Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

Mother-daughter author-illustrator team Anne (who passed away in April 2018) and Lizzy Rockwell have crafted a quiet story that positively portrays a black family spending time in nature. While this shouldn't be a news flash in 2018, it is.A black family—mom, dad, and daughter—drives 20 minutes away from their suburb for a day hike up Hickory Hill, where they enjoy the flora, fauna, and autumnal changes. The higher they climb, the sparser the vegetation becomes until they reach the summit and take in the expansive views. This picture book offers a rare snapshot of a family of color spending quality family time in the woods. Since they think they are lost at one point, perhaps they have not hiked often, but this does not dampen their enthusiasm. Several animals make an appearance in the watercolor illustrations, done in a soft, mostly pastel palette, including a porcupine, birds, a deer, a chipmunk, and a toad. The young female narrator describes the woodpecker she sees as redheaded; this, too, suggests that she hasn't done much bird-watching since the bird is a pileated woodpecker, and a kid who had grown up birding would know it by both sound and sight. Still, readers will appreciate the daughter's delight as she chooses the trail to hike and really notices her surroundings. Black and brown nature lovers, here's one to read and share. (Picture book. 4-8)

ALA Booklist

One morning, a girl looks out her bedroom window at Hickory Hill, which seems like a mountain to her. Later, she and her parents prepare for a hike, drive to the hill, and study a large map before choosing their trail. As they follow the forest path, they stop to notice a toad, a chipmunk, a porcupine, and a woodpecker as well as trail marks painted on a few trees. The girl spies a deer, which quickly leaps away. The trees gradually thin as the family nears the summit, where they sit and look out over the countryside. Like the previous volumes in the Rockwells' My First Experience Book series, Library Day (2017) and Zoo Day (2016), this picture book introduces an activity new to many young children and shows what it might be like for them. In the simply written, first-person text, the girl observes what's happening and comments on what she sees. The illustrations, clearly delineated drawings with watercolor washes, contribute to the book's upbeat tone. A straightforward, appealing introduction to hiking.

Horn Book

A young black girl narrates the story of a fall day spent hiking with her mother and father. Detailed watercolor illustrations show the family packing supplies, checking a trail map, and enjoying the wildlife on the way to the top of a hill near home. The simple, engaging text makes hiking seem accessible--and like lots of fun.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Mother-daughter author-illustrator team Anne (who passed away in April 2018) and Lizzy Rockwell have crafted a quiet story that positively portrays a black family spending time in nature. While this shouldn't be a news flash in 2018, it is.A black family—mom, dad, and daughter—drives 20 minutes away from their suburb for a day hike up Hickory Hill, where they enjoy the flora, fauna, and autumnal changes. The higher they climb, the sparser the vegetation becomes until they reach the summit and take in the expansive views. This picture book offers a rare snapshot of a family of color spending quality family time in the woods. Since they think they are lost at one point, perhaps they have not hiked often, but this does not dampen their enthusiasm. Several animals make an appearance in the watercolor illustrations, done in a soft, mostly pastel palette, including a porcupine, birds, a deer, a chipmunk, and a toad. The young female narrator describes the woodpecker she sees as redheaded; this, too, suggests that she hasn't done much bird-watching since the bird is a pileated woodpecker, and a kid who had grown up birding would know it by both sound and sight. Still, readers will appreciate the daughter's delight as she chooses the trail to hike and really notices her surroundings. Black and brown nature lovers, here's one to read and share. (Picture book. 4-8)