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Explorers of the Wild
Boy and Bear both love to explore the outdoors. There are so many neat things to see, and so many strange things to find. These explorers are prepared for anything . . . except each other!
When Bear and Boy meet in the woods, they're scared at first. Really scared. But soon these kings of the wild realize that no mountain is too big to conquer if you have a friend to climb it by your side.
Praise for To the Sea
"A whale's tale that dives deep and surfaces with useful lessons about making, keeping, and helping friends."
-Kirkus Reviews
"An unusual and appealing story about friendship."
-School Library Journal
When Bear and Boy meet in the woods, they're scared at first. Really scared. But soon these kings of the wild realize that no mountain is too big to conquer if you have a friend to climb it by your side.
Praise for To the Sea
"A whale's tale that dives deep and surfaces with useful lessons about making, keeping, and helping friends."
-Kirkus Reviews
"An unusual and appealing story about friendship."
-School Library Journal
Paperback
First published April 26, 2016
6 people are currently reading
809 people want to read
About the author
Cale Atkinson
49 books174 followersCale Atkinson is an illustrator/writer/animator currently residing in Kelowna Canada.
Believing in tea more than sleep, Cale is constantly working on numerous projects. His work can be found in children’s books, animated shorts, television, and games.
Publishers Cale has worked with include Disney Hyperion, Tundra, Simon and Schuster, Doubleday, KidsCan Press, Owl Books, Grosset & Dunlap, GreyStone, Scholastic, Pearson, and Marvel.
Believing in tea more than sleep, Cale is constantly working on numerous projects. His work can be found in children’s books, animated shorts, television, and games.
Publishers Cale has worked with include Disney Hyperion, Tundra, Simon and Schuster, Doubleday, KidsCan Press, Owl Books, Grosset & Dunlap, GreyStone, Scholastic, Pearson, and Marvel.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
February 15, 2021
THIS IS SO FREAKING CUTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
November 1, 2021
So cute! Really fun and inventive with the two stories (and adventurers) coming together (boy and bear). Adorable and full of love for nature and exploration.
April 29, 2016
This book gets five stars on illustrations alone! The pictures are absolutely stunning! The story is simple & told through two narrators. Love the themes of exploration & friendship! Kids will love this book and the subtle humor throughout! My favorite thing about this book is that encourages kids to explore & seek out new adventures.
December 11, 2017
Check out more picture book reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...
Boy and Bear each independently LOVE to explore the outdoors... they are on the search for neat things to see and strange things to find! As they make their way through the woods they eventually run into...each other!! Together, they realize, they can even conquer mountains... then it's time to go home...
You are immediately drawn to the cover of this picture book... The art doesn't disappoint when you open the book either... in fact it impresses you even more from the map in the fly pages to the way the text is incorporated INTO the art. There was NOT one spread that wasn't a JOY!! My nephew could have totally drawn EVERY page and it would have unique composition.
I LOVE how the text reads as if one person is talking but in fact one part is said by the boy and the other is said by the bear. It is to show how they are of one mind when it comes to adventuring! GAH!! This was so adorkable!! On one spread the boy notes the things he needs to explore and the bear notes similar but different things... what a PERFECT way to show how a friend can be the same but different from you and that is okay...
The best part was when they finally meet and at first are scared but when they see they have something in common they realize they can become friends! And the overall message of the book even trumps this supporting details of friendship... that together you have even more fun and can do even HUGE things... like conquer mountains. This kind of subliminal message is perfect for a picture book!!
The words used were just the right balance of difficult to easy... There are some new words to learn perhaps but not so many that the story gets broken up. My nephew was delighted with the book! I seriously see this book as one worthy of a home library, especially for a child not too enthralled with reading who would rather be outside... There is even a plug for parents who warn of the dangers in the wild!!
BOTTOM LINE: Perfect explorers adventure story about friendship...
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my picture book reviews in a special feature called Boo's Picture Gallery...
Boy and Bear each independently LOVE to explore the outdoors... they are on the search for neat things to see and strange things to find! As they make their way through the woods they eventually run into...each other!! Together, they realize, they can even conquer mountains... then it's time to go home...
You are immediately drawn to the cover of this picture book... The art doesn't disappoint when you open the book either... in fact it impresses you even more from the map in the fly pages to the way the text is incorporated INTO the art. There was NOT one spread that wasn't a JOY!! My nephew could have totally drawn EVERY page and it would have unique composition.
I LOVE how the text reads as if one person is talking but in fact one part is said by the boy and the other is said by the bear. It is to show how they are of one mind when it comes to adventuring! GAH!! This was so adorkable!! On one spread the boy notes the things he needs to explore and the bear notes similar but different things... what a PERFECT way to show how a friend can be the same but different from you and that is okay...
