This book is an excellent resource for children who are curious about the outdoors and the natural world. It not only provides a wealth of facts about nature but also includes hands-on activities that encourage kids to engage with what they’re learning. It’s both educational and interactive, making it a great tool for parents who want to nurture their child’s interest in science, exploration, and environmental awareness.

Do your kids or grandkids enjoy hiking, biking, or camping in the great outdoors? Would you like to get them interested in such activities? Either way, this could be the perfect book for them. It also would make an excellent book to dip into with them because its question and answer format does not require reading straight through.

Not only does Ask Scarlet answer many questions and include cute, entertaining illustrations but it also explains physical and mental health benefits of life outdoors.

Thanks to NetGalley and Magination Press/American Psychological Association for an Advance Reader eGalley. It’s an ideal addition to any family or school library.

Ask Scarlett is a deeply thought through book that explored the connection of nature and emotional health in an easy to process way for kids. My daughter loved going through this and learned so much in the question and answer format. Personally, I found it to be thoroughly enjoyable as a parent and it helped form genuine conversations about why we feel so connected when hiking together!

An informative non-fiction book that would be great for primary school children. This book covers a wide range of topics on how naturally helpful nature is to humans. It's easier to take advice from a cute fox rather than a parent or teacher. This would be a book that I'd like to discuss with the reader or read along with them since there are some advanced concepts for this age level. Also, I shudder at the thought of small children having to "de-stress", but such is the country we live in.
#NetGalley

This was a fun book to read with my kids. We love going on hikes and this set up a lot of things for us to talk about next time we're out together in nature. Thank you to Net Galley for this early copy to review.

Ask Scarlett is filled with general science questions and answers that are both interesting and educational. Phenomena such as climate change and severe weather are discussed in an easy to understand manner. While this book is filled with simplistic explanations geared to young children and perhaps preteens, Ask Scarlett is a introduction into the world of science. Plus, adults could find this a useful conversation starter with their high schoolers, expanding their knowledge and interest into the world of general science, biology, forestry, earth sciences and more.
5 stars

Very cute setup. Loved the pictures paired with the facts. Definitely something that would interest my elementary aged kid.

I would absolutely use this in my classroom with my students as an option for silent reading, but also to do as a read aloud throughout our Physical Health and Education classes! There is not only important information but also practice things that children can do to support their health. I especially loved that it had advice on how to be outside without actually being outside as many of my students live in apartments and their adults work long hours so they are often inside!

Nice book for curious kids in the style of Ranger Rick. The book follows a question and answer format with a focus on outdoors and benefits of being outside and with nature.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

This is a great book for kids, especially those at step four in their reading comprehension. Love how it is divided up into easy to digest sections; even though there is tons of information and text, they won't get overwhelmed at all by it.

Definitely would recommend.

I grew up with Ranger Rick, so it was a delight to read Ask Scarlett. This is a very informative book, set in a fun way. It will open up topics of mental health for children to discuss with adults. It discusses various animals in short, easy-to-follow paragraphs. Children and adults can read it all at once, or savor it by reading one topic and discussing it. Scarlett is still a fun guide to nature.

Thank you to the American Psychological Association - Magination Press for the free ARC. All opinions are my own. I read this for the equivalent of a sticker - a Camp NetGalley badge! Happily for me, I learned more than a few things even though this is written for children rather than adults. As someone who enjoys outdoor recreation but could probably stand to spend more time outside as part of my regular routine, this was a great reminder of how nature can support and improve physical and mental health.

I definitely recommend this book for middle grade readers and older who are interested in the topic!

Full of fascinating tidbits and information.While designed for younger readers, I feel we older ones might just as easily enjoy and learn from it. Not only is the information, which ranges from weather, both normal and extreme, to animals (even the mole rat gets space), houseplants, how pets may help out health, as well as headaches, foods, and more. Seriously, it's all tied neatly to the outdoors. I liked that though they frequently pointed out that there was scientific info to back up their statements that they didn't go into minute details in the text. The kept it simple and easy to digest and understand. There is a resource list at the end for those desiring to do a deeper dive, plus a glossary of terms and a quite extensive index to make it easier to find particular topics of interest.

The book is illustrated with both cartoon like images, ie Scarlett, and photos which are credited at the end. Young readers should find them interesting and even charming, at least I did. There are even some crafty projects suggested with instructions at some points which will add to the fun. Bottom line, quite informative in a fun, easily read manner, and full of fun, colorful pictures. Thanks #AmericanPhychologicalAssociation and #CampNetGalley for sharing this early look at a book that I highly recommend to both teachers and adults with curious, inquisitive children. Another plus is that while I ultimately read straight through, one can browse randomly or use the various guides to find desired info. Seriously, teacher friends and outdoor lovers, add this one to your bookshelves to share.

