Run Wild

This sweetly unruly book is destined for mud-stained and ripped pages, as it is sure to accompany many a child on wild adventures in their own parks, playgrounds, and backyards.

This lushly illustrated ode to outdoor play and nature should inspire even the most reluctant couch potato to get out and "run wild." A young girl runs past the window of a boy engrossed in some portable screen, inviting him to "OPEN that door and...Chase the wind...Can you grab it?" She has plenty of other suggestions about how to have fun outside like jumping in the mud, running wild, exploring, going for a swim, and observing the wildlife. "Take a deep breath. 1-2-3! Be a fish in the salty sea. Now, UP for air! Just float there...Waves. Rolling. Daydreams. Flowing." There are birds, beetles, worms, clams, butterflies, chipmunks, and slugs to see. The back blurb reveals that Covell "grew up in the wilds of Maine and only came home when it was time for dinner." The joys and wonders of his childhood are vividly recalled in this invigorating, celebratory poem. Full spreads in bold, impressionistic pen-and-ink and watercolor images reflect the movement and freedom of the outdoors. VERDICT A perfect choice for units on country life, nature, the environment, or healthy living. Well-suited to storytime and small group sharing.—Barbara Auerbach, Formerly at New York City Public Schools

Some nature books focus on careful, quiet observation. Covell (the Rat and Roach books) knows that nature makes kids want to move. Bold, exuberant watercolor spreads burst with energy, and a handwritten font makes the text look as if it's dashed off in chalk. A boy sits indoors when a girl with dark, curly hair sprints by his window. "Hey, you, Sky's blue!/ (forget your shoes)/ Open that door and.../ Sprout, you're out!" Now he's outside, his bare feet pumping through dandelions, catching up. The boy runs hard; they scare up a rabbit, painted in a few strong strokes. Girl and boy emerge from the forest to the seashore; then, a thunderstorm breaks. Things can go wrong in the rain (and in life, Covell suggests): "There'll be/ slippery slumps./ Bruises./ Bumps.../ and Rotten/ Stumps!" But with the girl's encouragement ("Come on, then./ Let's GO!"), the boy's up and running again. Through powerful art and punchy text, Covell celebrates freedom, the out-of-doors, the joy of movement, and the importance of paying attention to the present moment. Ages 3-up. (June)