Out of School and Into Nature

February 13, 2017
Slade (The Music in George’s Head) and Lanan’s (The Story I’ll Tell) account of the life of artist and naturalist Anna Comstock unfolds against an airy, pastoral landscape, where she observed the local flora and fauna of the countryside. As Comstock grew older, so did her love for science and nature, leading her to study at Cornell and spearhead efforts to get children outdoors at school, where they could examine nature firsthand. Quotations from Comstock are sprinkled throughout, accompanied by Slade’s gentle narration: “Anna believed that children should experience nature too. They needed to hold it close in their fingers, feel it squish between their toes.” It’s a lovely tribute to a pioneering educator. Ages 6–10. Author’s agent: Karen Grencik, Red Fox Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Edward Maxwell, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates.