Christine Latreille, in an article for Active for Life, talks about books to inspire your child to try new activities, discover how they move, and explore the outdoors, even in winter.

Christine’s recommendations for infants and preschoolers include the following:

• Move, a board book by Lolly Hopwood and YoYo Kusters, illustrated by Luke Flowers (0+). The book demonstrates fun activities combining imaginative play, movement skills, and physical activity, such as ‘stomp like a dinosaur’ and ‘move u-u-up and d-d-d-down while driving along a bumpy road’.

• A Walk in the Forest: Wheels of Wonder, by Jaye Garnett, illustrated by Lisa Manuzak (0-4). This Smithsonian Kids board book includes fun facts about creatures one might encounter on a walk through the forest, with information about deer, beavers, foxes, rabbits, birds, and others. Each page includes a wheel to spin (fine motor skill development) that introduces forest plants and animals through its viewing window.

• Run Wild, by David Covell (3-5). This book uses beautiful illustrations and simple phrases to remind children about all they can discover outdoors.

• Fox versus Winter, by Corey R. Tabor (5 and under). Fox doesn’t like winter. He is bored and alone while his friends are not available, having either hibernated or migrated. The story, part of the My First I Can Read! Series, tells the story of Fox’s snowy winter life in a simple, enjoyable format accessible to beginner readers.

• Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter, by Kenard Pak (3-6). This book follows the journey of an older sister and her younger brother as they explore their town, saying goodbye to autumn and welcoming the incoming winter season.

• Snowballs, by Lois Ehlert (3-8). The book is written with simple text that is easy to follow and the illustrations are designed to motivate children and parents/caregivers to get outside with found objects to see if you, too, can create a whole family out of snow.

The article, at Active for Life, also includes a range of titles to inspire school-aged children to participate in outdoor activities.