page, and, while the vocabulary does have some challenging words, the short sentences present a less daunting read to children.

The illustrations take up a full spread of pages and are so lush and enticing that they will make even the most staunch opponent of the outdoors agree that nature can still be beautiful and appealing. The pictures hold lots of smaller objects that will be fun to spot, such as birds hiding in bushes or a sasquatch roaming the woods.

The Not-So Great Outdoors can either be enjoyed as a fun read or used as a teaching tool for parents and teachers alike. The theme is easily relatable to other activities that children may not like doing, and the positive ending the book presents is a nice reminder that there’s always some small enjoyment to be found.