Willy Whitefeather's Outdoor Survival Handbook for Kids

My brother and I read and re-read this book many times as kids over the years, it has been in print for quite a while. Seriously, if you take your children camping or backpacking this book is a good idea (even if they never get lost). The drawings are somewhat rudimentary but fun and very comical. The advice may seem a little "out there," (especially for very small children) but it is sound advice and if my kid were out in the woods by themselves, lost, I would want them to at least have some idea of what to do (even if it only provided a little bit of confidence or comfort). My brother still has the book in his bookshelves at his home (we are both in our twenties now). We have both fondly reminisced about this book and I expect that one day our own kids will read it! Strongly recommended!

This small book is 95 pages of pure reading pleasure and for such a small volume, I cannot imagine how Willy Whitefeather was able to pack so much useful knowledge in and still have a delightfully readable book. I you and your children spend any time at all in the outdoors, camping, hiking, fishing or just wondering about, I can hardly imagine a more useful book. In fact, I would almost go as far as to say that this should be mandatory reading for any parent or child who ventures outside. This book covers every thing from getting lost and surviving, to finding directions, going to potty, stings and hurts, talking sticks, things to watch for, campfires, lighting, rainstorms, hypothermia, common sense, proper dressing, shelter building and so much more. It covers survival in the desert, mountains, woods and swamps. The book is amply supplied with wonderful black and white sketches that both kids and adults can relate to. The text, while simple, is not overly simple and is absolutely loaded with wisdom. I truly believe that a book such as this, read with the parent or care giver, is as important as learning to swim to assure your child's well being when they are out of doors. I have been involved with the outdoors all my life, was actually camping on my own in the deep woods at the age of eight and my travels have been literally all over the world. Much of those travels have been in the back country where ever I was. I have received extensive survival training and, along with my wife, have certainly had some hair- raising experiences. As much as I thought I knew, I was still able to pick up new information with this one, and more importantly, it gave me a wonderful tool to be able to pass on knowledge to the little ones. I cannot stress enough the usefulness of this book. It is an absolute delight. If you can find a copy, I certainly recommend you add it to your and your child's library. You certainly will not be sorry for having this one on your shelf, or better yet, in your kid's hands.

Great book for children and adults that Love their kids enough, to give them simple learning skills that could come in handy, when we least expect it. I know of kid's that have already truly been saved by the lessons taught in such a way that, children remember them forever. Everyone should have a copy of this fine work in their home, because we all like the outdoors, but we never know when we might need the guiding know-how in this handbook. As willy says, "make it back safe."