ACTIVITIES  *  TEACHING RESOURCES  *  LESSON PLANS  *  REVIEWS

Bringing the Outside In
by Mary McKenna Siddals
illustrated by Patrice Barton
Random House / 2016
Picture Book

Celebrating the joys of outdoor play!

LOOK INSIDE! - sample pages

BUY at Amazon.com (U.S.)
BUY at Amazon.ca (Canada)
BUY from a local bookseller

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ACTIVITIES

BRINGING THE OUTSIDE IN Printable

Personalized Painted Pail... for collecting treasures!

Rainbow Nature Hunt

Seasonal Scavenger Hunts - CBC Kids

More Scavenger Hunts - Wild Tales of...

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... or just go outside and play!

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TEACHING RESOURCES
& LESSON PLANS

Explore nature with Gumboot Kids Curriculum

Click on image to download pdf from Canadian Parks Council

Click on image to download pdf from Garrison School

Click on image to download pdf from PA Land Trust

Click on image to download pdf from NWF.org

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REVIEWS

* Sweet book for any place with small children in it. 
–Kirkus Reviews *starred review*

Following the seasons, four diverse kids (and one small dog) show the value of time spent outdoors.
–Todd Krueger at Capitol Choices
2017 Nomination

2017 CLEL Bell Awards finalist
in the category “PLAY"

Sweet, rhyming text captures the fun and spontaneity... [while] whimsical illustrations embrace the mess and joyous chaos of childhood.
–Amy Sands at Politics & Prose Bookstore
Staff Pick for Children’s Book of the Week

Energetic rhymes and tenderly detailed illustrations... capture the kinetic motion of this quartet of kids as they run, leap, fly kites, and make snow angels, their faces brimming with joy. 
–Publishers Weekly

Lively and playful, the verse reads aloud beautifully and moves the story along with ease... [while] the inviting illustrations... capture the warmth and joy that the young children in this multiracial family feel in being together, outdoors and indoors, throughout the year.
–Booklist

Four diverse children joyfully celebrate the messy nature of outdoor play through the seasons... and spend time looking at photographs and treasuring the memories of good fun.
–School Library Journal

Truly a celebration of playing outdoors... Grins spread ear-to-ear on their faces as they fly kites, stomp in puddles, jump in leaves and sled in snow.
–Tasha Saecker at Waking Brain Cells

Fun lyrical text... beautiful illustrations, and a strong message of the importance of spending time playing in nature, no matter how dirty you get.
–Michael D. Barton at
Exploring Portland’s Natural Areas

A celebration of dirt, nature, and play that gets kids up and moving featuring a diverse cast of children. 
–Lindsey Krabbenhoft at Jbrary

While parents can surely relate to the familiar routine of wiping up mud, sweeping out leaves, and drying out snow that follows their kids into the house, you’ll also find that the fun and memories these little messes represent will never be forgotten.
–Blue Manatee Book Blog

A gentle reminder to go outside and play...
–Angela Reynolds at Valley Storytime

I love this celebration of the old-fashioned joys of an unplugged childhood spent outside in nature, exploring, learning, and growing by experiencing and getting messy!
–Jane K. Wittingham at Raincity Librarian

Enough to pry any young couch potato away from the Xbox and into the great outdoors.
–Janet Hamilton at A Kids Book a Day

I love the fact that this book also explores little hands cleaning up after the seasonal fun.
–Upper Arlington Public Library (Ohio)

The rhythm of this story is wonderful... It almost feels like a song waiting to happen.
–LibrLdyMapleValley at
King County Library System

A lovely book about messy play and seasons.
–Sophie at Chroniques d’une globe-têteuse

A great book to encourage outdoor play with the promise of wonderful treasures of nature to discover everywhere.
–Ronna Mandel at Good Reads With Ronna

Perfectly captures the bouncy wonder young children exhibit in the freedom of a natural environment.
–Kathy Carroll at Celebrate Picture Books

All young readers will relate to the fun to be had in each season and also the friendships to be found in the outdoors.
– Susan Olcott at I Love Nature Books

No matter the cold, the wind, the rain, the heat, being in nature is always fun and good for the spirit.
–Kathia Ibacache at K Librarian

A great read-aloud that will appeal to playful children of all ages.
–John Cook in Columbus Parent

In our modern world, where adults and children cannot seem to do without their electronic devices, there are rewards in playing outside, one of which is building memories. I love this book!
–Diane Prather, Prather’s Pick
in The Craig Daily Press

Four children show how much fun it can be to play outside, no matter what the season.
–Association of Children’s Librarians
of Northern California

Adorable and engaging!
–Literally Lynne Marie

Rolling poem about the seasons and how the outside tends to cling to us. Loved the incidental diversity within this book.
–Michele Knott at Mrs. Knott’s Book Nook

My 3 year old loves how we sing instead of speak it to him, as the rhymes are just begging to be sung.
–Jenn Haunold, Corvallis, at Hike It Baby

Gently reminds readers of the importance of exploration, the joys of being ‘in the moment’, and our need to be truly carefree.  A wonderful “it's good to be a kid” story with a diverse set of characters.
–Vivian at Tales from the Treehouse

Click here for Goodreads Reviews