From The Horn: "The intersection of outside and inside is creatively explored in this reflection on nature and its gentle persistence and ever-presence . . . Visible brushstrokes and splashes create texture, reflecting the outside’s raw, sensory, and uninhibited beauty — a beauty that (on the last spread) summons the girl out of her house and into the golden outdoors, reminding readers of the majesty that is always there, waiting just outside."

The story about how the natural world is a part of our lives is good, but really, I’m here for the art.

This book is interesting. There is not a lot of text in the book, about one or two phrases on every couple of pages. The wording is very simplistic, but the art is amazing. It uses a more abstract and surreal view of the world, and the style is beautiful. I think that this may be better for primary school children, because the art can be a bit hard to read. I think that it would be a good book to teach art and that style of art.

This book draws the reader in with the incredibly beautiful water color artistry. When reading it, I thought of how computers have made us live inside more than pre- technology. When having lunch with my daughter, I am usually telling her to put down the phone and spend time together.

The illustrations and text call for the reader to walk with the young girl and her cat as they appreciate nature and the beauty of outside. The statement "We're Inside; We forget Outside is there." struck me as so very true.

Making a point that we can appreciate what is outside by merely noticing the sun shadows on the walls, and the butterflies that we see flitting on the trees near our room, and the reminder that observing outside when we are inside can still call us to appreciate nature and the chirps of birds and the tap-taps on windows.

This is a book that calls for relaxation and a reminder to be gentle and appreciate our surroundings. All we need to do is open our eyes, our emotions and our soul to the beauty of nature. And, the book reminds us that "Outside feeds us." Noticing a bug on the glass pane or a bug that found its way inside reminds us that the outside will come to us even if we don't go outside to enjoy it.

This book is soulfully lovely. I checked it out from the library, but I will be sure to purchase a copy to read on busy days that need calmness and solace. ( )

An amazing picture book that shares how disconnected most people (including kids) are with the outside world. We come from the outside, it guides us when to sleep and when to wake, it connects us to one another. However, most people don't spend time outside, and even when they do, they are "inside" (using electronics outdoors). The illustrations are fantastic and definitely draws readers in. An appropriate read aloud for anyone of all ages, especially as our addiction continues to grow with electronics. Watercolor illustrations are wispy and calm, just like the outdoors. ( )