As a retired teacher, I tend to judge picture books by asking myself, "would I read this aloud to a group of children?" And a resounding yes is my answer!

The illustrations are beautiful with lots of little details that children will enjoy finding.

The mood of this book is calm and serene.

The plot is simple. A girl and her family watch the wildlife on the lake in the waning hours of daylight. The children are relaxed and getting sleepy, so they are quiet and observant. The parents give them information about the wildlife in a realistic and age appropriate way.

Do not let the fact that the specific breeds of birds are native to Kentucky. The truths about enjoying and learning about the natural world around you are universal.

Kudos!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC.

The artwork is stunning in this book! It is a really great story about engaging with nature—this would be a great story to read before a nature adventure where kids may see these kinds of animals.

Back to Our Nests evokes a simpler time of the dreamy summer evenings money can't buy. Packed with imagery and adorable illustrations, Jayne Moore Waldrop makes readers feel as if we are right there in their boat and on the shore with them. Observing, investigating, quiet, as the sun fades through its most vibrant shades and the beauty of nature emerges from the recently wild waters.

I do wonder how the ecosystem on the island has changed since the egrets and pelicans moved in. Did fish levels drop? Have other bird populations negatively changed? Do their nests damage the trees? Would their birdsong be considered noise pollution? Have their droppings raised or lowered the island soil PH? Selfishly, I wish the Author's note included a few recommendations to modify normal habits into more animal friendly ones. Waiting to rake and clean up organic matter until after winter instead of in the fall. Decreasing the amount of grass on your property by planting more, native species. Adding a bird bath, bird feeder, or nesting box (there are fun websites that help users determine which box to buy/make depending on which bird they hope to roost there!). The opportunities to personalize your involvement and style are endless!

And what a responsible detail to include everyone wearing a lifejacket on the boat! Great job Deborah Slone!

Thank you to Shadelandhouse Modern Press and NetGalley for this ARC!

A beautiful, well-researched picture book about an evening on the lake in Western Kentucky. A family heads out at dusk to enjoy gravel beaches, warm water, a sunset, and the wild birds that make the lake their home. Waldrop includes an author's note at the end with more information on the habitat from the book, as well as the ecological changes its faced. Illustrated with watercolor.

Peaceful, lyrical, and well-researched. A great bedtime pick.

Readers spend time with a family as they boat back home and appreciate nature at dusk along the way. Waldrop’s words and Slone’s artwork are both soothing and informative. This is a sweet and peaceful story, perfect for bedtime.

Follow along with a young family as they boat back to their "nest" and enjoy nature with them along the way. Beautiful watercolor illustrations bring this story to life. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Delightful, detailed watercolor illustrations that evoke a sense of nostalgia for me as an adult reader. Feels like something I might have read as a child in the '90s, with the feeling of a summer day before screens and iPads became commonplace. The sense of parallels between children and animals and the allusion to conservation is also much appreciated.

"Back To Our Nests" is a baby blue, pale pink, and lavender watercolor journey through the habitat we share with swirling minnows, water striders, dragon flies, cattle egrets, black cormorants, ospreys and giant blue herons. A world of wondrous and precious habitat that we share with other living things like birds, fish, insects, animals, plants, and trees.

When “the sun sinks in the sky, dropping like a bright orange ball toward the hills that ring the lake” writer Jayne Moore Waldrop transports a young family in a flat-bottomed boat through gentle waves and water "smooth like glass" to the gravel beach across the lake. The mysteries of nature emerge through the eyes of a child and are contemplated in concert with their seasoned parents.

Jayne Moore Waldrop and artist Deborah Sloan lovingly recreate the precious moments in the twilight hours before dark when a young family witnesses the sights and sounds of the creatures with whom we share our precious planet Earth.

This sweet tale is an absolute pleasure to read and view. As a reader you get to experience the simple joy of a day out on the water through the eyes of a child spending the day with her family. The joy of discovery becomes an adventure you both take together through beautiful descriptions and delightful art. This tale shows us we don’t need much to feel joy and the true treasures are those right around us and with the people we love the most.