The nature journal A backyard adventure

Dad's travelogs inspire dreams for the child who stars in this tale of adventures and hopes logged. Young Tim, who fits with his father "like bacon and eggs," loves observing and collecting natural artifacts outdoors, just like his dad. But his father proves busy when Tim tries to share his nature journal, so the child heads to the attic, poring through his dad's travel notebooks before falling asleep. Allen employs rich, thickly applied color in sketchbook-like digital renderings that capture Tim's dreams with immersive spreads: the boy runs across a wooden rope bridge surrounded by giant tropical plants, rides a camel through the desert under the moon, and scuba-dives and mountain-climbs with Dad, dreams that Tim "scribbled down... as fast as he could" upon waking. When Dad turns his attention to his son ("I'm sorry I couldn't be with you today"), the Black-cued duo embrace partnered adventuring for an affable conclusion. Ages 4--8. (May)

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. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.