This book was so fun! I love the cartoon characters, and the wildlife photography is great! This is geared towards kids but everyone can learn from it! I loved all of the science, facts and tips! I'm usually very stressed, and this book gave me so many tips on how to alleviate some stress! The book was written in a way that children can understand it but also with enough information to keep the adults engaged as well. The book was well-written and provided a lot of facts! I highly recommend it!

I was so excited to see a book from the Ranger Rick world on the list for #campnetgalley this year! My first grader and I read through this book this month and had a great time discussing all the new facts we learned about health, nature and our world in this question-and-answer style book. My son giggled, ooh’d and ahh’d at the beautiful photography featured throughout the book as well. I always love finding a children’s book that is just as fun for adults to read and enjoy too! Huge thank you to Rebecca Baines, Magination Press, and NetGalley for allowing us to read this one early!

All the green stars! Wow! Just wow! Everyone needs this book today. Written for kids, this book is a must-read for adults too. I plan to buy a copy for my classroom. If you remember the Ranger Rick magazines, you will appreciate this all the more.

As I decided to participate in #campnetgalley I chose this book right away. I did not know it would be such a gem. I have been spending more time outside. I am feeling the benefits of that. I am a tree hugger anyway and have always known that being outside in nature brings me peace. Being in the sun. Being near water, seeing green... We know how that makes us feel, but there is scientific evidence to prove that wonderful feeling. We all feel happier when we see baby animals. Baby sloths! Even if just in pictures.

It is particularly hot this summer in the south. Before reading this, I had been avoiding going outside much, even tho I knew I felt better when I did go out in the sun for even 10 minutes. While reading this I began being intentional about outdoor time and my anxiety is so much better.

I highly recommend this for everyone. I am grateful to NetGalley for a digital copy to read for review. Again, this is one I will purchase for my own. I can't really say enough good things about it. This book also needs to be at every therapy office on the planet. Outstanding!
5 likes


Reading Progress
July 11, 2025 – Started Reading
July 11, 2025 – Shelved
July 11, 2025 – Shelved as: netgalley
July 21, 2025 –
50.0% "I’ll be purchasing this book 📕 for the classroom library when published. Love!"
July 28, 2025 – Finished Reading
July 29, 2025 – Shelved as: animals
July 29, 2025 – Shelved as: children
July 29, 2025 – Shelved as: dogs
July 29, 2025 – Shelved as: health
July 29, 2025 – Shelved as: non-fiction

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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/234794931-ask-scarlett" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Ask Scarlett: Can Being Outside Help Me De-Stress? And More Questions about Nature and You" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1751729635l/234794931._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/234794931-ask-scarlett">Ask Scarlett: Can Being Outside Help Me De-Stress? And More Questions about Nature and You</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1078845.Rebecca_Baines">Rebecca Baines</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7730422073">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
All the green stars! Wow! Just wow! Everyone needs this book today. Written for kids, this book is a must-read for adults too. I plan to buy a copy for my classroom. If you remember the Ranger Rick magazines, you will appreciate this all the more. <br /><br />As I decided to participate in #campnetgalley I chose this book right away. I did not know it would be such a gem. I have been spending more time outside. I am feeling the benefits of that. I am a tree hugger anyway and have always known that being outside in nature brings me peace. Being in the sun. Being near water, seeing green... We know how that makes us feel, but there is scientific evidence to prove that wonderful feeling. We all feel happier when we see baby animals. Baby sloths! Even if just in pictures. <br /><br />It is particularly hot this summer in the south. Before reading this, I had been avoiding going outside much, even tho I knew I felt better when I did go out in the sun for even 10 minutes. While reading this I began being intentional about outdoor time and my anxiety is so much better. <br /><br />I highly recommend this for everyone. I am grateful to NetGalley for a digital copy to read for review. Again, this is one I will purchase for my own. I can't really say enough good things about it. This book also needs to be at every therapy office on the planet. Outstanding!
#campnetgalley

