Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends.
Oh dear, such sadness in the world…and now with the recent events in this country, it’s even more important to give children books that mirror kindness and inclusion.
And that’s why I’m thrilled to feature this book – I was lucky enough to get an early peek at the ARC when I paneled with Lindsay Leslie at the NCTE last November. And Lindsay is generously offering a DOUBLE GIVEAWAY…one person will win a copy of the book…and another person will win a Picture Book Manuscript Critique…the book is a treasure…and I can tell you that Lindsay gives brilliant critiques!
DUSK EXPLORERS
Written by Lindsay Leslie
Illustrated by Ellen Rooney
Published by Page Street Kids
Ages: 4-8
Themes: Summer fun, ingenuity, diversity
Synopsis: From Amazon:
It’s that special time of evening, when the hours and the possibilities seem endless: Light is fading. A buzz of excitement and wonder takes over the neighborhood….What outdoor adventures await? Join a diverse group of suburban kids as they dash and dodge in classic street games like tag and kick-the-can and reconnect with nature’s simple pleasures catching frogs, hunting fireflies, and climbing trees. These explorers play, laugh, and make the most of their own front yards right up until their parents call out that “It’s time to come home!” But when the sun begins to set tomorrow, they’ll be back for more evening excitement!
This ode to the timeless magic of summer evenings spent outside will remind kids of the fun and friends that wait just outside their doors and leave adults smiling with nostalgia for their own dusk explorations.
Why I love this book:
- Wonderful text that invites kids to enjoy the great outdoors on summer evenings – I can definitely remember being outside all day…running in for dinner when called…and then playing outside again until it was bedtime.
- Fabulous illustrations show us a beautifully diverse neighborhood.
- And just take a look at the super cool trailer…
We all know how important it is to get the word out about new books. And these days, with the cancellation of book festivals and bookstore events, I hope you will support your favorite books however you can. Buy and review them, tell friends about them, and ask your local libraries to purchase copies for their shelves.
RELATED ACTIVITIES:
So many craft ideas to choose from! Which ones will you and your children try?
For detailed instructions: https://www.artycraftykids.com/craft/50-nature-crafts-kids/
Please don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered into the double-your-pleasure, double-your-fun giveaway…why not share what your favorite outdoor pastime was when you were a kid: jump rope, hop scotch, hit-the-penny, stoop ball (if you lived in NYC), or what? If you share the post on social media, you get extra tickets in the giveaway hat. (But please remember that FB is not allowing us to share the url link for this blog post. You can share on Twitter and hopefully on Instagram…and then you can share your Twitter url on FB…or you can share my FB post.)
And for more picture book recommendations and activities, hop on over to Susanna Hill’s blog.
Please stay safe and well!
This book looks fantastic! It sure brings back memories of playing hide and seek in the neighborhood at dusk while we waited to hear our moms calling us in. 😊
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Thank you, Beth! I hope these memories and experiences of outdoor play at dusk are somewhat universal.
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It sure floods my mind with memories of chasing fireflies in the pastures and playing kick the can by moonlight! 😊 This most definitely needs to be in my class library!
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I’m so excited for this book. I requested a few books during the covid lockdown even though our library was closed but they are re-opening next week and one of the books that I requested and has come in is Dusk Explorers. When I was a kid I loved hopscotch and elastics. We would jump extra long elastic anchored between two friends’ legs and I loved it. As I live in Australia I can only enter for the critique prize. Thankyou, Vivian and Lindsay.
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Thank you for requesting Dusk Explorers! I played “elastics” too! I don’t remember what we called it, though.
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Dusk Explorers looks amazing and the trailer is wonderful–congratulations, Lindsay, and thanks for sharing, Vivian! ❤ My favorite outdoor pastimes were looking for toads, hunting for rocks, and riding my horse.
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Thank you, Jolene, fellow toad hunter. 🙂
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This book reminds me of growing up in a small town in Maine. As kids – groups of siblings, neighbors, and friends – we roamed, explored, played games, and watched out for each other until it was too dark to see outside. We played kick-the-can, hickory, hide and seek, flashlight tag, and caught fireflies. I love it when I see the kids in my neighborhood do those very same things! I can’t wait to read DUSK EXPLORERS!
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This book evokes so many good fun childhood memories. Can’t wait to check it out. In our village we would play hide and seek, make a den and ride bikes with no lights!
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Sounds lovely and a bit on the wild side! Love it.
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So beautiful – the title already evokes everything about those summer nights, from catching fireflies to lying on the grass to dizzily watch the heavens ~
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Funny thing, the title used to be WANTED: DUSK RAIDERS. I do love the new title, though. I can’t imagine it being any other way now.
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What a gorgeous book. It certainly is a must have encouraging kids to enjoy life in their neighborhood. Love the illustrations and simple text. Our libraries are all open now so will definitely check that they have it. .
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We need our communities and our communities need us. Thank you!
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The book looks wonderful! I have splendid memories of dusk as a child. We used to spend a long time setting up a Capture the Flag game, but I’m not sure we ever once actually captured the flag.
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Same here. Did we ever finish a game before our parents called us in? Thank you!
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Congratulations, Lindsay, and thank you, Vivian! This book looks like a delight! It makes me remember the fun my brother and our neighborhood friends had playing games outside until dark.
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Thanks, Jane! For me, it was my older sister. I followed her every where.
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Love, love love this book. Brings back memories of playing flashlight tag with bats swooping over our heads! Congrats Lindsay.
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Thank you, Deb! FLASHLIGHTS & BATS? Love it!
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Great premise! Growing up in Queens, we played hand ball all day! Hopscotch was a favorite game, too.
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Thank you, Kathleen!
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Handball and hopscotch…definitely remember those games from growing up in Manhattan and then Brooklyn, Kathleen!
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This looks like the perfect book for right now! I loved cookouts with the next door neighbors, hopscotch, walking on stilts, and exploring the pond and upstream in little blue boats. The adventures were endless!
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The outdoors are calling to us all! Thank you, Beth.
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What a fun book and crafts! Thanks so very much for sharing! Wishing you both much success!
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Thank you, Lynne!
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I can’t wait to read this book. Dusk is such a magical time of day! Especially in the summer heat. Congratulations!
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Appreciate it, Angie. I agree about the magic!
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This book takes me back to my childhood, when playing outside until the sky darkened was an everyday enjoyment.
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Thanks for cheering on this book, Jim! I would like to go back in time and experience those childhood moments at dusk again.
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Looking forward to this book! I loved playing hide and seek with my neighbors and riding bikes.
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Thank you, Sarah!
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A neighborhood game of Kick the Can at dusk. I’d love to see kids getting outside again.
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Hi Rinda…yes, we played Kick the Can. It was the game that had me on edge the most. 🙂
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Looking forward to this book! My favorite games as a kid were Jacks and jump rope, especially double-dutch.I also loved (and still do) catching fireflies.
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Thanks, Rose! Fireflies = summer at dusk
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Yup…jacks was an all-time favorite…and double dutch was close behind!
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I’ve entered every contest for this book I could find! Think this book would be great for my twins, and perfect for Summer!
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You have! I’ve noticed and thanks for your excitement about it!!
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Ahh, brings back so many memories of playing with my neighborhood friends in the hot summer sun (not caring it was 115 outside!) until the street lights turned on! Hoping to give my son the same experience. What a great book (and giveaway!! Thanks Vivian for all that you do!
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Same here. I wish this for my sons. 🙂
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This book is so perfect, especially right now. I taught my kids and the neighbor kids kick the can a couple of years ago and they loved it! They had never heard of it, which just made me feel old so I’m glad it’s in a new book! LOL I can’t wait to read it with them.😊
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Congratulations, Lindsay! The book sounds fun and fabulous! Looking forward to reading it. Thanks for sharing, Vivian.
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Thank you, Kim!
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What a perfect book as we start the summer season! Really hoping that kids are able to get together with friends outside to enjoy simple summer pastimes together. I recall riding bikes all across my suburban neighborhood, and we congregated in an unoccupied field in the cemetery down the street for neighborhood games of kickball.
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Thank you! Right now, the outdoors seems to be the safest place to be.
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We used to play tennis ball in our backyard (saved a few windows by not using a harder ball) and we also loved playing neighborhood kick the can games. This book will be fun to read. I shared on Twitter https://twitter.com/dhammelef/status/1268958529139941378
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Awesome, Danielle! Kick the Can always got my adrenaline pumping.
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I love the concept of Lindsay Leslie’s new PB. I was Dusk Explorer several moons ago. I loved riding my bike through my New Jersey community to the park, library and friends. I’m happy to share your post on Twitter. Thanks, Vivian & Lindsay!
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The cool thing is we can all be dusk explorers, no matter how many moons. (I have a few moons under my belt, too.) 🙂 Thank you, Manju!
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I was able to read an ARC of DUSK EXPLORERS and it is wonderful! It definitely evokes memories of my own childhood tree-climbing, firefly-catching, hide-and-seeking adventures. Congratulations! I’ll be sharing Vivian’s FB post and linking this blog post on Twitter
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Thank you, Heather, for all your love of this story!
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I grew up in the country surrounded by acres of forests my mother gardened and built trails through. My sister and I loved staying outside in the summer as long as possible to see who could catch a firefly. I guess you could say we were a pair of dusk explorers.
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That sounds like an absolute dream. Wow.
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This book looks so fun and beautiful! My favorite pastimes were playing “steal the bacon,” hunting for acorns, and riding my bike.
