The Hike by Alison Farrell is a beautiful story of three young explorers as the quest to the top of a mountain. Their hike takes them past numerous wonderful sights, including a ton of birds.

Throughout their journey, the plants, birds and other animals are accurately drawn and labeled. The explorers make numerous discoveries and take their time as they investigate what they see. One character, Wren, spends a great deal of time taking field notes. These notes contribute greatly to the story and draw you further into their adventure.

The explorers get hungry, get lost, and get tired as they approach their end goal: the top of a mountain.

The Hike by Alison Farrell is a perfect example of how nature should be experienced and enjoyed. She emphasizes how important being observant can be. And she also shows how worthwhile team work and an adventurous spirit are to not only finding your way on the trail, but in life too.

The artwork is great and so is the story. But what I love most is the integration of real plants and animals into the book. My sons asked countless questions about these and it was great to know the names of each. Nature is complex and beautiful. Going for a hike is more than simply walking in the woods. Alison Farrell shows this and more supremely.

The Hike by Alison Farrell is stated for 3-5 year olds but I think can easily be enjoyed by kids up to 7 or more.