My Big Book of Outdoors

Gr 3-6—The ever-shifting cast of animals and plant life and seasons and their changes are the focus of the title. Aptly divided into four parts—spring, summer, fall, and winter—Hopgood assembles many elements into this compendium of the outdoors. Each section is interspersed with poetry, activities, and a close examination of the season's weather, insects, birds, animals, and plants. There are several spreads devoted to examining like objects in relationship to one another—birds' eggs, leaves, autumnal fruits—so readers have an opportunity for comparison. Also included are the life cycles of various plants, animals, and insects. While it may seem like a lot of information to include in one title, Hopgood seamlessly blends the informational, poetic, and creative elements into an appealing package that will keep readers engaged. The illustrative style is somewhat looser than Hopgood's other works, but he expertly combines detail and freneticism; one can almost feel the change of temperature from season to season. VERDICT A handy, comprehensive, and delightful look at the wonders of nature throughout the seasons, this is a recommended purchase for every collection.—Sarah Simpson

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Eye-catching. . . Hopgood's occasional questions and personal reflections, like identifying some of his favorite butterflies, further encourage youngsters to ponder their environment. If children had coffee tables of their own, this would be the book they'd leave out, dipping in and out to marvel at nature's beauty all year long.
—Booklist (starred review)

Hopgood seamlessly blends the informational, poetic, and creative elements into an appealing package that will keep readers engaged. . . . one can almost feel the change of temperature from season to season. A handy, comprehensive, and delightful look at the wonders of nature throughout the seasons, this is a recommended purchase for every collection.
—School Library Journal (starred review)

Full of vibrant artwork that has a raw, splashy look, Mr. Hopgood's extended ode to the natural world takes readers ages 4-8 through the changes of a single year. . . . His illustrations burst with the intense yellows of sunshine and daffodils, the pale pinks of blossoms and the bright lime-green of new plants in brown earth.
—The Wall Street Journal

The book is oversized and the illustrations leap from the page in colors that fit the season. In this compendium of activities, recipes, poems and information about the four seasons, there is something for everyone.
—Denton Record-Chronicle