My kids had a gifted Ranger Rick subscription that they enjoyed when they were younger, so I was curious to check out Ask Scarlet. That and being an avid nature lover myself, I was hopeful that would be full of stuff to draw kids in. I wasn't disappointed and I'd definitely recommend this.

I found it to be wonderfully accessible and a great resource for the kinds of questions kids would ask. The science presented is easily digestible for children and there are a variety of "hands on" activities to make the world around us become more alive. I especially loved the sensory scavenger hunt that invites you to go nature or forest bathing. Beautiful, full color photography also helps.

The only downside was that this ARC copy was poorly formatted in several spots (for example--sentences/paragraphs were strangely split and ran into each other), making the text hard to read. I assume this is just an early copy issue that will be worked out in the final published version, so I didn't do a star rating based on this.

Thanks to Magination Press/The American Psychological Association for making this available to read and review through NetGalley.

Ask Scarlett: Can Being Outside Help Me De-stress? is a well written, science-based collection of facts about nature for kids curated by Becky Baines. Due out 5th Aug 2025 from the APA on their Magination Press imprint, it's 80 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents.

It's got colorful punchy graphics and photos, and nature related questions and answers in highlighted text boxes throughout, about 4 per page. Common sense questions (can crystals really heal you, is there any science behind "grounding", how can less screen time lower stress and help focus, what are blue spaces, and lots more) are answered simply and truthfully in age appropriate language.

Five stars. This would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, home library, or gift giving. Very high "cool" factor, and full of information.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

This is run of the mill science book for kids. It is loaded with questions and answers that is written specifically for kids and how nature relates to them as they chill and vibe for their well being. It includes some debunking and hacks to make much of nature. It is also filled will lots of great photos that will draw you more to the nature. Accessible and fin to read, kids (and adults too) will enjoy Ask Scarlett.

Do you have a youngling at home who is always curious? Maybe always has a lot of questions? Maybe that kiddo is actually you full grown adult that simply wants to know more about everything but gets a little overwhelmed as to where to start?
Well, you've come to the right place because Scarlett has all the answers... okay maybe not ALL of them, but certainly a lot, explained in a interesting but short and concise way, Scarlett the fox gives scientific answers in everyday language, this book in particular is about the outside, questions about the weather, the nature, global warming, etc.
My little scientific heart was so happy when at the end of the book we find the resources for the information because we are never too young to learn about fact check!
Overall it was fun, it was interesting, perfect for curious readers wether young of not so young.
Ony downside, the font is a tad too small and I had a bit of a hardtime reading this ARC, hopefully is just a ebook thing.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Highly Recommend

This book is loaded with great information! It deals with so many wonderful topics that are sure to capture the attention of the reader and encourage him/her to put some of the suggestions into practice. It is loaded with real-life situations that include great pictures and illustrations, along with some touches of humor.

I think this would also make a great addition for any teacher to use in the classroom. It would spark some wonderful discussions and even encourage research and possible experiments dealing with some of the topics. The book is multifunctional, and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Camp NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and voluntary.

Wonderful non fiction book on the wonders of being out side in nature. This book is well organized and very colorful. There is even a craft at one point. This book is perfect for 8 yr olds and I know my twins would love it.

This fun book would be good for children around ten years old who are interested in learning more about nature and its natural healing properties.

This book covers lots of topics and features many tidbits of knowledge, most of which I know as an adult, but that a kid would still be learning about (e.g. the sun provides Vitamin D to the body, fresh air is good for you, bees are the world’s best pollinators, there is a strong connection between memories and scents, etc.).

The author uses puns and jokes throughout the book to make learning about nature fun and entertaining, plus there are a multitude of pictures of beautiful scenery, cute animals, and kids enjoying the outdoors.

I think this book is a good primer to teach kids the importance of different aspects of the natural world and how it benefits our lives and health every day.

This is a cute little non fiction book for kids that teaches them about science and nature. It was a little nostalgic because it reminded me of the Ranger Rick Magazine.

Perfect for my 8 year old! He absolutely loved reading this together. He is an outdoor, animal kid but this is a great book/resource for anyone, including adults. Lots of informational material about animals and nature and a strong mental health theme.

Highly recommend for anyone looking to be outside more!

This is a really good nonfiction option for kids. Bright and colorful pages and thoughtful layout. This is an excellent option for a classroom library. I think homeschool, nature school, and park centers should pay special attention to stocking this book in their library. The information was provided in a factual yet engaging manner. Sometimes children's nonfiction books can be boring and that is not the case here.

Based on the popular Ranger Rick® magazine feature, Ask Scarlett is a fun question-and-answer reference book that satisfies kids' curiosity about nature and how being outside can make you feel better.
This is good.