• Age: 5 to 8
• Grade: k to 3

A tale of adventure and discovery in the great outdoors.

This beautifully illustrated book brings to life the importance and joy that comes of experiencing and preserving the beauty of the natural world. When Chloe and Zachary find themselves without their digital devices for a week at their grandparents' cottage, they quickly overcome their panic when they discover that adventures in the great outdoors are much more fun than anything the wired world has to offer.

With nature's playground at their feet, the two embark on a fun-filled weekend of activities. A scavenger hunt finds a family of mallard ducks, fluffy babies and all, a family of deer (and their droppings!), and a beaver dam that inspires the children to build their own, collecting and assembling sticks, mud and moss, but mostly mud.

The next night, Gramps takes the children outside with a flashlight. Sounds echo in the night, a barred owl and a beaver slapping his tail. The night closes with a bonfire at the lake's edge, complete with marshmallows and s'mores.

Along the way, Chloe and Zachary learn important lessons about the forest and its creatures. They ultimately discover that the beauty of nature is something to cherish and protect.

This lighthearted tale is accompanied by the artwork of renowned naturalist painter Robert Bateman and The Tobin Island Artists (D. A. Dunford, Karen Genovese, Susan Gosevitz, Loretta Rogers, Darcey Sills, Megan Torisawa, and Simon Dunford). Guest artists Dwight Aranha, Brad Bateman and Andy Donato also contribute to the illustrations.

Judith and Shandley McMurray ; Original art by Robert Bateman with The Tobin Island Artists ; Forewo

Judith McMurray's profile page

Shandley McMurray's profile page

Canadian painter Robert Bateman has been featured in exhibits across the globe, opening a permanent exhibition at The Robert Bateman Centre, in Victoria, B.C., in 2013. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1984 and a Member of the Order of British Columbia in 2001. In 2013, he was awarded the Royal Canadian Geographical Society Gold Medal in recognition for his commitment to preserving the Canadian landscape. Bateman’s notable achievements include being named one of the twentieth century’s 100 Champions of Conservation by the U.S. National Audubon Society in 1998 and bestowed the Amnesty International Human Rights Defender Award in 2007. A beloved teacher, avid geographer, and renowned naturalist celebrated for his accessible realist style, Bateman is a Life Member of the Royal Canadian Academy of the Arts. He is the bestselling author of fourteen books, including his memoir Life Sketches. He continues to paint and lives with his artist wife, Birgit, in Salt Spring Island, British Columbia. Visit BatemanCentre.org for more information on Bateman and his art.

Robert Bateman's profile page

The story is told in the present and explains, with scientific precision, the things the children are discovering. Meticulously-detailed watercolours capture the mood of the Northern Ontario woodland setting, from a deer in a clearing to a still-life of some of the children's collected treasures to a cheery red-eyed vireo in close-up... Part storybook, part nature lesson, Under Your Nose is recommended for primary collections. Recommended.

Canadian Review of Materials

An excellent read for ages five to eight.

Waterloo Region Record