The Wild City Book: Loads of Things To Do Outdoors in Towns and Cities

Wild places in cities might seem an oxymoron but England-based nature educators Schofield and Danks (coauthors, Nature's Playground; Go Wild) here suggest suitable urban wildscapes for children to explore, such as nature reserves, roof gardens, and churchyards. The 66 related activities and projects described include creating pavement storyboards and recycled bird feeders (some adult assistance is suggested for most of the listings). The excellent photographs illustrating entries are fun and inspiring, but some activities may appeal more to one gender while others need additional information (there is no recipe provided when a "dilute sugar solution" is mentioned, for example). Schofield and Danks recommend creating a "Wild City Adventure Bag" packed with string, glue, scissors, a first aid kit, and other items. All activities involving animals suggest returning them to their natural habitat after observation. Some pursuits use digital cameras or electronic devices and recommend websites for more information, including the authors' goingwild.net, which is chock-full of outdoor doings for kids. A closing section gives tips for staying safe while exploring.