The Nature Journal: A Backyard Adventure

Dad’s travelogs inspire dreams for the child who stars in this tale of adventures and hopes logged. Young Tim, who fits with his father “like bacon and eggs,” loves observing and collecting natural artifacts outdoors, just like his dad. But his father proves busy when Tim tries to share his nature journal, so the child heads to the attic, poring through his dad’s travel notebooks before falling asleep. Allen employs rich, thickly applied color in sketchbook-like digital renderings that capture Tim’s dreams with immersive spreads: the boy runs across a wooden rope bridge surrounded by giant tropical plants, rides a camel through the desert under the moon, and scuba-dives and mountain-climbs with Dad, dreams that Tim “scribbled down... as fast as he could” upon waking. When Dad turns his attention to his son (“I’m sorry I couldn’t be with you today”), the Black-cued duo embrace partnered adventuring for an affable conclusion. Ages 4–8. (May)