Playing in a Patch of Dirt

11 Picture Books &

A Plug for Nearby Nature

My kids keep trying to teach me about the concept of nearby nature, that natural corners can be found in unexpected places close to home. Back in the days of pre-Covid life, one especially long weekday comes to mind. Our family members had been at our respective places of work/school/childcare all day and then gone directly to a PTO meeting in the evening, appreciatively shoveling pizza onto plates before the kids went to play in the gym. Attending the PTO meeting meant we missed our usual after-school outdoor time. 

As we left the school that evening, our kids were in various levels of meltdown. Despite my desire to get everyone buckled up in the car quickly, the kids were compelled to explore a small dirt patch by the bike rack. Almost immediately, they settled into a calm-active-alert state. One child scratched at the dirt with a little rock while the other two swung upside-down on the bike rack while I stepped back to observe. Nobody was fighting. Bodies were moving. The patch of dirt was just right for them to get some sensory stimulation, even among little pieces of litter and possibly a bit of broken glass. Everyone was calm again as we hopped in the car to head home.

At school: same dirt patch, different day.

Did hanging on a bike rack and playing in a patch of dirt count as time in nature? Well, it certainly wasn’t forest bathing on the North Shore of Lake Superior, but I would argue yes. Nature, and its positive effects for humans, exists along a continuum.  In one research synthesis, the author found that everyday nature, including views of nature out of windows and being in urban green spaces, has a positive effect on human health. Another study cites a local urban park as a powerful tool for students with ADHD: after a twenty-minute park walk, the students’ concentration improved significantly, in a similar way that the dirt patch helped my kids calm down that evening.

For those of us who live in more urban areas and are looking for nature near home, this realization has important implications. We don’t need to wait to get out to “big nature” to reap the benefits that nature offers, but we can take in smaller bits of nature near our homes - #NearbyNature. In this vein, Emma Marris’ Ted Talk “Nature is Everywhere” encourages us to expand our definition of nature to encompass all types of nearby nature. The goal is not to stop protecting wild places, but to also appreciate the natural places right in our own neighborhoods where children can fully engage, touch, go off path.

The unglamorous dirt patch was enough to give my kids a sense of freedom and calm. They intuitively know the value of nearby nature and easily seek it out - but sometimes we adults need reminders and reframings to slow down and take it in. 

With that in mind, I offer a collection of great picture books to help us all maintain a “nearby nature” mindset. I hope these books will help you enjoy nearby nature with your kids. Free Forest School has been instrumental in helping me slow down and let my kids lead, whether we are in the woods or exploring a storm drain. I am working to tune in to what my kids notice and be in the moment for each patch of dirt that they find.

11 Picture Books on Nearby Nature

Here and Now, by Julia Denos, illustrated by E.B. Goodale - This book helps young children and their caregivers to focus on mindfulness in the moment. Notice what is happening, in the here and now, in the exact place where you are rooted.

 Finding Wild by Megan Wagner Lloyd, illustrated by Abigail Halpin - Two kids go on an urban hike in search of “wild.” What will they find? Where will they find it? This book shows that urban places offer wild spots, too.

Puddle, by Hyewon Yum - A child doesn’t want to go outside because it's soggy and gray. His mom entices him by drawing pictures of him and his dog splashing in puddles. This does the trick to get the boy outside in real life. An ode to neighborhood puddles. #ownvoices

A Different Pond by Bao Phi, illustrated by Thi Bui - A child and his father go fishing at a neighborhood pond early in the mornings. During this time together, the parent shares stories of his life in Vietnam before emigrating to the United States while the boy proudly contributes to putting a fish dinner on the family table. #ownvoices

On a Magical Do-Nothing Day by Beatrice Alemagna - A child wants to stay on her device battling martians but her parent sends her outside to play. She’s determined to be bored, but the magic of her play takes over. 

Tiny Perfect Things, by M.H. Clark - One joy of caring for young children is the fresh eyes they bring to simple acts like a neighborhood walk. In this story a child and their caregiver notice all the tiny perfect things on their daily jaunt down the sidewalk.

My Forest is Green, by Darren LeBeuf, illustrated by Ashley Barron - The child in this book lives in a city and visits the urban forest throughout the seasons, afterwards creating nature art back at his apartment.

Now, by Antoinette Portis - A book about being in the present. This child notices each leaf, puddle, and cloud that she encounters because she appreciates the nearby nature in front of her, right now.

Por Todo Nuestro Alrededor/All Around Us, by Xelena González, illustrated by Adriana M. Garcia - Grandpa teaches his grandchild about the circles all around us: in the rainbow (the other half is underground), around his big belly, in the seeds they plant in the garden, in the round moon. #ownvoices

Daniel Finds a Poem, by Micha Archer - Daniel notices the specifics of the world around him. This book is great to read aloud due to the repetitive text - see the author’s ideas for actions to match the story here.

Seeing into Tomorrow, by Richard Wright and Nina Crews - The author wrote a collection of haiku poems about the spring hills and shade trees of his childhood. Nina Crews’ collage illustrations bring us back to those places. #ownvoices

Note: The #ownvoices books feature a child from a nondominant group and the author or illustrator identifies as a member of that group.

Anna Jennerjohn is a PhD Candidate at the University of Minnesota where she researches nature-based literacy instruction and teaches pre-service teachers. She especially loves exploring along the Mississippi with her kids, mosquitoes notwithstanding. Find her on Twitter @annakjennerjohn.

References:

Faber Taylor, A., & Kuo, F.E. (2009). Children with attention deficits concentrate better after a walk in the park. Journal of Attention Disorders, 12(5), 402-409.

Kuo, M. (2015) How might contact with nature promote human health? Promising mechanisms and a possible central pathway. Frontiers in Psychology, (6)1093. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01093