The best part was when they finally meet and at first are scared but when they see they have something in common they realize they can become friends! And the overall message of the book even trumps this supporting details of friendship... that together you have even more fun and can do even HUGE things... like conquer mountains. This kind of subliminal message is perfect for a picture book!!
The words used were just the right balance of difficult to easy... There are some new words to learn perhaps but not so many that the story gets broken up. My nephew was delighted with the book! I seriously see this book as one worthy of a home library, especially for a child not too enthralled with reading who would rather be outside... There is even a plug for parents who warn of the dangers in the wild!!
BOTTOM LINE: Perfect explorers adventure story about friendship...
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my picture book reviews in a special feature called Boo's Picture Gallery...
April 20, 2016
Perfect for young explorers who love stories about out door adventures and friendship. With it's frame worthy illustrations, and unforgettable story, EXPLORERS OF THE WILD is a book that captures the heart of being an explorer, and making new friends.
What happens when a young boy, and a bear cub cross paths while exploring the same woods? An unlikely friendship that leads them to finding new discoveries and trying new things. I loved the way the story is told. While this may be a story about exploring, at it's heart is a story about friendship and over coming fear.
EXPLORES OF THE WILD is hands down one of my favorite children's books I've read. Not only is the story one that will easily capture the attention of young readers, it's one that visually comes to life with vibrant illustrations that Cale Atkinson's books are known for. This is definitely a must have for explorers of all ages. It's the perfect book to read at story time, or bedtime.
Read my FULL REVIEW here http://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2016/0...
What happens when a young boy, and a bear cub cross paths while exploring the same woods? An unlikely friendship that leads them to finding new discoveries and trying new things. I loved the way the story is told. While this may be a story about exploring, at it's heart is a story about friendship and over coming fear.
EXPLORES OF THE WILD is hands down one of my favorite children's books I've read. Not only is the story one that will easily capture the attention of young readers, it's one that visually comes to life with vibrant illustrations that Cale Atkinson's books are known for. This is definitely a must have for explorers of all ages. It's the perfect book to read at story time, or bedtime.
Read my FULL REVIEW here http://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2016/0...
November 1, 2022
This is one of the cutest, most beautiful picture storybook I have ever read!
Even us adults are afraid of exploring the wild but this one little book does lit a spark!
The illustration is mind blowing!
Even us adults are afraid of exploring the wild but this one little book does lit a spark!
The illustration is mind blowing!
February 4, 2019
A boy and a bear, each an eager explorer of the world around him, run into each other in the forest, and after their initial feelings of fear, join forces to discover the joys of the wild. With so many amazing things to touch, see, hear and taste, the boy/bear duo spend one of the best days ever together...
As with some of his other picture-books - To the Sea , If I Had a Gryphon - Cale Atkinson's digital artwork in Explorers of the Wild is colorful and engaging, with a cute animated style that many young children will find appealing. The story is a sweet fantasy, offering a reassuring take on childhood exploration - whilst the boy has been warned by his parents about the dangers he might face in the wild, so has his ursine counterpart. I don't know that this one made a particularly strong impression on me, but for those who enjoy Atkinson's art, this will make a fun title to add to their library.
As with some of his other picture-books - To the Sea , If I Had a Gryphon - Cale Atkinson's digital artwork in Explorers of the Wild is colorful and engaging, with a cute animated style that many young children will find appealing. The story is a sweet fantasy, offering a reassuring take on childhood exploration - whilst the boy has been warned by his parents about the dangers he might face in the wild, so has his ursine counterpart. I don't know that this one made a particularly strong impression on me, but for those who enjoy Atkinson's art, this will make a fun title to add to their library.
January 20, 2026
"I love to explore!"A boy and a bear both love the wilderness. The boy likes observing the cool animal critters walk through the forest while the bear likes to lift huge logs and see what lives underneath.
"It's my favorite thing to do!"
But what happens when the boy and the bear stumble upon each other in the wild? Can a boy and bear become best friends?
"My parents tell me to be careful"
"They say you never know what you'll run into the wild."
This was a very sweet story about two adventures exploring the forest together. I had fun seeing their different interpretations of the wilderness and how they both found a way to be friends together.
The illustrations are (as always) TOP notch. I think the way Cale Atkinson does the people and animals in his books is so gosh dang cute.
But I also really enjoyed how he played with color this round - he showed the characters exploring the forest at various times of day and I thought the way the color palette changed worked really well.
