I Took a Walk

by Henry Cole

Have you ever sat quietly near a stream, or in a meadow or a wood, and just looked and listened? Well, now is your chance-come walk with Henry Cole in this delightful follow-up to Jack's Garden. Vibrant, die-cut flaps fold out, inviting young viewers to observe the many forms of wildlife and plants found on land and in the water. Turn the pages for an interactive and fun exploration into nature. You'll be surprised by how much you see!

Genres: Nature, Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Science, Adventure, Summer

28 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Henry Cole was a celebrated science teacher for many years before turning his talents to children's books. He has worked on nearly one hundred and fifty books for children, including Nesting, Unspoken, Big Bug, A Nest for Celeste, Jack's Garden, and On Meadowview Street. Henry loves being outside where he can sketch and write.

Reviews

[Josh Sonii · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is about a boy that goes for a walk in the woods and all of the things he sees. He goes to the ferns and sees all types of animals such as a hawk, woodpecker,tiger beetle, and deer antler. There are many other animals behind the ferns too. It also shows images of all of the animals listed. Then he wanders to the meadow and he ask the reader who is watching, I think the birds are. He lays in the meadow to smell the clovers and sees , a male box turtle, a grasshopper, a wolf spider and many more animals. Then he begins to go to the meandering stream and ask who is watching him again, this time I see a bunny. He sits at the stream bank and look through the spicebush leaves. There he sees a bank swallow, a kingfisher, a mayfly, and many more animals. Then he begins to follow the stream until he reaches the pond. He ask who is watching him again this time I think it is the duck. He looked through the cattails and saw a rail, a dragonfly, a bluegill, and many more animals. Then he tells you to find a place to sit to watch and listen.

I believe that this book uses imagery to inspire kids to get out of the house. Once they are done reading this book they will want to leave there house to go observe the environment. Many children will probably be very intrigued by the animals seen throughout the book and this could encourage them to be more active and free. At the very end of the book they also have a page that labels every animal so the child knows which animal is which. This is a very good learning tool for children to learn the specific name of some animals. It also labels the area so that they know what each one looks like. I believe that the author says "I wonder who is watching me?" so that the child will look around for more animals before he opens up the page flap. It may also encourage the kids to look around for these animals when they are near a pond, or meadow. The book is read in first person like you are the boy or girl in the book. That is why no character is ever seen.

The illustrations in this book are very realistic. They look like they where based off of actual pictures that the illustrator had. Or maybe the illustrator when to an area with a lot of wildlife and drew these illustrations. I like how the illustrator did a cutout of each environment for you to open up. Each cutout revealed a lot of different animals. Then it listed all of there names on the cutout near the animals. The cover of the book describes exactly what the character is going to do from the beginning. It also has a little kid on the front so you expect him to be the main character but you are never sure.The back of the book ask you if you have ever just looked and listened which is exactly what you do throughout this book. Overall this is a great story for children that love animals or need to go outside more often.

[Cindy Overcast · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautifully illustrated book contains a science lesson for the youngest among us. With fold-out flaps that reveal nature's birds, insects, and other things you'd find in nature, readers take a visit to the woods, the meadow, the stream, and the pond. Each set of fold-out pages contains a list of things to look for and the back of the book has a key showing where to find them on the pages. Henry Cole may not teach science in a classroom anymore, but he's still teaching it on the pages of this book.

[Elizabeth Prows · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting and interactive book about what what kind of things you may see on a walk through the woods. This book provides information about the different kinds of plants and animals you may see in each habitat. Could be a super fun for kids to try and point out each of the animals behind the flaps in the book!

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Henry Cole's luminous illustrations give young readers an array of insects, animals, and follage of spring on a walk through the woods, visiting a pond, a stream, a field, and a meadow. With the repeated refrain "I wonder who's watching me" and "I saw", this appreciation for nature title shares a serene walk through a wooded area of usual and unique visions of nature.

[Naomi Korzeniowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the interactiveness of this book; searching and finding all the critters and plants in each setting. It encouraged my kids to then search out these things while out in nature (we read while out on a nature walk).

[Shiloah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took us on my rabbit trails. Loved it!! I highly recommend this educational book.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book would be a great book to take a child to these sorts of places in nature and just observe and listen.

[Char · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love learning about nature with my 2 year old. After reading, we like to see what we can remember from the book out on our walks.

[Natalie Neiffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. As you read, you can search for the animals and bugs that are mentioned. It was very fun to search for everything.

[Haven · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a lot of fun for Mommy and son to look for the hidden animals and plants in each ecosystem. Learning!

