I Love Dirt! 52 Activities to Help You & Your Kids Discover the Wonders of Nature

Jennifer Ward is the author of numerous children’s books, all of which present nature to kids. Her award-winning titles have been featured in magazines such as Ranger Rick, Your Big Backyard, Learning, and Foreword, and she has been interviewed and featured on national television and local radio. She is a regular speaker at conferences and schools across the country, where she instills the importance of literacy and the wonders waiting to be discovered in the natural world.To learn more about the author, Jennifer Ward, visit her website at jenniferwardbooks.com.

Susie Ghahremani is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. Her artwork, which combines her love of nature, animals, music and patterns, has appeared in the New York Times, Nickelodeon Magazine, and Martha Stewart Kids, and has recieved illustration awards from American Illustration, the Alternative Pick, and Giant Robot. To learn more about the illustrator, Susie Ghahremani, visit her website at boygirlparty.com.

Jennifer Ward is the author of nine children's hooks, all of which present nature to kids. Her hooks have been featured in magazines such as Ranger Rick, Your Big Backyard, Learning, and Foreword. She has been interviewed and featured on national television and local radio. She is a regular speaker at conferences and schools across the country, where she instills the importance of literacy and the wonders waiting to be discovered in the natural world. She lives in Illinois.

"Here is the potential for much fun, many meaningful experiences--and a trove of shared stories."
--Richard Louv, from the Foreword

"There may be no better way to ensure the well-being of the natural world tomorrow than to introduce children to its many small wonders today. Through a series of accessible activities designed to engage young minds and all five senses, this book reminds us of --even celebrates--the magic to be found right outside our own back doors."
--Todd Christopher, National Wildlife Federation's Green Hour

"I Love Dirt! is a perfect book for parents, teachers, or anyone who cares about children and nature. A nature-lover herself, Jennifer Ward has done an excellent job creating a collection of fun, interactive ways for children everywhere to connect with nature and combat the growing negative impact of sedentary, indoor lifestyles on our youth."
--David Mizejewski, Naturalist, National Wildlife Federation and Host of Animal Planet's Backyard Habitat

Oh, what fun a child can have by jumping in mud puddles, collecting bugs, and listening to the birds! And yet, many children today have become so occupied with TV, computers, and video games that unstructured outdoor play is sadly becoming a thing of the past.

I Love Dirt! is a call to parents, educators, and caregivers to help children recover one of the great joys of childhood. Through 52 activities, readers will find a wealth of creative ways to actively engage children, ages four to nine, in nature. Each activity presents an open-ended project meant to promote exploration, stimulate imagination, and heighten a sense of wonder: Bug Lullabies challenge kids to use their sense of hearing to pick out insect noises; in Cloud Races children are engaged in a fun contest to see whose cloud reaches the designated finish line first. "Help Me Understand" sidebars provide answers to potential questions such as, "What's a cloud?" as well as fun science facts, making this a wonderful resource for any adult fostering a child's growth.

"Here is the potential for much fun, many meaningful experiences—and a trove of shared stories."—Richard Louv, from the foreword

"There may be no better way to ensure the well-being of the natural world tomorrow than to introduce children to its many small wonders today. Through a series of accessible activities designed to engage young minds and all five senses, this book reminds us of—even celebrates—the magic to be found right outside our own back doors."—Todd Christopher, cofounder of National Wildlife Federation’s Green Hour

"I Love Dirt! is a perfect book for parents, teachers, or anyone who cares about children and nature. A nature-lover herself, Jennifer Ward has done an excellent job creating a collection of fun, interactive ways for children everywhere to connect with nature and combat the growing negative impact of sedentary, indoor lifestyles on our youth."—David Mizejewski, naturalist, National Wildlife Federation, and host of Animal Planet’s Backyard Habitat

"A perfect companion to your nature center and hiking trail excursions!"—Nashville Parent

"A wonderful resource for parents. This book could be the ticket to many wonderful memories for both parent and child."—Portland Book Review