We Leave No Trace!

by Terry Pierce

The great outdoors could use some human kindness—and even the youngest children can help! Little hikers, picnickers, and campers will see how they can pitch in for nature by using the Leave No Trace principles modeled here, such as loving trees gently, leaving natural items in their place, using quiet voices to reassure shy creatures, and putting trash where it belongs. The bouncy, rhyming text and vibrant illustrations in this sturdy board book show tiny kids they, too, can easily help protect any wild or natural place while having fun outside.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

7 pages, Board Book

Published March 11, 2025

About the author

TERRY PIERCE is the author of over twenty-seven children's books, including Hello, Meadow!, Eat Up, Bear!, Love Can Come in Many Ways, Soccer Time!, Mother Earth's Lullaby, Mama Loves You So, My Busy Green Garden, Blackberry Banquet, and Tae Kwon Do! (Random House Step-Into-Reading, Bank Street College Best Children's Books 2007).

A former Montessori teacher, she now writes full-time and teaches online children's writing courses through the UCLA Extension Writers' Program.

Reviews

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t miss the newest board book by Terry Pierce, published by the Yosemite Conservancy. It teaches toddlers the principles of leaving no trace behind when they are out in nature. With simple, repetitive, and rhyming text, toddlers will remember the concept of making sure they have left no trace when walking on a trail, camping in a park, or having a picnic.

“We leave no trace when we are through. This is something we can do.”

There are many ways to enjoy the outdoors as a family. Camping, canoeing, picnics, hiking, and bird watching are fun family activities, but it’s important not to disturb the habitats of the animals and birds that live there.

Kids will enjoy the cute illustrations of diverse families having fun, enjoying the outdoors, and exploring nature around the animals that live there. Kids will learn how to be good stewards of the environment by not leaving trash behind, keeping their dogs on leashes, snapping a picture of a feather instead of taking it home, and quietly walking on the trails.

This newest board book continues the series about caring for nature, which includes EAT UP, BEAR! and HELLO, MEADOW!

[Stacey Donoghue · Rating 5 out of 5]

WE LEAVE NO TRACE is a gem for the youngest readers, gently guiding them through the kindest ways to enjoy and respect the outdoors. The illustrations are colorful, peaceful and fun and the text itself provides clear and memorable ways for children to pause and consider nature and their place in it.

[TGReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the simple repetition in this book - this is something we can do! It will connect so well with young kiddos and really get the message across of how important it is to leave no trace when we are enjoying nature. Absolutely beautiful illustrations. This story is perfect for spring and summer and will have your family ready to get out and enjoy nature!

[Kathy Temean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book Terry Pierce teamed up with illustrator Nadja Sarrel and published by Yosemite Conservancy. All three books are extraordinary. Everyone on the team has stepped up and performed at their highest level to give young children a book they will open many times.

I love that the book is nice and sturdy since we know little hands can be dirty and brutal on books. Parents will not have to worry about their child ruining the book. Toddlers will be drawn to the rhyming text and the striking illustrations showing tiny hikers, picnickers, and campers in action. Each page shows the animals and wildlife living in the park. Young children will have fun looking at all the little details and finding the little critters on each page. Parents will enjoy helping their toddlers find the creatures throughout the book.

The text is simple enough that children will pick up on the words and be so proud when they can recognize a word and start to read. 

It is so clever of Yosemite to realize books like this will nurture young minds to use the Leave No Trace principles talked about in the book. It will surely spark budding conservationists to learn to love wildlife as they walk through life and nature. This is a stunning book that families will want to keep and bring back treasured memories.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little board book is perfect for the youngest readers out there, who are going to be heading outdoors for camping, picnicking, hiking and more. It centers around the message that visiting nature also means respecting it. The Leave No Trace principle remains the main point of this read—the hope that by not disturbing nature more than necessary, others can enjoy it in the future as well.

The illustrations are full of details, which allow young readers not only to visualize various, natural scenes, but also give them something to discover when revisiting the book again. The depictions include lakes, forests, and more, while showing activities such as walking, picnicking and many others. The people enjoying these activities display a wide variety of individuals. And there are some cute animals included as well.

The text is only a couple of lines on each two-page spread. The first pages open with a rhyme, which then turns into a repeated phrase as the various ways to Leave No Trace are explored. These are simple suggestions, which are easy for even the younger readers to understand.

The fun of being out in nature and the joy of experiencing the outdoors is never forgotten, either. There's a calm and happiness on each page, showing how enjoyable it is to be outside. In other words, it's a lovely read.

[Peter Millett · Rating 5 out of 5]

“People love to be outdoors, from hiking trails to duck pond shores.”
“Wherever our feet touch the ground, we’re kind to nature all around.”

I love the words and message of Terry Pierce’s story. Terry is such an experienced writer of children’s books and she has a natural talent for writing in rhyme. She’s teamed up again with Nadia Sarell to produce a book that children and adults will both love to read.

This story is a celebration of nature and a timely reminder of our role in helping to take care of it.

[Story Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t wait to go camping one day. I’ll make sure to leave no trace!