Author Jennifer Ward has been sharing her love of animals and nature in her darling children’s books (some of which I own and love) for nearly ten years. She’s now come out with a new book for grown ups, helping us get outdoors and explore nature with kids. I recently interviewed Jennifer about her love of nature and her new book, I Love Dirt.
Interview with Jennifer Ward, Author of I LOVE DIRT
M&T: Where did you get your love for the outdoors?
JW: My love for the outdoors was instilled at an early age, via my parents and the lifestyle they facilitated for my sisters and me. We spent our days outdoors swimming, biking, horseback riding, camping, panning for gold, making adventure at every turn. It was truly what kids in my generation did for fun – back then we were unplugged, and as such, outdoors from sunup to sundown.
M&T: What types of outdoor activities do and your daughter enjoy?
JW: When my daughter was younger, outdoor activities included collecting smooth rocks and painting them into animals and such, catching lizards, journaling the different types of hummingbird species that frequented our yard, sitting among hundreds of large nectar bats that fed from our yard by night and feeling their wings flap breezes through our hair, swimming, hiking, horseback riding, camping, planting specific gardens… My daughter is older now (16), so it’s a bit more of a challenge to spend time with her outdoors because she’d rather spend her free time with her girlfriends than her mom. However, as a teenager, I can vouch that she has a wonderful intrinsic appreciation for nature, animals and the outdoors due to her early childhood experiences.
M&T: Do you have a particular activity from the book that’s your favorite?
JW: I am biased regarding any of the bird activities, because I’m a bird nut. For example, the “Build That Nest” activity is one I like, because it really generates a higher level of thinking and instills appreciation for birds and their architectural abilities! I used to try to fashion bird nests when I was little using dried grass and water, lol. (They didn’t hold together too well.) I like ” A “Thinking Place” activity, too, because everyone needs a special space they feel is a place they can just do “what ever”, be it read a book, daydream, get lost in thought…
M&T: How can the weather affect playing in the dirt?
JW: In a nutshell, rain invites mud play, sunshine cheers, wind creates excitement and adventure, fog evokes mystery and imagination, cloud watching soothes and relaxes the soul…but these examples are just “my” opinion. I believe reaction to weather can be personal. My daughter and I relish rainfall, for example. If it rains, we run out to stand in it and feel it on our skin. That’s what living in a dry desert does to you! Someone living in a rainy clime may react to rain differently.
M&T: Which season is your favorite to play in?
JW: I love the transition between seasons. I get an intrinsic thrill when shadows grow longer as fall sets in, when leaf buds peek in the spring – the little nuances of each transition to an approaching season really beckon me to get outdoors. If I had to pick ONE season, though…Hmmm. It would be fall.
M&T: How can someone with no backyard or easy access to the “outdoors” best use your book?
JW: LOTS of ways. I am living proof. I presently live without a true backyard, and my front yard faces a large commercial parking lot. Never the less, I have a small garden that is FILLED with lots of wings! From birds to bugs, it’s always buzzing with action! I walk to places and spaces that are more open. I bike and jog to nature trails. I look for nature where ever I may be, because nature is everywhere. Even if you live in the heart of a big city with a balcony for your immediate outdoor space, you can still experience weather, catch snowflakes, seek out animal life (spiders, birds…), and nurture a potted garden in your outdoor space. I LOVE DIRT encourages experiencing the outdoors in a myriad of ways, regardless of your geographical living space.
M&T: This is your first book for “big people”. Do you plan to come out with more?
JW: I do. A companion book to I LOVE DIRT will be released in 2009. It’s geared for older children, ages 8 – 12+. It is being published by Shambhala Publications, just as I LOVE DIRT is, and I am very excited about it. It contains a wide range of activities, from traditional games like “Ten Types of Tag” and “Five Types of Forts”, to more organic and scientific experiences kids can have with nature. I believe parents will find it to be a fun resource to use.