Overall, this was a fabulous read!
April 29, 2016
Anything illustrated by Cale Atkinson is an automatic preorder for me. I enjoy his illustrations and each project looks visually different than the other.
This book is perfect for theme. So many good things to take from this book.
This book is perfect for theme. So many good things to take from this book.
May 3, 2016
The storyline: Timeless. The illustrations are absolutely stunning.
June 21, 2022
SO cute! My town library is currently displaying this book as part of The StoryWalk® Project at our local park, so I had the chance to read it today while on a walk. Cute storyline but what really got me was the astonishing illustrations. Just so adorable and immersive. Love it!
February 19, 2021
Atkinson's boy and bear are adorable protagonists in this homage to the joys of nature and friendship. The boy and the bear start out on parallel journeys, enjoying the woods, creek, and animals near their homes. Preparation is essential for such an exploration and both bear and boy carry what they need with them. After enjoying their journey alone, they bump into each other. At first they are scared of each other, until they realize that they other is an explorer just like himself. They join forces to continue exploring and even take on a mountain. I thoroughly enjoyed the adorable illustrations here as the bear and the boy share their adventures and the beauty of nature. This book is a sweet reminder that life can be full of sweet moments and friendships, and while such moments tend to be fleeting, it's important to experience them to the fullest and keep the memories close. A book that made me smile from beginning to end.
May 12, 2016
I truly believe that being outside and exploring is beyond important, not just for kids, but for all of us. It gives us a chance to slow down, live in the moment, and garner a sense of appreciation for the wondrous world we live in. Explorers of the Wild is a great reminder of this.
The story starts out as a side-by-side narrative of two young explorers. They each go into detail sharing their affinity for the wild and checking out all the weird and wonderful things nature has to offer. When the two very different adventurers run into each they are frightened. However, the uneasiness quickly fades away as they see just how similar they actually are. These two kings of the wild realize that with a fellow explorer at your side there is little you can’t conquer.
The story starts out as a side-by-side narrative of two young explorers. They each go into detail sharing their affinity for the wild and checking out all the weird and wonderful things nature has to offer. When the two very different adventurers run into each they are frightened. However, the uneasiness quickly fades away as they see just how similar they actually are. These two kings of the wild realize that with a fellow explorer at your side there is little you can’t conquer.
November 28, 2016
I loved the art, the pages were fully drawn with plenty of wild details like birds, butterflies or snails. The forest was nicely done and the various pages gave the right tone of happiness or creepiness. I also enjoyed the 2 points of view (young boy + young bear), they joined nicely on one theme: being an explorer. All the important stuff was here (I like too to explore, discover plants and animals and take photos), from the fun to the magic, through the colors. And the friendship was nice. Quick read for sure, but lovely message and art.
May 31, 2016
Two explorers, a boy and a bear cub, run into each other in the wilderness and become friends. They explore the woods together. The story is easy to read told in tandem and illustrated with very colorful drawings. The book is suitable for beginning readers. This was a free review copy through Goodreads.com.
September 30, 2017
This is a delightful story of two very different explorers with a love for adventure. I was amazed by the illustrations in this book. They are absolutely lovely. I love the quote: "No mountain is too tall if you have a friend by your side to climb it." Inspirational message that I will share as I read this book!
July 13, 2016
The art was front and center for me and really told the story more than the words did, which is not intended to be a bad thing. It's just so overwhelmingly wonderful. Loved the message. Loved the art...obviously. Would like to see these characters have more adventures together.
August 13, 2016
Another great story from a rising star in the world of picture books.
June 15, 2016
One of the cutest picture books I've ever read!
September 2, 2016
I LOVE this book. So positive, and colorful! And I love the way the text gets incorporated into the illustrations. Could be a great read aloud book!
January 13, 2017
Such a sweet story about how friendship enriches your life. The illustrations are lovely!
July 17, 2017
I should have given a five so more people will read it. This is a good one and should not be overlooked.
February 27, 2018
These illustrations are so incredibly cute and the story line is adorable.
April 18, 2019
It's so cute I'm gonna die!
Two explorers find lots of things in the wild but the best thing they find is friendship.
Great for preschool and toddler ages. Especially good for lap-sit so they can see all the fun illustrations up-close.
Two explorers find lots of things in the wild but the best thing they find is friendship.
Great for preschool and toddler ages. Especially good for lap-sit so they can see all the fun illustrations up-close.
January 9, 2018
This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!
Hello, everyone! Today, we read Explorers Of The Wild by Cale Atkinson, an adorable story of two adventurers and their unexpected friendship.
