Fatima’s Great Outdoors by Ambreen Tariq and illustrated by Stevie Lewis
Fatima Khazi is excited for the weekend. Her family is headed to a local state park for their first camping trip. The school week might not have gone as planned, but outdoors, Fatima can achieve anything. She sets up a tent with her father, builds a fire with her mother, and survives an eight-legged mutant spider (a daddy longlegs with an impressive shadow) with her sister. At the end of an adventurous day, the family snuggles inside one big tent, serenaded by the sounds of the forest. The thought of leaving the magic of the outdoors tugs at Fatima’s heart, but her sister reminds her that they can keep the memory alive through stories–and they can always daydream about what their next camping trip will look like.Ambreen Tariq’s picture book debut, with cheerful illustrations by Stevie Lewis, is a rollicking family adventure, a love letter to the outdoors, and a reminder that public land belongs to all of us.
“[A] multilayered work of joy and validation.” – School Library Journal
“This unique take on the family camping story feels refreshing and new, with its layered inclusion of big feelings that children grapple with, from immigration and fitting in to mixed emotions about siblings.” – Kirkus Reviews
“[T]his book celebrates Indian culture while depicting the beauty and fun of being in the wilderness.” – Booklist
“[A] gentle and joyful story… This title will appeal to young readers who like to camp or those that have experienced being the new kid at school.” – School Library Connection