M&T: Some of my readers may not be aware that you’ve written several children’s books. Which is your favorite?
JW: Thank you for mentioning my children’s books :) Yes, I’ve been writing books for children for about ten years now. It’s a great job. My favorite children’s book that I’ve written? Ouch! Answering that would be like asking a parent which child is their favorite! I can say, however, that presently I am having A LOT of fun promoting my book, There Was a Coyote Who Swallowed a Flea.
M&T: What advice can you share encouraging families to play in the dirt?
JW: Based on my own experience as a parent and an aunt, the one piece of advice I would offer is to let your kids be kids outside; let them play with wild abandon and without too much structured play. Let them explore. Let them use their imaginations! Don’t fret about dirt in the fingernails, messy clothes or minor scrapes and bruises… As a parent of an only child, I was a bit overprotective with my daughter when she played outside. I hate to admit it, but it’s true! I wish I could rewind the clock and let her replay her childhood time outdoors with a bit more wild abandon. I watch my sister let her young children play in mud and dirt and she barely bats an eyelash if they inadvertently step in dog doo or happen to taste a bug. I applaud her parenting!
My second bit of advice is that the more unstructured playtime you provide your child outdoors, the greater the service you provide for your child’s mental and physical health. That said, get your child outside, and allow him or her to enjoy all that nature has to offer. The experiences attained outdoors as a child will be a benefit they utilize for their lifetime.
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I Love Dirt Book Giveaway
Thanks Jennifer, for letting us get to know you better and encouraging us to get outdoors, helping to remind us that it’s okay for the kids to get a little dirty!
Now one lucky Make and Takes reader will win a free copy of this adventurous book, I Love Dirt. There’s three ways to be entered in the giveaway: 1) Leave a comment on this post. 2) Subscribe to my RSS blog feed and send me an email confirmation. 3) Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post (send me an email with the details). marie{at}makeandtakes{dot}com
The giveaway ends Thursday, September 18th at midnight. I’ll announce the winner on Friday morning. Good luck and have fun getting in the dirt!
This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for entering.
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ooooh, as much as i would love this, i think my sis would be able to use it more. i’d love her to have it!
This is super wonderful! Thanks for the chance to win.
Thanks for the giveaway. I will have to check out her childrens books. We are always looking for new books for the kiddos.
This book is on my wish list, so I would love to be considered for this competition. Thank you for the opportunity.
I’m off now to check out some of Jennifer Wards childrens books.
thanks for the contest! The books looks fantastic.
Happy Monday =)
I have never heard of her books, but will look for them now! The children’s book sounds fun too!
Sounds like fun! Right up our alley. Thanks!
Thanks for letting us know about this one! So much fun!!!
I’m intrugued! My family needs to explore the beauty of the ourdoors more.
What a fun giveaway!! Thanks!!
Sounds great! Thanks!!
I would love this book!! I am homeschooling, we LOVE new activities to enhance learning.
I love dirt, too! This book sounds great.
i’d love to have this book! :)
I love dirt myself – and dig in it quite often! Thanks for doing this book giveaway, it looks great!
Pam
Looks like a book I’d love to get my hands on!
This book sounds great! Thanks for an awesome give away!
What a fun book! I definitely need new ideas for the outdoors!
It looks like a fun read!
I love dirt too. I love taking my baby outside and playing on the grass, going for runs & walks, etc… Outside is exhilirating.
Sounds like a wonderful book!
I’m already subscribed to your RSS feed, does that count?
thanks for the giveaway- hope we win this book…
I don’t have any kids of my own, but I have nieces and nephews that don’t mind a little dirt. How fun!
This book looks like fun!
That is the greatest book ever.
This looks like a fabulous book just what a mom with 4 kids, 4 years old and under needs! Thanks!
This sounds like the type of book I need as I often forget to get outside with my little boy and some inspiration would always help!
Thanks
mountaingoats AT hotmail DOT com
What a cute book! I need more fun out door activites for the kids.
