THE NATURE JOURNAL

A boy and his father bond over a love of nature.

Tim, a little Black boy with skinny legs, dark brown skin, and a big Afro, and his dad, a bald, Black man with a massive black beard, fit together “like bacon and eggs.” Tim loves exploring the outdoors, just as his father did in his youth. After observing and collecting data one day, Tim wants to show Dad his findings, but Dad has work to do. After waiting patiently, Tim finally goes to the attic to peruse the scrapbooks and journals his dad made during his youthful adventures. While looking through them, Tim falls asleep and dreams of camping in the desert, snorkeling in the ocean, and hiking a snowy alpine trail with Dad. On awakening, Tim makes drawings of his dreams. When Dad finds Tim, he resolves to make more memories for the scrapbook with Tim. This story emphasizes that setting aside family time outdoors can result in a lifetime of memories. Allen’s (and Tim’s) brightly colored illustrations, with an abundance of green, including the duo’s matching olive-green scoutlike outfits, capture the boy’s passion for exploring and the closeness he and his father share when outside. The use of white space early in the book represents the confinement of work, but when Tim embarks on his dream journey, the full-color, imaginative double-page spreads convey Tim’s immersion in these natural habitats. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A must for nature enthusiasts big and small, this one will inspire families to get outdoors together.