Ask Scarlett by Becky Mains at Magination Press is a fun nonfiction text for young readers which features a variety of interesting questions kids might ask. There are 5 chapters with about 15 pages each and popular nonfiction text features such as text boxes, pictures, bold text and captions as well as a glossary, index and other resources at the end of the book. Ask Scarlett explores ways that being present in nature can help with mental health, such as grounding and breaks from screentime. It also explores things like Seasonal Depression and low vitamin d. Another chapter focuses on animals and interesting things about them, another about senses and how they relate to emotions. Weather and geographic wonders are other chapters that are filled with interesting information and answering natural questions kids might wonder about. I feel like the theme of this book is a little but of a stretch, it covers a lot of seemingly unrelated topics, but at the same time, I feel like kids would enjoy learning about these topics and the way that it is laid out is one that lets kids dive into the parts that are more interesting to them. I like that mental health is covered throughout as well. I could see this book in my classroom library. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book!

A very clever book, that certainly does something I've not seen any do before. It advertises the outside world through the whole science of its benefits, and the changes it makes to the body. So while we learn of the need of sunblock we still learn to take up some rays for the benefits of our Vitamin D, and we discover the mood changing that can occur due to anything ranging from the temperature to the force of the winds outside to even just sitting back and stargazing of a late evening.

This doesn't plunder every possible subject for every possible bit of science, but it does certainly cover some meaty topics. With it all being presented in very photographic fashion, and in the manner of readers' questions to a friendly fox called Scarlett, it still gets to nudge us to knowing about our circadian rhythms, the detrimental results of prolonged screen time, and the benefits of everything natural, from the beach life to the green spots of our cities.

And that's just chapter one – the second is all about animals, from the benefits of scary bees to the germ-killing properties of alligator blood. The third looks at the senses – the good feel of the hug, the benefits of smelling beloved aromas. Chapter four concerns the weather and seasons and how we all feel about them, and chapter five takes us to places we've long thought beneficial, before closing with the actual positives of just taking a break elsewhere.

OK, it can feel overall to be a very loose and woolly book, not sticking to any one subject – how does tree-hugging end up on the same pages as the effect of horror film noises on the amygdala?! And it can suggest practically anything can be good for your mental processes – the amount of things to make us temporarily smarter range here from smells to pictures of pets to bad weather. But I really appreciated this, with the no-nonsense approach. It didn't deliver it all as must-do life hacks, it just suggested… well, actually, having more of the fox's lifestyle to improve our own. A very unexpected thing indeed, and a strong four stars.

✨Book Review✨
🦊Ask Scarlett 🦊

Synopsis:
Based on the popular Ranger Rick magazine feature, Ask Scarlett is a fun nonfiction children’s book that satisfies kids’ curiosity about nature and how being outside can make you feel better.

My thoughts:
🤔 I really liked the question and answer format. I think this format will very much appeal to young readers.
🤔 Scarlett is a fox with a fun and quirky attitude, and she is the perfect book friend to explain how nature helps our brains.
🤔 The pages are bright, colorful, and very appealing. The answers to the questions are sometimes lengthy and in a pretty small font size (at least in my ebook advanced reader edition), so I would suggest this one might be a great book for adults and kids to read together.
🤔This book is packed with interesting and very relevant information! It would be a great addition to homes, schools, libraries, and nature centers!

Who is going to love it? Children who ….
❤ …love NATURE. 🌿
❤️ …love LEARNING. 📓
❤️ …love ASKING QUESTIONS.❓

📢This one releases Tuesday, August 5, 2025!