The book looks great!
I have been wanting to read this book for a while! I hope I win!
Yeah! I posted a post on my blog!! Great giveaway!
Sounds like a fantastic book for a mom with twin boys!!!!
Sounds like a fun book! Thanks for the heads up!
Looks like a great book and we live in redwoods!
I love this idea, what a wonderful book. Thanks for featuring it as a giveaway – I’d love to win but might buy it any way if I’m not the lucky winner!
I am so pleased to learn of this book. What a terrific thing to instill in your children a love and respect for this amazing world we live in.
This sounds like a great book!
It sounds like a great book, I would love to add both to our collection.
I have 3 boys that love dirt! We could put this book to good use!
What an inspiring idea! Thanks!
Looks like a great book!
I love her books too. Thanks for the chance to win!
ok – so I am subscribed already (you had me at “mini puff pancakes”)!
My little boy is king of the dirt – I need to buy this book even if I don’t win!
He loves dirt – I don’t – I’m sure this book would help me let him just be a boy!
This book looks great!
Enter me please. I would love to win this.
I love dirt too. I’d like that book.
My family would love this book. We often play in the dirt adn danc ein the rain. Thanks for the chance to win!
What a great giveaway!! We love books, love them – and how cool is this book?! My son’s Auntie is a soil science major in college, she’d be so proud of us!!
Thanks,
Shauna
This book looks delightful – I’d love to share it with all the kids in my life!
We just moved to a new house with a big wooded backyard. This book looks like it would be great to give us activity ideas for our new surroundings. Thanks for the contest!
I have 3 boys, this book would be a great for us!
Looks like a fun book! Thanks for doing the contest!
This book sounds fabulous. Thanks for the opportunity.
I love this book! I just checked it out from the library! I’d love to own a copy.
I’d love it. Thanks for the chance.
My kids love dirt too…and hiking…and camping and all that fun stuff. We would love to see this book
I love it! We love DIRT!
That sounds like a great book, I’d love to hav a chance to win it! :) I’ve been reading your blog for about a month now, I love all of your fun ideas!
Sounds like a wonderful book!
This looks like a fun book! My husband and I love to take our granddaughter outside and teach her all about nature. This would be a great addition to our library!
Thanks for the chance to win!
What a great interview! I’ll have to check out the kid’s storybook as well as I Love Dirt!
I think that I love dirt would be a fantastic addition to my families camping adventures. I am also a preschool teacher and I am always looking for educational outdoor activites. Thank you for hosting this give away.
PS I just subscribed to your blog and I can’t wait for a lazy day to browse through your archives.
I do love to play with my kids outside. this looks like a great book.
I already subscribe so I guess I will comment instead. What a great book! I think it would be a great one for this family of seven!
Oh I would love to win this one Marie!
Book sounds great – perfect for someone like me who’s not ‘outdoorsy’ but would love to discover it with my kids!
Thanks so much for sharing this–I recently read “Last Child in the Woods” (well, part of it anyway!) and am realizing again the importance of giving children time outside.
Never heard of this author but she and the book sound GREAT!
Wow, sounds like a great book!
I love dirt as well — and sand and grass and seashells and worms and birds and butterflies and fish and stinky crab claws… I could go on! One day when we were playing in our backyard sandbox a frog jumped in! And we don’t see many frogs in my neigborhood!
I would love a copy of this book! Thanks for the giveaway.
I enjoyed your interview and look forward to reading the book.
Yay for dirt! Saw this on Amazon and have been meaning to check it out. I’ll have to look at her children’s books while I’m at it!
This is awesome! I would love this book to help my daughter and I explore nature a little more. Thanks!
I’ve been pining for this book for a while — thanks for the chance!
Megret
musesofmegret (at) gmail (dot) com
This book looks great, I can’t wait to read it!
