Ten books that can be enjoyed outdoors

Here at My First Five Years, we are book obsessed and we know that you as parents love to read to your children, but sometimes find it difficult to buy books they will love. Therefore, in this blog post we are going to be exploring books that you and your child can enjoy reading outside. 

Books can be enjoyed simply anywhere and there is something rather magical about taking a good book outside to enjoy in the forest, by the stream or in the local park. Because reading is fun wherever you do it. 

Below we have compiled a list of great books that we think would be amazing enjoyed outdoors. 

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1.  'Wild' By Emily Hughes 

About a young child that is raised in the woods and learns to talk, walk and live by acquiring skills from the animals who raise her. She is the true definition of ‘WILD!’. Until one day, some new creatures come along and they look a bit like her, but have strange and intriguing behaviours. This beautifully illustrated book explores the idea of what being a human is and questions why we live as we do. The magical, colourful illustrations lead you through the child’s wild world and the fine detail of the pictures make for excellent conversation starters. Perfect if your child has a touch of wild in them. 

To Buy (via Amazon): https://amzn.to/3GyDEOI 

2.  'Hike' By Pete Oswald

This gorgeous book doesn’t contain words, but is jam packed with the most magical illustrations of some of the wonderful things you can discover when you go out for a walk. The pages guide you through a day trip between a boy with and his dad. It includes the problems they solve, the challenges they overcome and how they simply enjoy each other’s company outdoors. The pictures are what sell this book to me and are a fab way of  encouraging your little one to talk about what they see. Great if you also like family adventures outdoors. 

To Buy (via Amazon): https://amzn.to/3DCylfq 

3.  "I am the Seed That Grew the Tree: A Nature Poem for Every Day of the Year' By Fiona Waters

This is a book jam packed with poetry. I am not usually one to pick a book full of poems over a picture book. But this book is beautiful and would make a lovely gift for a child who simply loves being outdoors. It journeys the 365 days of the year in verse. Some are long, some are short. But all are magically suitable to the day you read them on. The illustrations are stunning, and the words resonate with both young and old. So, whether or not poetry is your thing I would recommend this hefty book. 

To Buy (via Amazon): https://amzn.to/3IDUM7t 

4.  'Into the Forest' By Laura Baker

This is a lovely board book made especially for babies. It Is cut out in a way that the journey through the forest is layered, meaning little hands can easily turn it over themselves. The book follows squirrel looking for his ‘mama’ and is a great way to encourage young children to learn some of the animals that live in a forest in this simply stunning short board book. 

To Buy (via Amazon): https://amzn.to/3GAAzxw 

5.  'Trees' By Carmen Saldana

What we like about this book is that it is made with minimal plastic! However, this board book is probably more suited to older children than babies. But being a board book makes it more robust when you throw it into your rucksack to take it outside. Best suited to the child who loves learning about things and facts, this lift and flap book explains in detail the importance of trees and what we can do to look after them. If you love this book, it’s a mini-series! So, you can also learn more about the ocean and bee’s! 

To Buy (via Amazon): https://amzn.to/31PKYXs 

6.  'In the Garden' By Emma Giuliani

This book is beautifully captivating. Its large and full of flaps for your child to discover. If you or your grandparents love gardening, this would be a wonderful way of extending their understanding of what is happening when you plant seeds. It’s a real book to treasure that could be passed down for generations and a super way to learn about what is happening throughout the seasons. 

To Buy (via Amazon): https://amzn.to/31J5XeF 

7.  'My Friend Earth' By Patricia MacLachlan

When I read this book, I imagine the girl is a young Pocahontas. The beautiful illustrations and dye cut pages make for an interactive delight through its poetic and rhythmic words. A great way to encourage little ones to understand about earth and nature as it is cleverly personified as a little girl. 

To Buy (via Amazon): https://amzn.to/31LtI5N 

8.  'Fly!' By Xavier Deneux

A superb board book for young children as they learn about a young bird and its life cycle. It is a multi-sensory book where you take one of the birds physically out of the book and move them through the pages to learn about how a bird prepares for laying its chicks. A great way to explain concepts such as birds’, eggs and nests in a beautifully simplistic way.  

To Buy (via Amazon): https://amzn.to/338Tcu8 

9.  'Over and Under the Pond' By Kate Messner

This book perfectly illustrates some of the intricate ecosystems happening in ponds and explains them in a way that is both magical and beautiful. It allows children to understand the details of what is happening below the surface and helps to develop an awareness of things that happen even when out of sight. A book that helps us to understand how the world interlinks and how we can support the sustainability of our planet in a way that is thoughtful to its audience. If you love this book, it’s also part of a mini-series. 

To Buy (via Amazon): https://amzn.to/3oHI5Rd 

10.  'Tiny Perfect Things' By Madeline Kloepper

This book makes the ordinary of an everyday walk in your area, feel majestic and like a voyage of discovery. The stunning illustrations of this book take you on a tale of a grandfather and granddaughter as they revel in the simple beauty of the world all around them. A great way to introduce new language about flora and fauna and its intricate illustrations are a perfect way for your child to discover something new every time you read it. 

To buy (via Amazon): https://amzn.to/3ycdgaF 

Have you got a book you love and want to tell us about it?  

Drop us an email hi@mffy.com