Look what I found in the woods

K-Gr 2--Three children embark on an adventure in this picture book devoted to the natural world. Each child observes a discovery in a way that reflects the enthusiasm of real-life kids engaging with nature. "Look what I found" is repeated throughout the text as the trio explores the woods; marvels at a variety of trees; and studies twigs, bark, leaves, seeds, and critters. Search-and-find questions support visual literacy, and sidebars detailing forest facts will encourage budding botanists. The main text provides just the right amount of information for the intended audience--not too much and not too little. This informational title mirrors a fun-filled hike in the woods. The author's note cautions readers to collect only the things that lay on the ground in order to protect plants and animals. The bright, digitally rendered illustrations are cheerful. One child is drawn with black hair and brown skin; one child is drawn with pale skin, red hair, and glasses; another child has pale skin and light brown hair. VERDICT A useful resource for kids and families who seek to have their own outdoor adventures, or for teachers and librarians who want to introduce features of informational text to kindergarten and primary grade students.--Gloria Koster, formerly at West Sch., New Canaan, CT

Three children explore and collect things from the forest floor in this multitasking picture book. Part story, part seek-and-find, part nonfiction nature book, this adventure begins as three friends, two White and one Black, enter the woods wearing backpacks, dog running along ahead. On the opening spread, a rhyming couplet at the top invites readers to follow a child narrator into the woods (I and we are used throughout, and both work). Two additional lines declare, "Look what I found! / A curly stick that looks like a magic wand." An insert in the bottom-right-hand corner asks readers to also find one signpost, two butterflies, and three flowers. On the second spread, facts about the shapes of trees are placed throughout the illustration, and a full sidebar shows and labels tree shapes to find. The spreads continue to alternate between these layouts as the children make their way through the woods, finding different "treasures" along the way. At the end of their walk, they have a table full of finds, and the rear endpapers show adorable craft creations composed of objects from the woods, with a reminder to only take treasures from the ground. The book's detailed, varied illustrations and useful information for beginners invite readers to linger over the pages and to use the book as a companion in the natural world. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.6-by-19.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 87.9% of actual size.) A versatile and irresistible invitation to explore the outdoors. (Informational picture book. 4-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.