🥰Thank you to Magination Press @maginationpress and @NetGalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the perfect book for older children to read, especially if they have a lot of questions! Learning all these facts from Scarlett was super fun, especially since I have not heard of most of them before. The only problem I had with this book was the font size. It was very small, so small that I had to squint to read. Overall, Ask Scarlett is an amazing book filled with information that is easily shareable with everyone! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read Ask Scarlett. :)

This nonfiction children’s book helps kids explore different aspects of nature and the many ways that humans might connect to the natural world. The pages are bright and colorful and each idea is represented as an answer to a question. I thought this format worked well, but the answers are often long-winded and set in small type. I think this book would work best for older kids (age 10-14).

My favorite part was the sensory scavenger hunt, which gives detailed information on how to mindfully spend time in nature.

Ask Scarlett: Can Being Outside Help Me De‑Stress? is a fun, science-based nonfiction book for kids that answers dozens of questions about nature and health. The engaging format and stunning nature photography make it both informative and visually appealing.

This book is aimed at children, but I really enjoyed it. This would be a great book for children and adults to read together. It covers all types of topics like how nature, vacations, staycations, even looking at photos of nature can have a positive effect on your health. It's written in a question and answer format with beautiful, full-color illustrations for each question. There is a fun sensory scavenger hunt, a project to make a rain stick, and a glossary at the back. I had fun reading the book and learned a couple things, so it would make a great addition to your family's library.

I received an advance copy of this in ebook format for review purposes from NetGalley. My review is voluntary and unbiased

We have a few ask Scarlett books in our collection and this one is absolutely a new favorite. I love how this book explores how nature can be so great for our bodies and minds

I selected this book for a Camp NetGalley review option, and was especially intrested in this being a Ranger Rick imprint, as I love these magazines for my early childhood classrooms. This book would actually be great for primary or middle elementary students because it is packed with interesting information, detailed non-fiction facts, and a cheerful fox for a narrator.

Reading on ebook was a challenge, because there was a lot of print spread among pages, and I had to zoom in quite a bit, but I highly recommend this in print form for schools, libraries, and nature centers.

Ask Scarlett is a wonderful resource for curious kids (and adults like me!). Featuring answers to fun questions on topics such as nature, health, and animals, the book helps expand our understanding while encouraging us to spend more time outdoors. It includes engaging pictures and ideas for crafts and activities!

In a time when many parents are trying to help their families disconnect from screens, this book is especially valuable. My seven-year-old daughter listens to podcasts at night, such as But Why? and Brains On!, so this book is perfect for her interests. She loved the questions and thought the answers were both fun and educational. She's already asked if I can buy her a physical copy to keep on her shelf!

Advanced copy provided by Magination Press — American Psychological Association via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I have always been a fan of Ranger Rick. Therefore, when I saw this, I had to check it out. I love how colorful the pages are and how in depth the information is without being overwhelming. I will say I feel like there is a lot of information that it may be too much for some. However, I enjoyed it, being an information junkie. Scarlett asks some great questions that are answered in a way that is thorough yet easy to understand.

Thank you for the opportunity!

As a child subscriber to Ranger Rick magazine, I was thrilled to see this book encouraging kids to go outside, answering the common questions kids wonder about, and including beautiful photography alongside Scarlett the Fox, sharing all the information. I had all the nostalgic feelings about reading Ranger Rick and learning about animals and the outdoors.

Scarlett answers questions with a fun and quirky yet accurate style. She is brief and to the point, sharing examples alongside the facts. Gorgeous photographs, combined with illustrations, fill the pages alongside brief paragraphs to keep the kids engaged.

I appreciated how Scarlett teaches about the importance of going outside, getting Vitamin D, and why Vitamin D is important to your body, and getting sun to reset your circadian rhythm. This is something I don’t ever remember learning as a kid, but it has been so helpful to my daily rhythms now.

Kids also learn ways to calm their minds and reduce stress by going outside and looking at the stars or watching birds. Did you know cuddling a furry friend helps with increasing brain activity? Snuggling with your dog or cat while studying or doing homework is said to improve attention, concentration, and creativity. Plus, you just might sleep better.