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Steal the Bacon? Is that like Capture the Flag? Love it!
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Congratulations to Lindsay, Ellen and everyone involved in making this beautiful looking, magical themed book. Who doesn’t remember running around outside as a kid….a dusk explorer? I am still a dusk explorer and would be honored to have this book in our kidlit recording studio library. Time to put up some new books! Stay well, happy exploring!🌎✌🏼🎶🎨📚🙋🏼♀️
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Thank you, Annie Lynn!
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This wonderful book brings me right back to my childhood neighborhood playing “Starlight, Moonlight, First Star I See Tonight”. Thank you for sharing !
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Tell me more…how do you play “Starlight, Moonlight, First Star I See Tonight”?
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Great book & review Vivian. I to remember playing outside until it was too dark to see. I am looking forward to getting a good look at this one – soon. Thanks for featuring it.
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Thank you, Maria, for stopping by!
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Congratulations Lindsay! This book sounds fantastic.
My first thought went to chasing my cousins around the house with 4th of July sparklers! Now my kids play basketball in the driveway until they can’t see anymore.
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Thank you, Mary! Yes, 4th of July celebrations are meant for dusk exploring.
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Love the art! Shared on Twitter.
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Ellen is an illustrating wizard! All the textures, the colors…SWOON!
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Love love love! this book!
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Feeling the love! Thank you, Jilanne.
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I loved playing outside at dusk, and still love that time of day. I can’t wait to see this one.
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Same here. 🙂 Thanks, David!
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A book after my own heart! It brings up so many childhood memories of playing outside at dark with the rest of the kids in the neighborhood. This is such a beautiful book — enjoyed the trailer.
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Thank you, Patricia! This is a book from my heart and my memories.
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Congrats Lindsay! I can’t wait until I get my copy.
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Thank you and ditto!
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I live in a family of DUSK EXPLORERS! Flashlight tag, firefly chasing, and popsicles under the stars…..my kids did it and now I am enjoying with my grandkids. Can’t wait to read the book!
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Heck yeah! That’s awesome. And the popsicles are a nice touch.
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Gorgeous book and engaging story!
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This book sounds lovely. Reading it will take me back to sleepovers with the cousins: the smell of evening as the sun sets, gr-ummms of frogs in a neighbor’s pond; laying on the grass and making up stories about the constellations. Great choice for the beginning of summer~
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I am so excited to but a copy of this book. It looks fantastic!
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That trailer evokes so many wonderful memories. Congratulations, Lindsay.
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This book looks like so much fun! Very energetic! Congratulations on this new book!
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Hi Vivian and Lindsay!
My kids and I love Dusk Explorers! I get to relive my childhood in this story and also get to become a dusk explorer with my children. Thank you for this post Vivian and for your book Lindsay!
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Can’t wait to get this! Flashlight tag!!
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Beautiful words and illustrations. It definitely gives me that kid again feeling! Congrats!
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We love this book! Brings back so many wonderful memories and inspires new ones (especially this summer when we are pretty much sticking to our backyard)! I loved catching fireflies when I was a kid.
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Can’t wait to read this!
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This book looks lovely – and so necessary this summer for young readers who need some adventure after being stuck inside!
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What’s better than a book or a critique :0)
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How fun. A book or a critique. Can’t beat either for a win!
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My kids love being dusk explorers (or any time explorers if it means being outside). They will love getting to read this book.
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Oooh, love the trailer! Congrats! I was definitely a dusk tree climber, firefly lover, and flashlight tag player.
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Oooh, love the trailer. Congrats! I was definitely a dusk tree climber, firefly lover and tag player.
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I was magically transported back to my childhood. The hours we spent after dinner playing Tip the Can. Every child should become a Dusk Explorer.
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This book looks fun! I remember playing hide and seek once it started to get dark outside with all the neighborhood kids. That’s when my love of running really began!
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This book looks like so much fun! I remember running around playing games in the dark with my siblings and the entire neighborhood. I still have a scar on my knee from falling one of those nights!
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I can’t wait to get a look at this book.
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This looks like a great book, Leslie. Good topic and nice book cover. I can’t wait to read it.
Vivian, I love that rock snake craft.
My favorite outdoor activities as a child were riding my bike, hiking in the woods, and searching for bugs, salamanders, etc. during the day. At night, we liked to watch fireflies and camp out in the backyard.
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I’m excited for this book. We need more books about summer.
My favorite outdoor night activity was catching fireflys!
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I loved jump rope!
This book looks amazing, I can’t wait to share it with my first graders!
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I love a book that captures a feeling. My favorite outdoor activity? Fishing with my dad:) Dusk= time to prepare the glow -in-the-dark bobbers!
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This is a perfect book for some summer fun! I like seeing if I can spot the beaver’s activity in the evenings.
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