Be a Survivor

July 27, 2015
In one of four titles launching the Go Wild series of guidebooks for outdoor activities, readers learn how to keep themselves safe in the wild. Illustrated step-by-step directions walk readers through how to make an igloo, carve a walking stick, build a slingshot, and more. A spread devoted to foraging for food lists a handful of berries and plants that are safe for consumption, while ideas for finding water include placing plastic bags in trees, wrapping towels around one’s legs to collect dew, and even obtaining water from a frog (“only in a real emergency!”). Smiling woodland animals offer quips and tips (“Always release fish that you don’t need for survival”), while cartoon children demonstrate some of the techniques discussed. It’s a solid introduction to some basic, but potentially crucial, wilderness safety information. Simultaneously available: Be an Adventurer, Be an Explorer, and Be a Tracker. Ages 8–12.

November 1, 2015

Gr 3-6-This adorable collection of outdoorsy tips and projects-10 topics per volume-teach readers how to use a compass, make an igloo, and build a wormery. Cartoon illustrations and diagrams provide good details for following instructions and are especially helpful when it comes to tricky subjects like knot tying or making a homemade fishing rod. A peanut gallery of irreverent animals offers comic commentary from the margins. VERDICT These clever books will inspire projects large and small.

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