Nice idea. I’d love some help to give my daughter the impression that nature is fun to be out in, and not just a bunch of UV, biting insects, and heat to be avoided! ;-)
What a cool sounding book. Having two boys, I know we will be playing in lots of dirt! LOL
I’ve been eyeing this book for a while. Thanks for the great giveaway.
Thanks for introducing us to more great children’s lit.
What a great giveaway! I think all of us could afford to spend a little more time outdoors, away from it all!
What a great idea for a book, we really do need to spend more time with our children outdoors. I read your blog everyday and I love it. Thank you for the many many great ideas.
As a mom of boys, I spend my fair share of time playing in dirt – I love this book idea!!
Thanks for introducing us to the author. I’ll be checking out her books. Love the ideas!
that looks like fun!
What a great book. If I don’t win, I just might have to buy this book. But I’d rather win!
sounds fun.
I would LOVE to own this book! Thanks for the great giveaway!
Awesome giveaway! I’m trying to teach my boy to love dirt more–he loves to be clean!
Thanks for this post! I would of course love to win a copy, but I will be getting a copy one way or another very soon!! It sounds great!
Marie – I love these book posts! Great idea to interview the author! Miss ya. Hope you & the fam are doing great!
My husband is a geotechnical engineer – AKA a dirt guy. Our family would love this.
I have been wanting this book. I just started subscribing to your blog last Friday…looks like a lot of fun ideas!!
Where has this wonderful author been hiding? What a glorious idea for a book. Can’t wait to sleuth out her children’s books too.
My two boys are regularly covered in dirt…we would love this book!
My son and I would really enjoy that book!
I would to win this for more ideas and inspiration. My kids (1 and 3 years) are clamouring to go outside before they are even dressed in the morning. They head straight to the flower beds with their buckets and spades and a little can of water – you can guess the mess!
What a fun book! We are getting a backyard in one month and I’m looking for some ideas to explore it with my 2-year-old!
Great interview thanx!!
I would LOVE this book. It would be perfect to put in my parent lending library in my Montessori classroom.
Looks interesting
This sounds like such a great book! Thanks for sharing!
This is a great idea and thanks for sharing!
Oooh! What a great book to own and read. Not many days of summer left where I live, so this book would help me make the most of them. Thanks!
This looks like a great book. I think it is an important concept to understand. I believe dirt usually helps more than hinders. Being too antibacterial allows those super bugs to grow and become resistant…and that is never good! Thanks for the chance.
I blogged about your giveaway here: http://everythingupclose.blogspot.com/2008/09/new-week-and-new-giveaways.html
Thanks for sharing. It is so funny that we now need to educate people about being outside vs. 50 years ago when that was how most children grew up. Would love to share this book with the children I work with.
Sounds like an awesome book, we love the outdoors, but need to get out more. Sounds like a great idea book! I love new ideas!
Looks like a really great book for our collection!
We love to read and play!
I’d love to win this book! I am excited to learn of this resource to help parents inspire their children to love nature.
heatherlbrandt (at) verizon (dot) net
Thanks for entering me :)
Looks like a good fall read- Would love to win and get thinking about next season already!
I have read a few reviews of this book and just saw it at the bookstore this weekend. Now i am coveting it. I hope I win. If not, it’s back to the bookstore. A book for Mommy .. now that’s a new idea.
Love the photo on front! I’d love to give this to some friends.
Who doesn’t love dirt?!?
oooooh! love dirt!
This looks like such a wonderful book!
Sounds like a great book!
Looks like a great book.
The outdoor life is the way my siblings and I were brought up! One time when my dad and I were out in the yard, I told him I had found a fishing worm. He turned around and I was holding a snake!
Please enter me in your delightful “Dirt” book drawing. Many thanks, Cindi
What a darling idea for a book! Please enter me, it would be such a fun book to share with my children!
This book looks like so much fun! I know I need to be less uptight with my kids getting messy.
I subscribed to your rss feed (xml).
akreese (at) hotmail (dot) com
i love dirt too!
