Looking for a beautiful new summer picture book that celebrates the simplicity that exists in your very own back yard? Check out this new release entitled MY TOWERING TREE by Janna Matthies and illustrated by Ashley Wolff. The text has a lyrical quality that will remind you of a playful song you might have sung in grade school. Young children will enjoy the repetition and rhyme. It is a book that invites the adult reader to pause and see if the child can predict the word that comes next. You can tell that the author is a music teacher!

Through the pages of the book, the child leads the reader to discover a squirrel, a bee, a garden, a large stone where her dog is buried, and the sunshine! It depicts a child having quiet, imaginative time and journaling in a notebook. This is the perfect book to show a child how spend quiet time without a screen and enjoy the wonder of God’s beautiful creation.

Discussion Questions:

What are some of the wonderful things you notice about the little girl’s back yard?

How do you think the little girl is feeling? Why?

Why do you think she is pictured with a notebook? What do you think she is drawing?

I wonder what we can find in our back yard?

Faith-based question: I wonder who created all of these wonderful things? (Take a moment to pray and thank God for his marvelous creation!)

Use the questions to lead into an outdoor activity or series of activities. Here are some ideas:

Connection Activities:

Go on an “I wonder” walk in your own back yard or around your neighborhood. Notice things and ask questions together.

Give your child a notebook and some crayons. Spread a blanket on the ground and take time to draw the things you see in your own back yard. They will enjoy it even more if you take the time to draw a picture, too.

Hide objects like Easter eggs or brightly colored blocks or stones. Have your child “hunt” for treasure. The Easter eggs will seem like a novel activity in the summer, but any object will work.

Play catch with a ball or frisbee

Make a simple obstacle course in your back yard and time each other. What to use? Hula hoops, pool noodles, crates or buckets, a chair, a jumprope…then hop, jump, or run around the house to the finish line. Kids will enjoy doing this multiple times to see how fast they can go. They will love to see you try it, too!

Here is a Pinterest Board with loads of game ideas! INDOOR AND OUTDOOR GAMES FOR KIDS PINTEREST BOARD

What ideas are your favorite? What ideas can you contribute? Feel free to leave a comment and share!

For more book recommendations and book extension activity ideas subscribe to Mindy’s mini magazine.

Post submitted by Mindy Baker. Check out her website at www.mindybakerbooks.com

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