I love the concept of this book! Just getting kids outside and exploring nature. I love how the main character takes a "bath" in nature and has so much fun exploring. Then gets an actual bath at the end. The illustrations are enchanting, colorful, and fun! I think they really pull the reader in and helps children visualize how to "take a bath" in nature. I think this is a wonderful book for any child and would highly recommend!

Thank you Jen Barton and Magination Press — American Psychological Association for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book via NetGalley! This review was written voluntarily and all opinions are my own.

I loved it. The short amount of words per page means this book will work for all ages storytimes, and the premise was fun and clever. The language of a bath being used to illustrate a forest bath was really joyful and worked the whole way through, and the cap of the child in the bath on the end brought it all together.

This is a book that I jumped at the chance to read, as I have long been a fan of books like "Last Child in the Woods," and I have seen the rejuvenating influence of nature in my own kids as they have spent unstructured play time outside. This book introduces the Japanese concept of "forest bathing" to children at a level that is accessible and understandable to them. The journey of the child through the story is anything but "bathing" as most kids conceptualize it, including my preschooler, but we were able to talk about how this was a "bath" that made the insides of the child feel sparkly and happy and fresh and new, compared to the bath at the end when the child gets all cleaned up from getting dirty all day.

The illustrations are loose and imbue a sense of magic to the story, similar to the "flow" that comes when one is spending time connecting with nature, and it serves to deepen and enrich the story. This is definitely a book I will request at my library so other children will have the opportunity to read it, and buy for my children as well.

Cute little story about forest bathing! As a family who places a lot of importance on being outside, this was a short and sweet, cute read for our family! Definitely for the younger ages. The illustrations were beautiful and well done. Overall, a great read!

Thanks to NetGalley and American Psychological Association for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!

An adorably fun and immersive story of a young child who takes a 'forest bath.' Squishing the moss between their toes, patting their face with mud, smelling the flowers -- what could be better?

I really love this book and I love the concept of forest bathing. I particularly appreciate how the author shows how wild, carefree, and peaceful such a practice can be, while also taking time to highlight the practical side in their author's note (like making sure to not ingest random plants and checking yourself for ticks when you're done.) Definitely a must have for any nature loving kiddos!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a beautiful picture book that makes the imagination run wild. I didn’t know about this Japanese concept of forest bathing, either, but I was very lucky to grow up spending loads of time outside and this book even made me dream of those years :) beautifully illustrated

Great illustrations! I think any children who love the outdoors will love this book! A great motivating book to get kids outdoors more!

Thanks for letting me read this book!

Forest Bath is the adorable story of a child who slips into an imaginary forest during bath time, embracing grounding techniques in nature. Throughout the story, she “washes” herself in nature, and comes out clean and refreshed. Forest Bath is complete with beautiful illustrations, and well as tips and tricks for ways you can have a forest bath of your own!

This book will remind people of all ages to revel in the simplicity of the outdoors. It shows how valuable nature is and how it can energize and refresh people.

Forest bath is lovely! The art uses both light and perspective in unique ways and story is a great appreciation of the outdoors! Thanks NetGalley for the eARC

Netgalley ARC - this is definitely a cute concept though I would discourage children from interacting with skunks for sure.

A sweet story depicting the importance of connecting with nature for mind, body and spirit. A celebration of taking a moment to slow down, get dirty and appreciate the wonder of nature.

A beautifully illustrated book—charming, even magical. It’s not just a walk in the woods but a real adventure through a child’s eyes, noticing all the little details that make nature so special.
However, I struggled to find a deeper story. Is it simply about how fun and healthy a nature walk can be? It felt like something was missing, like it needed a bit more to make the experience truly memorable. Still, visually, it’s a delight.

A great book to help introduce the concept of forest bathing to children and their caregivers. With ideas for forest bathing in the back of the book and tips, this is a valuable resource to help connect with nature and prioritize our mental health and well being.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

I adore this book and the illustrations. Its so pretty and colourful and full of joy. I really hope it gets published as a board book as well as a picture book. I appreciate the guide at the end of the book for the adults - explaining the history of forest bathing, different ways to explore, and a whole slew of activities.

A great choice for anyone who enjoys nature and spending time in the forest with young children. This will appeal to forest school co-ops and homeschoolers as well. Forest bathing is a concept that I feel passionate about, and was glad to see a book introducing children to the idea of being one with nature. I was worried it was going to be described too literally at first, but the idea of meditating and enjoying one's surroundings was emphasized.

At the end, the author explains the Japanese concept of forest bathing as well as some ways to be safe when exploring the natural environment.

Forest Bath by Jen Barton is an absolute delight! This cute and quick read is perfect for parents looking to inspire their little ones to explore and appreciate the outdoors. The book beautifully encourages a sense of wonder for nature, and I love that it includes fun activities at the end to make outdoor adventures even more engaging. Teaching kids gratitude for the world around them from a young age is so important, and this book does a fantastic job of fostering that mindset.

As someone who will soon be an aunt, I already know this will be a perfect gift for my sister-in-law and future niece or nephew! Highly recommend this for any parent, teacher, or caregiver looking to nurture a love for nature in young children.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this book before its release!

I couldn't decide if it was pitting dirty against clean in its attempt to relate the two, no clue what kids would think. I was too caught up in that to even be able to give a numerical rating. Am I losing it?

I voluntarily read & reviewed an ARC for this provided by the publisher, APA & NetGalley.