Children’s books to inspire outdoor play

by Sarah Miller of Can we read?

I was so excited when

Sarah Miller

of Can we read? reached out and offered to contribute to my Substack. I’m still relatively new to this platform, and she’s a seasoned pro—her publication is a fantastic resource for anyone who loves kids' books, so definitely check it out and give her a follow.

For today’s guest post, Sarah is sharing a roundup of children’s books that spark outdoor play.

I’m not anti-screen at all—but there’s something especially magical (and a little nostalgic) about long summer days spent outside, unplugged and fully immersed in imaginative play. If I can help create that experience for my girls—and if it’s something they enjoy and find regulating—I’m all in.

My oldest often watches an episode of a favorite show, then runs to her “Barbie room” to act out what she saw. I love the idea of books serving that same purpose, as a jumping-off point for outdoor adventures. Sometimes kids just need a little nudge to get started.

Without further ado, you can find Sarah’s post just below.

Love,

Elizabeth

I’ve never met a parent or caregiver who wasn’t interested in getting their kids outside more. I’m not here to make a case that you should do this or argue that exposure to nature and the outdoors is crucial for the health and well-being of children in countless ways. (People smarter than I have already done that and then some – see Richard Louv’s The Last Child in the Woods, among others.)

But I am here to offer a smattering of children’s titles – including a few reviews – to encourage this desire and behavior.

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A Stick is An Excellent Thing: Poems Celebrating Outdoor Play by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by LeUyen Pham (2012)

Singer’s extra playful poems are as masterful as ever (she has written 100+ books for children, many of them poetry, and her expertise is evident in everything she touches), ranging in topics from being the first one outside in the morning to playing jacks and jumping romp, to swinging and making “soup” — including, of course, an ode to the humble stick in the title poem, “A Stick Is An Excellent Thing.” (It really is.)

Couple this with Pham’s lively pencil, ink, and digitally colored illustrations, which paint a vivid picture of a city neighborhood full of kids with all different kinds of outdoor interests, and this book perfectly captures the very real entertainment – not to mention deep-down pleasures – of playing outside.

This is a flexible title that can be enjoyed by toddlers up to late elementary-aged kids, who will either see themselves in its pages or be inspired to head outdoors and find a new version out there. (Dirty clothes and little scrapes and bug bites not required, but if you have ‘em, you know it’s been a good time.)

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The Moon Jumpers by Janice May Udry, illustrated by Maurice Sendak (1959)

Set against the backdrop of a moonlit evening — and complemented by Sendak’s expressive illustrations — this spare but utterly perfect story follows a group of children as they embark in the dark on a whimsical journey of exploration and play, jumping, running, hiding, all beneath a mysterious and magnificent moon.

Beyond a doubt, my favorite part of this classic is its incredible sense of enchantment, rendered perfectly by Udry’s lyrical prose and evocative language — she describes the smallest details with childlike wonder and delight, which of course, appeal greatly to children themselves, but not only to children, to be sure — and the imagery she creates is so poetic and beautiful, it really needs to be experienced to be fully appreciated.

This is a magical summertime read for toddlers all the way up to — I’m not kidding — adults.

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Down Under the Pier by Nell Cross Beckerman, illustrated by Rachell Sumpter (2020)

Set against the backdrop of a bustling, fun-filled pier, here four children discover a hidden world teeming with marine life beneath the wooden planks.

They look and wonder: “Is it alive? Will it bite? Will it pinch? Will it pierce? Will it do anything at all if we just poke it?”

The vivid imagery here — alongside Sumpter’s, well, sumptuous digital illustrations — will bring readers immediately to the seashore and the delights of exploring the shallows, or to one’s imagination of what it might be like to look, see, touch, and feel all the wonder and beauty on display.

This is a gentle story that celebrates curiosity, exploration, and the interconnectedness of life — a lovely addition to a beach vacation, or just a beach vacation you take in your mind.

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Here are some other suggestions to inspire your kids (and you!) to go out, get wild, get dirty, explore, and have fun:

• Daniel Finds a Poem by Micha Archer

• Go, Bikes, Go! by Addie Boswell

• Run Wild by David Covell

• Secret Tree Fort by Brianne Farley

• The Hike by Alison Ferrell

• We All Play by Julie Flett (highly recommended for 1-2yo)

• Incredibilia by Libby Hathorn

• Everything You Need for a Treehouse by Carter Higgens

• The Raft by Jim LaMarche

• Roxaboxen by Alice McLerren

• Leo on a Hike by Anna McQuinn

• The Bug Girl: A True Story by Sophia Spencer and Margaret McNamara

• There’s a Tiger in the Garden by Lizzie Stewart

• Backyard Fairies by Phoebe Wall

• What Can You Do With a Rock? by Pat Zietlow Miller

This list is by no means exhaustive — I know I’ve missed many wonderful titles, even intentionally, because I want you to chime in and add your own. Do you and your family have any favorite books that inspire, outdoor play? Tell us about them in the comments!

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Read good books and take good care 😘
Sarah