I like the overall philosophy of this book. Has good information on gear for kids, how to make it fun, not getting caught up in "getting there" but just having fun, food, book recomendations, child carriers, motivating kids, games & tons more. Written by outdoors people who have taken their kids on trips from infancy on. I think they get a little carried away on the conservation stuff (like bringing roasting stick from your own yard so you don't cut a branch off a tree in the wild), but that's to be expected from anything by Trailside. If you have a kid & really want to get serious about taking them climbing, camping, hiking, canoeing, etc, this book has some good information. Just reading it is making me want to get out there!

This wonderful book will be useful to anyone wanting to incorporate children of any age into an outdoor-oriented lifestyle, whether you've been hiking and camping for years, or just getting started. Written by an active outdoor-type parent with a young son who was initiated into the outdoor way of life an early age, this book is full of information on how to keep your kids warm, dry, happy, and excited about being outdoors. I especially like the straight forward advice on where you should spend and save your money when it comes to outfitting your kids. It also recognizes that some children embrace an outdoor lifestyle more slowly than others, and has advice for breaking them in slowly and positively. Packed with inspiring pictures, parental tidbits, time-tested advice, and recommended reading, this book will have you planning your next outing in no time. Highly recommended!

Jean Craighead George is one of the most prestigious and one of the best children's authors of this century. She is my personal favorite, for she has taught me to love and respect our natural world. Her life is just as captivating and interesting as her books, for she herself has experienced the worlds of Julie Miyax Kapugen and Sam Gribley, and that is how she writes so well about them. While this book is a little dated--Ms. George has written dozens more books since its publication--every reader who, like me, has come to adore her books will want to know more about the author's extraordinary life. From early childhood she has loved nature and animals, and in her long, productive life that love has never faded. Like Sam in MY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN, she ate wild foods and had pet birds. Grown up, she went to the North Slope of Alaska and communicated with those magnificent animals, wolves, like JULIE OF THE WOLVES. Before you read this book, it would be a good idea to read Ms. George's eighty or so others, so that you can truly be interested in this biography. I highly recommend this book for anyone, young or old, who loves and respects nature, animals, and the eloquent words of today's most distinguished and beloved children's nature writer.

Maybe my son is just too young to understand the book, but the only thing he likes about the book is that when he touches the light switch the pages turn. As for naming the toys and noticing where they are, he has no interest. Of course, he is only 18 months old. I think that part of the problem is that every page looks alike, with only one toy out of place. The changes are not really obvious, so to him the book is boring. Blue is his favorite character and I am sure he will continue to look at the book. It's just not one of his favorites.

Ok, we all know toddlers just love blue. But this book isn't well written. My two yr old tires of them easily, and she loves books. So, its says alot when she is sick of something, as well as myself. Don't get me wrong, if it takes a favorite character as an incentive to read, buy this book. If you want a book to enjoy for years to come, a book that will last in memory, buy another book.

I have a 20 month old who absolutley loves this book! She discoved the light switches some time ago and so she loves to see the effects in the book that back up her experiences! Of course, at her age we are using the book as a tool to increase her language by naming objects and colors. I also only ask her to find Blue hiding in the dark and not the missing toy as asked for in the narrative. This is what I love about these books - they capture her attention immediately with the characters and colors and they can "grow" with her. As she develops more sophisticated problem solving skills I can then start asking her to find the missing toy. If your child likes brightly colored pictures or the show itself, then put this on your book-buying list!