Summer Days- Mountain and Sea

Ah!  Summer has officially begun.  In Seattle, this meant spending every possible moment outdoors soaking in its all consuming beauty without worrying that your plans could get drizzled on.  Here in Casper, WY it has meant spending portions of the hot days outdoors slathered in more sun screen than lower elevations, appreciating that things do get green without worrying about the wind advisory!

Today I have some great outdoor books to cuddle up with in a cabin or tent after a day fishing on the lake, hiking, roasting marshmallows, ect.  My first two recommendations were dug out of an abandoned school library a few years ago.  Occasionally I'll see one or the other on a "100 Book to Read before Kindergarten" list, which tends to drop oldies to include all the modern favorites...  Written in 1948 and 1952, these Caldecott Honor Books by Robert McCloskey still should earn a spot on your library queue this summer.   Both give a great visual into the life of a child before electronics competed for their attention.  They effortlessly radiate a contagious appreciation for the outdoors.



 Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey tells the story of a mother and child picking blueberries on a mountain...at the same time that a mother bear and her cub are fattening up in the blueberry bushes as well. The danger is appealing enough for modern day.  Yet it also shows a certain trust as the young ones are allowed to wander off and explore on their own.  I also like how the instant gratification of eating fresh juicy fruit off sets the long term job of storing food for winter that has brought both the mothers and their offspring to the same location.  The story stays light though with fun onomatopoeia, such as the kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk of blueberries dropping into Sal's tin pail.  Definitely a great bedtime read!


 One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey is a lengthy picture book but it has its appeal following the young female character Jane as she sees a whole world outside to be fascinated by.  Not one mention of today's princess-obsessed culture...very refreshing!  She wakes up excited to spend the day at Buck's Harbor with her dad.  A loose-tooth, clam-digging, watching birds and seals, a broken boat motor and errands all turn the morning into a full adventure.  You will appreciate how the day is a success, not because the parents cleared their schedule to spoil their kids in one lump sum, but because they have built in quality time together, finding fun in their weekly tasks- a standard any one can obtain!

Speaking of, I will have to finish my summer book recommendations another time, as California has ended his quiet time, and we have quality time to appreciate free of the computer...with folding laundry, errands to the library and all sorts of other fun to be found ;)