A fun book in a question and answer format. Our guide is Scarlett Fox who takes young readers through five chapters:

CHAPTER 1 Act Natural

CHAPTER 2 Party Animals

CHAPTER 3 Sensational Senses

CHAPTER 4 Wild Weather

CHAPTER 5 Worldwide Wonders

Colorful photos are included throughout and blend well with the text. The questions are ones kids often ask but can't find an answer.

Some of my favorites included:

Can the wind make me feel weird?

Why do people say to stop and smell the roses?

Can being outside help me de-stress?

Can bad weather make my grades better?

There are dozens more about how nature effects one's mind and body. The back pages is where you will find a helpful Glossary, Index, and Resources page. Curious minds are the winners here. Read the chapters in any order and be rewarded with an engaging reading experience. ASK SCARLETT would make a great gift for the middle grader in your family.

While sharing a love and appreciation for nature this book is a truly encouraging and uplifting book for our little ones. This book was inspired by the feature in one of our favorite children’s magazine, Ranger Rick called Ask Scarlett. We meet Scarlett Fox who is helping answer a wide range of questions from weather and health to how nature effects our minds and bodies.
As a mom I really loved the whole vibe of the book and the message this book sends to my children. In it Scarlett shows us just a few of the many benefits of being in nature, things like health and mental well-being are the top of my list, especially with my son who is on the Autism Spectrum. Nature is a vital part of our everyday lives.
The book tackles a variety of questions that children, and adults, have and how nature affects them. There fun things like: Does full moons make you act weird and can you feel a storm coming in your bones. Then there are the things that help physically, like Vitamin D from the sun, or being outside and listening to nature helps you relax and calm. We also learn ways to help our wonderful Earth and nature around the world.
Our little family are nature lovers and really enjoy the benefits we have found from nature. Too many to name but our favorites are how we feel in the crisp fall air and the sounds of a thunderstorm and rain completely relaxes us and brings us comfort, and how the beauty in nature brings us joy.
Ask Scarlett is the book is perfect for your nature loving little one, or to encourage a love for it. This book would also do wonderful in classrooms of all ages. We are adding it to our Homeschool. Possibilities are endless.
Now go and enjoy your nature adventure with your little ones.

Book: Ask Scarlett - Can Being Outside Help Me De-Stress? And More Questions about Nature and You
Author: Rebecca Baines
Rating: 5/5 stars

I chose to read a nonfiction book for this year’s Camp NetGalley and I am glad that I did! I chose to read Ask Scarlett by Rebecca Baines - which is a question-and-answer book that gives readers more knowledge of the benefits that spending more time outside can have for them.

The book is a positive read that is full of knowledge! It highlights how spending time outside can boost people’s moods and self esteem and how it can improve a person’s overall mental health. It presents the facts by answering common questions that readers, especially kids, may have.
These facts are presented to readers with a wide range of elements including bright and crisp photos, bold text, and eye-catching colours.
The cartoon characters were also a fun touch!
The only downside is that it is not formatted the best for e-readers, but I am sure the print book layout will be much easier for readers to follow.

Although the book is targeted towards younger readers, I found that I learned quite a few new benefits that being outside and surrounded by nature can offer us! The facts and information shared can be easily understood by readers of all ages.

One fun fact that I learned was that trees use their vast root systems to communicate and “talk” to other trees!

Thank you to American Psychological Association and NetGalley for the chance to read an eARC of Ask Scarlett - Can Being Outside Help Me De-Stress? And More Questions about Nature and You.

Covers a surprisingly wide and varied bunch of science topics (definitely going to look into the Sea Turtle movement thing). And, the photos were quite amazing (and sometimes wicked cute). It was an all around fun but also very informational book, and, definitely a pretty good book that covers a ton of the natural world, and is a good read for middle grade readers especially.

This book contains many interesting and exciting facts about all kinds of different things in nature. The format is written in a way that suits children and also is good for families. The question and answer style maintains interest and the colorful pictures enhance readability.

Thanks to Netgalley and American Psychological Association / Magination Press for giving me an ARC of this book (ebook version).

Bright, clear pictures, relatable tips and information for kids and adults both. This book would be great in classrooms, homes, and professional offices.

Go touch grass, breathe in fresh air, and listen to the natural world around you.

I selected this book as part of the NetGalley summer camp 2025 offer and I'm so glad I did. While I'm not the target audience and don't have children, I read Ranger Rick as a kid and it's such a positive memory for me. While not the same as the magazines from my childhood, it was nice to see that legacy live on in a new way. Would recommend to my friends that have children and love the outdoors.