A tale of adventure and discovery in the great outdoors. This beautifully illustrated book brings to life the importance and joy that comes of experiencing and preserving the beauty of the natural world. When Chloe and Zachary find themselves without their digital devices for a week at their grandparents’ cottage, they quickly overcome their panic when they discover that adventures in the great outdoors are much more fun than anything the wired world has to offer. With nature’s playground at their feet, the two embark on a fun-filled weekend of activities. A scavenger hunt finds a family of mallard ducks, fluffy babies and all, a family of deer (and their droppings!), and a beaver dam that inspires the children to build their own, collecting and assembling sticks, mud and moss, but mostly mud. The next night, Gramps takes the children outside with a flashlight. Sounds echo in the night, a barred owl and a beaver slapping his tail. The night closes with a bonfire at the lake’s edge, complete with marshmallows and s'mores. Along the way, Chloe and Zachary learn important lessons about the forest and its creatures. They ultimately discover that the beauty of nature is something to cherish and protect. This lighthearted tale is accompanied by the artwork of renowned naturalist painter Robert Bateman and The Tobin Island Artists (D. A. Dunford, Karen Genovese, Susan Gosevitz, Loretta Rogers, Darcey Sills, Megan Torisawa, and Simon Dunford). Guest artists Dwight Aranha, Brad Bateman and Andy Donato also contribute to the illustrations. AGES: 5-8 AUTHOR: Judith McMurray is the author of the national bestseller, Larry the Loon. She has written several children’s books, including ‘The Adventures of Rupert the Flying Squirrel’ and ‘Next the Unhappy Lobster’, all inspired by her grandchildren.
Shandley McMurray is a writer for magazines and websites in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. She is the author of ‘Hey Baby! What’s Your Name? A Canadian Guide to Naming Your Baby’. This is her first children’s book.