This book sounds fun, please enter me!
Jeni
Mom of 3 messy boys
Looks like a great book. And we’re really in need of some new books at our house!
Awww this looks great! Thanks for the contest :)
being from utah, i love to be outdoors with my boys and husband, dirt rules!!!
This book looks wonderful. It sounds so much like my day to day life with my two little ones. They (and I) love the outdoors.
Thank you for the giveaway!
I just checked this book out from the library and LOVED it – I’d love to own a copy!
I’m not familiar with her work, but think I should run and get a copy!
I would love to discover the wonders of nature!! Both as a homeschooling parent, and as the mother of three children who love to play and dig!!
Sounds like a great book.
This looks fun! I have the coyote book, but I’ll have to look for the I Love Dirt book! We love dirt around here too!
We love dirt so what a perfect book for us!! What an awesome giveaway.
I love Jennifer Ward! Can’t wait to get this book.
My kids are teenagers now but I work in childcare with 4 and 5 year olds. Sounds great for everyone.
Way to go Jennifer!
Would love to win this book…my kids are fascinated with anything in nature…..
This looks like a fabulous book! Thanks for the chance to win! I love your site and was so happy to discover it recently.
I would love to win this book for our little Junebug – pick me!
This is my first time checking out your website and I’m glad I did. Love your ideas. I would also love to be entered into the “I love Dirt” book. I am one of those parents who needs to let their kids play in the dirt more. I cringe when they get all dirty and need to let them be free!!
I saw this book elsewhere recently. The title draws me to it.
I’d love this book! Especially now in the beautiful fall weather, we spend as much time as possible outside.
I have 3 boys who LOVE DIRT!
I’d love to read this book. Thanks.
This book sounds like a great way to help get kids interested in outdoors! I hope that I win the book! I want to read it! :) Thanks for sharing and thanks for a great website!
great book… my three boys would LOVE it!
Even as a grandma playing in the dirt is fun. My family did a lot of those outdoor activities as well when we were growing up. Camping, fishing, hiking, gold panning. The outdoors is a great learning tool that is too often overlooked by parents. Thanks for reminding us and for the chance at a great book!
I love dirt!!! i have a baby boy who i know will love it too!!!!
What a great interview and a great giveaway!
I agree, this looks like a *great* book! I added you to my RSS, but since you’re the FIRST that I’ve done that, I don’t know what you mean about sending an email confirmation =0
I’m thrilled to have found your site and plan to be back often, looking for ideas for craftys for the kids! THAT is one area where I need all the help I can get!!
We love dirt too! What a great idea and sounds like a great book. :) My kids would love to have this book :)
OOH, I do love dirt – and I love sharing the outdoors with the little people in my life. I would LOVE to win this book!
Fun book, please count me in!
great interview! My DD loves to be outside and play in the dirt!
What an excellent give a way! Thank you!
I’ve been meaning to get this!
I really need to get dirty more with my kids. My mom always let me get dirty when I was younger, but I never liked it. I now have three kids and they really enjoy getting dirty in spite of me. I think I was just an odd child. It does look like an exciting book. By the way, I love your site.
This was a great interview. So great! I love watching my kids get really dirty and then washing it all away before bed. This book looks right up my alley!
I’ve been looking for ways to get a hold of this book, it looks great! Thanks for the interview!
Great giveaway! :)
This book is EXACTLY what I have been looking for to help get my family back to nature and back to enjoying time with each other in the great outdoors. Please keep books like this coming.
Thank you So much Jennifer!
This book looks great! I also want to look for her other children’s books. My kids love THe Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, so I’m betting they’ll also love THe Coyote who Swallowed a Flea.
I love this book! I actually saw it at the library and looked at it. I liked it a lot. A great way to relish in the love of the great outdoors with our precious nature loving little ones.