Exploring the wild takes guts, be you human or bear. It takes knowledge, ingenuity, curiosity and skill. And if you’re very, very lucky, sometimes you will find a friend who shares those same qualities, and who might spend the day wandering the wild with you. And when you have to part, it might be bittersweet, but you will always have the memories of your adventures together.
Atkinson’s To The Sea was one of our favorite books last year, so we had high hopes for this one, and it absolutely delivered. Once again, the reader is given a wonderful, colorful, exhilarating book about friendship and what makes it special. The way the illustrations and text are laid out, the reader feels as though they are joining Boy and Bear on their adventures, and the story has a lot of great themes on friendship, nature, and courage. The length is just perfect for baby bookworms, and JJ thoroughly enjoyed it. This one is definitely recommended for adventurers of all ages, and it is absolutely Baby Bookworm approved!
Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!
March 1, 2018
This book is about a boy and a bear who set out on a separate adventure. They explore everything and love exploring. They aren't scared of anything until they bump into each other. They are scared at first but then they connect with a common love for exploration. They explore everything together. They discover frogs and climb mountains. They have a great day exploring together, but then the day comes to an end. They return to their home but decide they will never forget their greatest adventure.
I would use this for my kids that love nature. The illustrations give kids something to find interest in. This would also be a fun book to read to encourage kids to keep an exploration journal. For the kids to write down some of their journeys and things that they have discovered outside. This could even be something we do as a class by taking a field trip to a park or just going to the playground.
I would use this for my kids that love nature. The illustrations give kids something to find interest in. This would also be a fun book to read to encourage kids to keep an exploration journal. For the kids to write down some of their journeys and things that they have discovered outside. This could even be something we do as a class by taking a field trip to a park or just going to the playground.
Read
May 14, 2016There is something a bit mysterious about wading through waist-high weeds in a vacant lot, jumping across stepping-stones in a stream and building lean-to forts in nearby woods when you are a younger gal or guy. If there is no one else around you can easily imagine yourself to be the first person to make new discoveries. In the seconds of a single thought you are in a place far removed from home.
Moving slowly you listen, look, smell and touch as if you have entered an alien world. Explorers Of The Wild (Disney Hyperion, April 26, 2016) written and illustrated by Cale Atkinson (To The Sea, Disney Hyperion, June 2, 2015) follows two individuals roaming through a nearby forest. They are seeking but not sure what they will find.
My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
Moving slowly you listen, look, smell and touch as if you have entered an alien world. Explorers Of The Wild (Disney Hyperion, April 26, 2016) written and illustrated by Cale Atkinson (To The Sea, Disney Hyperion, June 2, 2015) follows two individuals roaming through a nearby forest. They are seeking but not sure what they will find.
My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
September 13, 2018
A young child loves to explore. He loves seeing all the different animals, climbing over trees, and rolling down hills. One day on his adventure he runs into a bear. Instead of being terrified of each other, they join in each other adventures to create a day they would not forget.
This book is one of my favorite picture books yet. The story is very creative and simple for younger readers to enjoy, and the illustrations are fantastic.
An activity I would do along with this book is for the class to go on an adventure of our own. We would have to discuss what items we will need for the adventure and plan it all out. The students can create the scene and have a lot of fun going on an adventure like in the book.
This book is one of my favorite picture books yet. The story is very creative and simple for younger readers to enjoy, and the illustrations are fantastic.
An activity I would do along with this book is for the class to go on an adventure of our own. We would have to discuss what items we will need for the adventure and plan it all out. The students can create the scene and have a lot of fun going on an adventure like in the book.
May 20, 2019
What a cute book! I adored the illustrations, with the bright colors and vivid facial expressions, they do a great job at really enhancing this book. I love the message of this book, that even if you're frightened at first, as long as you have an open mind and can find a commonality with someone else, you are bound to lose your fear and get back to enjoying yourself. I also enjoyed that the pictures did a great job of informing the reader. I could see using this book in an early childhood class and being able to read a page and have students guess what you might be talking about, then show them the pictures to see if they were right. Overall I found this to be a lovely age appropriate picture book that was both fun and educational.
August 7, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed the richness of the beautiful color and the fun illustrations that entranced me from start to finish! We (my students and I) discuss often the significance and power that illustrations hold with their ability to pull you into the story. Cale did just that. As our two explorers ventured into the woods, I was right there with them, amazed by the scenery and curious about what they'd find next and when they found each other, they had the greatest adventure yet! This is the first book I've read by Cale Atkinson. I do believe he has found himself a new fan and I will most certainly be adding Explorers of the Wild to my book purchase for my K-5 library this school year!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews