Expedition Backyard: Exploring Nature from Country to City

by Rosemary Mosco, Binglin Hu

Join two best friends--a mole and vole--on their everyday expeditions to find beautiful plants, meet new animals, and learn more about the world all around them in this nonfiction graphic novel.

Each day, Mole and Vole venture out into the world - never forgetting their nature journal! - to see what they can find in their own backyard. From pigeons and jumping spiders to swamp milkweed and maple trees, these two explorers get to know every part of their local environment. But after an accidental move from the country to the city, Mole and Vole worry that everything will be different. As they explore, they discover plants to look at and animals to meet in their new home as well.

The story of these two best friends brings to life a nonfiction adventure of finding wonder in nature everywhere - no matter where you live. This book concludes with fun activities for kids to do at home.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Nature, Middle Grade, Animals, Comics, Childrens, Picture Books

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 21, 2022

About the author

Rosemary makes books and cartoons that connect people with the natural world. Her Bird and Moon nature comics won the National Cartoonists Society’s award for Best Online Short Form Comic and were the subject of an award-winning museum exhibit. She makes best-selling science books for kids and adults and gives keynotes at birding festivals. She’s written and drawn for The New York Times, Audubon, PBS kids’ Elinor Wonders Why, Ranger Rick, and more. She’s represented by Seth Fishman. Her favorite glacial landform is the esker.

Reviews

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Onward Adventurers!

Go on an adventure around the neighborhood with Mole and Vole in Expedition Backyard, a completely charming children’s graphic novel from Rosemary Mosco and Binglin Hu. Mole and Vole spend their days going on expeditions around the the backyard of a rural home with Mole chronicling all they see with his artwork until one day they accidentally get packed up and moved to the city along with the family. The new world is scary, Vole thinks they see a lion and birds of prey circle above, but they make the best of it and decide to form their own adventure crew! This is such a sweet little book that makes learning and discovering fun and while it is aimed at elementary aged readers it is delightful for readers of any age.

I love you raccoon

This book is so pure and good. I love how many learning opportunities they include and how cute and brave all the furry little buddies are. It is broken into chapters by each “expedition” and each ends with Mole’s map of everything they saw and everyone they met (including the hawks and owls that seem to chase them once a day). I love how they meet new friends and learn what those animals are like, and there is a cute little side-plot about a little girl feeling lonely after moving but finding her own place as well.

The extras included at the end are wonderful too. There’s a guide how to draw the characters as well as information on nature activities like how to compost or plan a community garden. It’s a quick little read but it will fill you with joy and good vibes. It is just so cute and sweet and I want to hug all the animals.

[Kennedy Elder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute!!!!!!!!!!!

[Peacegal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This charming junior graphic novel celebrates the wild and fascinating world that exists all around us--right in our own backyards, no matter if we reside in the country or the city.

Young readers are encouraged to learn about and respectfully observe wildlife and wild places--it's amazing what we can see with a quiet and patient attitude. The cute characters also introduce kids to the concept of nature journaling.

It's always nice to see materials that encourage kind and respectful engagement with nature!

[Briana Winters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was quite sweet 💖

[*JEN the booknerd* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable.

[Eliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Expedition Backyard
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ .5 (3.5/5) or 7.28/10 overall

Characters - 7

Atmosphere - 8

Writing - 7

Plot - 7

Intrigue - 8

Logic - 7

Enjoyment - 7

[✨ Aaron Jeffery ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS WAS SO CUTE AND FUN AND AHHHHHHHHHH
GREAT DISTRACTION FROM A STRESSFUL LIFE
parts of me have been healed that I didn’t realise even needed healing
Stunning

Also the pigeons were so cute

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The SWEETEST!

[Souhaila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve got an uncontrollable urge to grab my sketchbook, run to the nearest park, and become one with the squirrels. Doodling like my life depends on it! 🐿️🌿✏️

[hope h. · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the cutest thing i've read all year!!

[jude · Rating 4 out of 5]

so sweet!! i immediately thought of two kids i know who would love this one. :')) the illustrations are very cute. i love the friendship between mole and vole and the friendships they make with other animals on their adventures. does a great job of inspiring kids to go explore the plants and animals in their own backyard.

[Larakaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute and funny and I loved the bonus material!

[Stacy Renee (LazyDayLit) · Rating 5 out of 5]

We received a temporary digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.


Two best friends, Mole and Vole, live their best lives going on adventures and expeditions every day. No matter what happens, whether it's a scary predator or even a complete change of scenery, these two friends keep a positive outlook and face the big world head-on. From the backyard to the city, Mole and Vole make every day a fun and educational adventure!

Expedition Backyard is a children's nonfiction graphic novel that is perfect for nature and animal lovers!


This is adorable!
We loved Vole's enthusiasm for adventure and Mole's tendency to nature journal all of their fun expeditions.
The illustrations are super cute and there is some scientific labeling of flora and fauna thrown in to make it even more educational.

There's a lot of great content at the end of the book as well, including step-by-step instructions to draw the characters and tips on how to keep a nature journal, join a community garden, learning to compost, and more!

[Gabrielle Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute book with lovely illustrations. This is fun for a child of any ages. This book is from the perspective of the rodents in your backyard. My toddler very much enjoyed it.

Thank you to Random House Children's & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[luna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so much fun to read, and was exactly what I needed after my lab today. It follows these cute little animal adventurers and their mishaps. I adored the art and the friendships in the short comics :D

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute gem of a graphic novel; from the characters to the storyline, this book was beyond wholesome! Within the first few pages I knew it would be a 5-star read and it is absolutely my favorite book of the year so far!

[aqilahreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

veryyyyy cuteeeee.

[Kam Yung Soh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice, short, graphic novel of the adventures of a mole and a vole, as they explore the world, finding new things which each adventure ending with an illustration by mole. Their adventures begin in the countryside, and then they are accidentally transported to the city. Taking the change in stride, they continue their adventures, gathering more adventurers and making new friends.

In the process of going through their adventures, the reader is given notes on the creatures they encounter in the countryside and the city, showing that nature is all around us and all we need to do is to look out for them to have adventures of our own. The book ends with a guide on how to draw mole and vole and how to go about creating your own nature diary as well as being involved in nature in the city.

[Phoenix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute. Fun ecological themes too without being too preachy. Reminds me a lot of Dewdrop by Kay O’Neill.

[Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mine involved a trampoline, thanks Gina

[Hannah Banana · Rating 4 out of 5]

VERY cute vole is probably my favorite I love the adventures and when they make new friends and it’s perfect to read outside because it fits the theme very well it was so good I read it so fast

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is super short and super cute! A great read for youngsters who want to get to familiar with nature in their own backyard. At the end, it even has tips to be a good steward of nature and how to get involved.

[Ness (Vynexa)]

such a cute and quick read about friends and the adventures we have a long the way.

the perfect read for spring/summer

[Keelin Rita]

What a sweet, wholesome read. If you like simple, nature-focused children's graphic novels, I think you'll really like this.

[frabamakaba · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 This is my kind of „Screaming, giggling, kicking my feet“.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book! Such a cute story! If there was a book 2 I would definitely read it!

[Raven Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute story about friendship and adventures. While there is nothing new, it is fresh and great for the little adventure seeker in your life. The set up makes it great for a new chapter reader, or a chapter a night read aloud.

[Anisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable emotions and noises and personalities. 🥰

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Madam read this to Mister as part of our drive to the water park and it kept him laughing and asking for "more." I read this and laughed and wished for more also. Terrific characters that made critters who are not necessarily my first picks as loveable or adorable ones who I cheered for and went "awww."

[Dayna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was cute, but definitely more suited for children, than adults. Not too much nature knowledge involved. I preferred Birding Is My Favorite Video Game as there was a lot more to take in.