[R. L. Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I...wish I remembered more about this XD I just remember we liked it, but not a lot of details XD

[Kiana Gerard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Took a Walk by Henry Cole invites kids to come along and join on an adventure through the forest. In the novel, the reader goes on a journey through thick bushes to discover plants and animals that inhabit certain areas. The readers experience places like a forest brush, thin fields, and serene ponds and lakes. The author also invites children into I spy games to find unique animals in certain places of the forest. In the end, the readers are inspired not only to go outside and explore, but to also identify certain animals in different areas of the world.

When Henry Cole first invites us on this forest adventure, we see everything through the author’s eyes. Just flipping through the book, I noticed that the author only used one to two sentences to describe an area and the illustrations fit the rest of the page space. The overall mood of the book is peaceful and the tone is very cheery and adventurous. On the first page, the illustration is captured into a photograph surrounded by blank space. The photograph is a picture of an open door that leads to an outdoor forest. The illustrator draws this picture through the author’s eyes to engage the readers throughout the book. On every other page of the book, the author uses repetition of, “I walked out of the (blank) and into the (blank). I wonder who’s watching me?”. This repetition creates curiosity and keeps the readers interested and focused on a certain task. Cole uses simple and descriptive language to describe his surroundings like “cool shade” and “soft ferns”. The author makes the book very hands-on by putting flaps inside the book. When you open a few of the pages, it will show a view of a forest brush. By pulling the bush flaps back, the readers experience a feeling like pulling back bushes to discover what’s beyond the flap. When readers open the flap, the page inside is full of plants and animals that the reader must identify using an I spy list above. I love how the illustrator hides a huge variety of animals in appropriate areas where that animal might live. From mallards to butterflies, the readers get a great sense of discovery as well as learning new animal species. The best part of the book was at the end of the novel, when he author encourages his readers to go out and discover new things, but to be careful of what awaits outside. This is a great book for children of all ages to learn and to be involved in something so engaging even for an adult!

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a colorful picture book of a spring and science theme. A young boy is taking a walk on a beautiful spring day and as he happens upon each new habitat he wonders who is spying on him. However, on every other page is a foldout with a list of animals, plants, insects, items, etc. to look for. Many of the items may sound a little obscure or complex and may be unkown to even an adult, but it may present a good opportunity to expand vocabulary. There is also a key on the back page with answers. This book is probably best for a child or two to share and enjoy with extensive adult participation. However, it could work out nicely to scan the pages into digital formats that could be opened using a SmartBoard or an Overhead Projector for a small class of students. This book is appropriate for students in grades K-2.

[Alexandria Hiam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a colorful picture book of a spring and science theme. A young boy is taking a walk on a beautiful spring day and as he happens upon each new habitat he wonders who is spying on him. However, on every other page is a foldout with a list of animals, plants, insects, items, etc. to look for. Many of the items may sound a little obscure or complex and may be unkown to even an adult, but it may present a good opportunity to expand vocabulary. There is also a key on the back page with answers. This book is probably best for a child or two to share and enjoy with extensive adult participation. However, it could work out nicely to scan the pages into digital formats that could be opened using a SmartBoard or an Overhead Projector for a small class of students. This book is appropriate for students in grades K-2.

[Kara Roberts · Rating 1 out of 5]

""I Took a Walk" features vibrant die-cut flaps which invite young viewers to observe the many forms of wildlife and plants found on land and in the water. Children can turn the pages for an interactive and fun exploration into nature. Full color."

A very informational book but not a good 'read aloud' book. I think that this book needs to have the right audience. If there is a student who is interested in this 'bugged out' book. I like that the pages open up. That is a easy way to get a child to interact in a story. I liked the illustrations, however not the text.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

33 months - read this at the library with O. I like the idea of this book and it kept our interest for about 1/2 to 3/4 of the book. There is maybe just too many things to look for. I really should have focused on 3-4 creatures to search for before moving to the next page. BUT if your kid is into nature and/or Eye Spy type books I would certainly check this one out. This is a one on one lap book NOT small group read aloud type book.

[Macy Morrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is like an eye-spy book. It teaches kids bout nature which would be good for kids who live in the city and have never explored around a pond or forest. I like how the pages fold open as well to make the pages bigger.

[Gail · Rating 1 out of 5]

My two year old had zero interest in this book.

[Stephanie Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a book about taking a walk through the forest. It has die-cut flaps in it for a seek and find for children to find animals.

[Captmashpea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so great. An educational look-and-find. My K-3 graders loved that book.
(Hard Copy).

[The Bougie Twins · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Rani · Rating 5 out of 5]

With excellent, detailed drawing and color, the author introduces young readers to the richness and diversity in nature around them.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun to expand the flap and find everything in the pictures. Highly recommend.