— Ginger Carraher
Looks like a great book! Thanks for giving one away! We just got back from camping, where my boys got to embrace their love of dirt…
-Maiz
This looks like just the book I need to get the family outside!
This book is exactly what children and parents need! Wonderful! Another great resource for nature and outdoor fun with kids is AndyCamper: http://www.andycamper.com
They specialize in Outdoor activities for kids, just like Jennifer Ward. It’s nice to see everyone getting on board the nature-train.
I’d LOVE this book!
What a FUN book! I’d love to win it :)
Sounds like a super cute and fun book. I would LOVE to win it!!!
Come on, lucky number 171. I would love to explore these fun ideas with my two little boys!
I have been looking for a book like this for a long time. Sweet!
I blogged about it here:
http://athomewithbooks.blogspot.com/2008/09/weekly-giveaway-roundup.html
This book is on my list! It would be even better to win a copy.
i have wanted this book. i have 3 boys and we love the outdoors already.
WOW, 176… *sigh* This book sounds just fabulous! I know my sister would love it too. I’ll have to suggest it. Please, please count me in!
So glad we got power back! Otherwise I might not be able to sign up for this long shot. Living with a cleaned out fridge in Cincy where 800,000 people lost power on Sunday! :) We love dirt!
We are a house full of boys who LOVE dirt! Looks like a fun book!!
Enter me in the drawing, I would LOVE to win!!
Sounds like a great book! My kids LOVE the dirt!
Thanks for the giveaway chance.
Made your playdough….it was a hit!!
Great website BTW.
Wow! I hope I win. I’ve been wanting this book for a while now and the line at the library is a mile long. I’ll be lucky if I get it before my children are grown. Guess it is going on my Christmas list if I don’t win.
I’ve subscribed to your fabulous blog, and I am currently trying to ignore the post on frozen yogurt chocolate cake – I’m on a diet. (Can’t…hold…on…much…longer!)
This book has been on my wishlist for AGES, so if living in the UK doesn’t rule me out, I’d love to win a copy.
Great interview, and thanks for the giveaway.
As a soon-to-be Mom, I only hope that I can be as easy going as my mother was about letting us kids explore the outdoors.
My nine-year old daughter, Sage, would loves dirt and nature for sure! Everyone in my family is a science nerd, and I say that proudly! We would all enjoy this book immensely.
What a cool book! I have my fingers crossed!
I would love this book!
I have seen this book mentioned on a few blogs and I keep meaning to look it up. Haven’t yet but I’m sure it would gets lots of use around here. I have 3 boys.
Thanks for the fun giveaway! My girls would love it!
My family loves dirt… would love to find new ways to enjoy the natural world.
This sounds like fun. My sons love nature.
spondah[at]aol[dot]com
Iam a grandma of 14,ages 4 months to 16….. Glad to have stumbled here!Reading & outdoor fun NEVER goes out of style! Families seem too busy nowadays I hope more grandparents get to fill in as I do, to let the children see thru our old fashion ways.
I love dirt! I would love this book!! Great interview! I love your blog, such fun things!
Awesome book! We’re gearing up for lots of autumn adventures and would love this book as a companion.
Looks like a fabulous book – I’d love to win it.
We would love to win this book–it sounds like it is full of great ideas!
What a great-looking book! Thanks for the interview, too :)
We love dirt in our household too!
I found your blog on the Martha site and I love your content. I also have three kids and write a blog called Snickerdoodles. This book looks amazing, hope I am lucky. Please visit my blog sometime too, we have a lot in common.
http://www.snickerdoodles.typepad.com
how nice is my sister – erinmalia (first commenter)! she’d actually give me the book. i feel like i have double the chances to win, now. :)
as soon as i heard about this book, i wanted it. fingers crossed. . .
this sounds like such a wonderful book! Thank you!
I would love to have this book!
I’m crossing my fingers for this one. Can’t wait to read it!
Thanks!
What a fun giveaway – hope to win!
This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for entering.
Comments on this entry are closed.