Kangaroo care is the skin-to-skin care found to be so beneficial for newborn babies, mimicking Kangaroo pouches, where baby kangaroos live and get the nutrients they need to grow. Scarlett explains how beneficial this care is to newborns. This was likely part of your child’s birth care, and you might want to show them a photo of the two of you in the skin-to-skin care.

There are so many other ways that nature, animals, and the outdoors are good for our lungs, our minds, and our attitudes. Reading this book with your child and finding outdoor activities to do together is a great way to finish off your summer.

I think this is such a great book for children of all ages. I can't wait to get more of these as my child gets older.

Uplifting, Informative, and Perfect for All Ages

Wow, I picked this one up to read with my daughter—and I’m so glad I did. What started as a simple read-along turned into something much more meaningful. Not only did it spark great conversations between us, but I even learned a few things myself—some I didn’t know, or maybe just don’t remember.

This book does a wonderful job of gently encouraging mindfulness, self-awareness, and the importance of staying positive within our own minds. It offers simple yet powerful reminders that can benefit readers of any age, especially in today’s fast-paced world. Whether it’s through activities, reflections, or just the encouragement to step away from screens, it’s a great tool to start building mental wellness habits early.

One of the best parts? The focus on getting outside and enjoying the great outdoors. It’s a refreshing reminder of how much clarity and joy can come from reconnecting with nature.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or just someone looking for an uplifting read, I really think this book should be picked up. It’s a light, inspiring read with a lasting message—and the fact that I got to share it with my daughter made it even more special.

Thank you to the author, Net Gallery, and American Psychological Association for the advance copy to place my honest review.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
What a delightful book! This is perfect for the classroom AND families. “Ask Scarlett” is a great book about how nature can affect your life. The question - answer format makes it easy to read for children and adults. You can skip around if you. The bright pictures are engaging and will hold your attention. Loved it!!
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#AskScarlett #NetGalley #ChildrensNonFiction #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #BooksAboutNature #NewNonFiction2025

Ask Scarlett: Can Being Outside Help Me De-Stress? And More Questions about Nature and You
by Rebecca Baines

Ask Scarlet is loaded with great information. So many different topics that are covered are ensure your attention is captured. It is loaded with real-life situations that include great pictures and illustrations.

Ask Scarlett is a kid-friendly and wonderfully designed. You will find yourself wanting to learn more. All the information is written and broken down in a way that makes it easy to understand and fun to read. As a educator we always notice how weather effects the students mood. This book explains how weather effects the body. You learn why older people say they can feel it in their bones when it's going to rain. There are so many more intersting topics Scarlet Fox covers.

I think this would also make a great addition for any teacher to use in the classroom. It will create discussions and even encourage research. There are a few projects for the kiddos to do.

Thank you NetGalley and American Psychological Association | Magination Press for providing an ARC.

Quick Summary: An educational encyclopedia of knowledge for young minds

My Review: Ask Scarlett: Can Being Outside Help Me De-Stress? And More Questions about Nature and You by Rebecca Baines is categorized as "Children's Nonfiction." It is scheduled for release on 8/5/25.

About the Book: "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."

In My Own Words: A Q & A resource aimed at providing knowledge on a number of issues

My Final Say: I loved this educational tool. It was contemporary and fresh in a way that will most certainly invite young learners into acquiring knowledge about various academic topics that pertain to life sciences and more.

The layout and formatting of the book was done so well. From the use of colors to the use of diverse art & illustrations, the book was visually stunning.

The introduced content was engaging. It drew me in immediately. The added character - Scarlett - playfully appeared throughout. Her presence made it likable and fun.

The highlighted words, the glossary, the index, and the additional resources made learning accessible and continuous, even beyond the initial exposure.

Overall, this nonfiction read will appeal to many.

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: C/Y
Status/Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (American Psychological Association | Magination Press — American Psychological Association), and to NetGalley. Thank you for providing access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. It was a pleasure to review.

#CampNetGalley