Take a Hike

Christine Linge is a past director of the Toronto & District Parent
Co-operative Preschool Corporation and a freelance writer.

Because this book comes encased in plastic packaging, potential buyers
may not discover that this is an excellent children’s guide to hiking
that doesn’t need the accompanying plastic binoculars as a marketing
gimmick. With chapters on hiking preparations, basic nature studies, and
each of forest, wetland, beach, winter, and city hikes, the guide
reflects the expertise of the many highly qualified individuals the
authors consulted (a curator from the Kortright Centre for Conservation,
an environmental educator, a representative of the Hospital for Sick
Children’s Poison Control Centre, and an urban planner). Furthermore,
the authors are remarkably thorough about safety. They advise, for
example, that a hiker unbuckle his or her backpack waiststrap before
crossing a stream, so that if the hiker falls forward in the stream he
or she will not be pinned under water.

The unadorned but not un-hip text with its funky sense of humor and
friendly tone makes this educational book quite readable. Gardos’s and
Hassan’s illustrations contrast with each other perfectly. The nature
drawings are lovely and biologically accurate, while the cute owl
cartoons draw attention to the safety warnings contained in the
vignettes. The handbook is printed in dark green ink, both restful to
the eye and reminiscent the book’s environmental message.

Take a Hike is jam-packed with intriguing tidbits designed to entice a
child to try the activity, yet it also has much to offer children (and
adults!) who have already become hikers. Highly recommended.