Introduce your baby to the fascinating adventures of famous naturalist John Muir.

John Muir was a Scottish-born American naturalist, author who became known as “Father of the National Parks.” Millions have read his letters, essays, and books of his adventures in nature, and his advocacy was essential in helping to preserve many beautiful parts of the West—especially Yosemite National Park. Kate Coombs’ enchanting poem and Seth Lucas’ adorable illustrations share Muir’s love of the Sierras, the Sequoias and Redwoods, and the birds and animals of the West with the next generation of little nature-lovers, fostering a life-long appreciation of the world around them.

Kate Coombs has written several books for children, including the award winning poetry collection Water Sings Blue and most recently Goodnight Mr. Darcy. A former teacher of every grade from kindergarten through college, Kate makes her home in Utah.

Seth Lucas is an illustrator and designer with a BFA in graphic design. He is the co-creator of Ello There Outdoors selling prints and accessories supporting the National Parks and outdoors. He lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, with his wife and daughter.

Primary Author: Kate Coombs

Publisher: Gibbs Smith

Publish Date: Mar 18, 2019

Introduce your baby to Henry David Thoreau, his time at Walden Pond, and how he enjoyed living in the woods.

Henry David Thoreau was an American author, poet, historian, and philosopher. Millions of people have read his writings, and a favorite of many is Walden, the story of the year he spent gardening, whittling, and walking in the woods around his tiny house Walden Pond. Thoreau still influences people today, and is considered extremely important to the environmentalist movement. Kate Coombs’ enchanting poem and Seth Lucas’ adorable illustrations share Thoreau’s experiences with the next generation of little nature-lovers, fostering a life-long appreciation of the world around them while learning to Be Creative, Be Brilliant, and Be Yourself.

Kate Coombs has written several books for children, including the award winning poetry collection Water Sings Blue and most recently Goodnight Mr. Darcy. A former teacher of every grade from kindergarten through college, Kate makes her home in Utah.

Seth Lucas is an illustrator and designer with a BFA in graphic design. He is the co-creator of Ello There Outdoors selling prints and accessories supporting the National Parks and outdoors. He lives in Indianapolis, IN, with his wife and daughter.

Primary Author: Kate Coombs

Publisher: Gibbs Smith

Publish Date: Aug 19, 2019

A camping-themed journal to capture memories, inspire activities, and to stimulate creativity—out in the wilderness or in your own backyard!

Write, draw, think, listen, and dare with the Adventure Journal: 50 Things to Try When Camping. Begin on any page and do as many activities as you can fit in a day, in any order you’d like. Activities are color coded to help you choose where to start: try pink for “Explore,” yellow for “Dare,” blue for “Make,” and more! Map out your campsite; draw your own wilderness monster; learn the difference between herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores; then tackle your “daily dare:” tonight, create your own spooky camp story. An extra page in the back of the book is a great place to jot down notes, pictures, and doodles from your adventures. There’s a pocket inside the back cover to hold a pencil or special things, and an elastic band to keep the journal closed.

Kim Hankinson is designer/illustrator who’s creates children’s books. After art directing the developing Ivy Kids imprint, including the best-selling This is Not a Maths Book, Kim now works as a freelancer illustrating, creating, designing, and authoring nonfiction titles. She lives and works in London, England.

Based on The Big Book of Beasts, this endlessly entertaining activity book brings the world of beasts alive in a creative way. With fascinating facts as a starting point, the activities invite children to draw, color, and decorate beasts into their natural habitats, as they engage with the information as they play.

The book includes stickers and activities relating to over fifteen different animals and at its center features eight pages packed with more than 500 reusable stickers printed on clear backing, so the animals blend seamlessly into their surroundings.

Yuval Zommer’s rich illustrations characterize some of the quirkiest creatures in the animal kingdom, inspiring creative thinking while also bringing alive the facts on which each activity is based.

Following the highly successful The Big Book of the Blue comes this vibrant non- fiction sticker activity book. Starting with fascinating ocean facts, the activities in the book invite children to draw, color, and play games with ocean wildlife, inspiring their interest in nature as they play.

The delightful “Sid the Sardine” accompanies readers throughout the book, explaining the more than twenty activities and games as he swims along. Author Yuval Zommer’s rich illustrations depict some of the ocean’s quirkiest sea creatures and make fantastic stickers for children to use in their drawings and to complete games and puzzles.

Following the wild success of The Big Book of Bugs and The Big Book of Beasts, The Big Book of the Blue is the third installment in Yuval Zommer’s beloved series. Alongside everything the young oceanographer needs to know, Zommer’s charming illustrations bring to life some of the slipperiest, scaliest, strangest, and most monstrous underwater animals.

The book opens by explaining how different types of animals are able to breathe and survive underwater, and the different families to which they belong. Subsequent pages are dedicated to specific creatures, including sea turtles, whales, sharks, stingrays, and seahorses, and show varied life in specific habitats, such as a coral reef or deep sea bed. The Big Book of the Blue also explores the underwater world thematically, looking at animals in danger, learning how to spot creatures at the beach, and discovering how to do our part to save sea life. Beautiful and filled with fascinating facts, young, curious readers won’t be able to tear their eyes away from the page.

No campsite? No problem! Author Lisa Adams gives suggestions for making s’mores on a barbecue, in the oven, over a stovetop, and on the hearth of your living room fireplace. S’mores shares over 60 ways to make unique and scrumptious treats this camping season. Enjoy the Banana Caramel, the Strawberry Shortcake, the Hazelnut Raspberry Brownie, the Biscotti Latte, and many, many s’more.

Following the success of The Big Book of Bugs, here is an interactive book that brings the world of bugs to a child’s fingertips. The activities in the book invite children to draw, color, decorate, and place bugs in their natural habitats, encouraging children to engage with the information as they play.

Children are first introduced to Freddy the Fly (who many will remember from The Big Book of Bugs) who buzzes with readers through the book, explaining each activity. The book includes stickers and activities relating to over fifteen different bugs and at its center features eight pages packed with more than 500 reusable stickers printed on clear backing, so the insects blend seamlessly into their surroundings.

Yuval Zommer’s illustrations are rich and artistic, inspiring creative thinking while introducing children to the natural world.

In The Big Book of Beasts Yuval Zommer’s wonderful illustrations bring to whimsical life some of the grizzliest, hairiest, bravest, wiliest, and most fearsome beasts in the animal kingdom. Brimming with interesting facts from beast consultant Barbara Taylor, this charming picture book is a beautiful way for parents to introduce young children to the animal world—and for older children to learn by themselves.

In the first pages children learn that beasts are wild animals that can’t be tamed and that they all defend themselves in different ways. As the book continues young readers meet specific beasts, including armadillos, bears, tigers, and the Tasmanian devil. The Big Book of Beasts also approaches the world of beasts thematically, looking at mythical beasts, Ice Age beasts, beasts on your street, and how to save beasts in danger of extinction.

The funny and conversational text, amazing facts, and glorious and quirky pictures will draw in young children over and over again.