Welcome to the Nature Up Bookshelf

For Young Readers: “FAtima’s Great Outdoors” by AmBreen Tariq

 

September-October 2022 Featured Book for young readers

(Illustration by Stevie Lewis)

Fatima’s Great Outdoors by Ambreen Tariq

About the story: “Fatima Khazi is excited for the weekend. Her family is headed to a local state park for their first camping trip! The school week might not have gone as planned, but outdoors, Fatima can achieve anything. She sets up a tent with her father, builds a fire with her mother, and survives an eight-legged mutant spider (a daddy longlegs with an impressive shadow) with her sister. At the end of an adventurous day, the family snuggles inside one big tent, serenaded by the sounds of the forest. The thought of leaving the magic of the outdoors tugs at Fatima’s heart, but her sister reminds her that they can keep the memory alive through stories—and they can always daydream about what their next camping trip will look like.” Learn more on the book’s page.
Intended age: elementary school

Why Carolyn picked this story to feature:

This book made us smile. It helped me remember my first camping trips as a kid, and helped my kid remember his own experiences camping. The pictures are beautiful and make you want to slip into your own tent! 

I hate that Fatima needs a safe place to regroup after a hard week, but love how she remembers that nature is there for her. Her first camping trip is a success! This book offered lots of great opportunities to talk with my kid about situations he might encounter: “What would you do if you heard someone making fun of what someone else was eating?” “What would you say if a friend was sad after they got a quiz grade back?” We also enjoyed how many times we heard what Fatima was eating with her family. We tried making samosas, and my kiddo asked if we could bring them on our next camping trip! We enjoyed the parts of the story that showed what life was like for the family when they lived back in India—especially when Fatima’s mother was able to build a campfire just like that!

Quote we love: 

“They zoomed into their sleeping bags in a single fluid motion. That night, Fatima had a hard time falling asleep. Crickets chirped and wind blew against their tent. She flinched every time a twig snapped. But soon, as the trees swayed outside, Fatima’s eyes got heavy and she drifted into a warm deep sleep that only campers enjoy. Soft snores drifted outside the tent and joined the sounds of the forest.”

Other Resources:

Ambreen Tariq reading her book (Walmart Storytime).

 

Bookshelf Artwork by Green Sparrow Arts