New book provides valuable tips, advice on day hiking with children

July 20, 2011 - PRLog -- OJAI, Calif. – Atiswinic Press on Monday released its first book, “Hikes with Tykes: A Practical Guide to Day Hiking with Kids,” by Rob Bignell.

In this comprehensive survey of an increasingly popular family activity, Bignell offers readers a no-nonsense, informative guide to taking children on day hikes. An Outdoor Industry Association report from 2010 says that 40 million Americans hike. Many of those hikers bring their children with them.

During these difficult economic times, many Americans have turned back to this low-cost, fun activity – and are sticking with it.

“Hiking is beneficial in so many ways, from providing exercise to enjoying the natural beauty of the outdoors,” Bignell said. “It’s not surprising that there are so many hikers, or that children love to go on walks.”

Most people can find the gear they need for a day hike simply by gathering together a few odds and ends from around their home. And with more than 200,000 miles of trails in the United States – at county, state and national parks as well as other nature areas – no one need travel far to enjoy the great outdoors.

Loaded with personal anecdotes and tips, “Hikes with Tykes” provides a step-by-step guide to everything an adult needs to know about hiking with children, including how to:
-Find kid-appropriate trails
-Keep kids properly dressed for the wilds
-Figure out how much water and food to bring
-Cross rough terrain
-Prevent children from getting bored on the trail
-Treat injuries from blisters to broken bones
-Handle getting lost or being forced to stay the night in the woods

A long-time hiker, editor and journalist, Bignell is uniquely qualified to discuss hiking with children. He and his son Kieran go on day hikes about twice a week. Bignell took Kieran on his first hike when he was but four-months-old, through an old grove of redwood trees that soared 150 feet over their heads. Since then, they’ve peakbagged mountains, rambled along ocean coastlines, searched fossil and gem trails, and explored desert canyons, often all in the same month.

Before Kieran, Bignell served as an infantryman in the Army National Guard and taught middle school students in New Mexico and Wisconsin. His newspaper work has won several journalism awards, from editorial writing to sports reporting. In 2001, The Prescott Journal, which he served as managing editor of, was named Wisconsin’s Weekly Newspaper of the Year.

Bignell now lives with his son in Southern California.

“Hikes with Tykes” is available for purchase online at http://hikeswithtykes.com/home.html.

Book specs:
-Publish date: July 19, 2011
-Publisher: Atiswinic Press
-ISBN: 978-0-615-51220-4
-Price: $13.99
-Pages: 232
-Cover: Paperback
-Trim Size: 5.5 x 8.5
-Website: http://hikeswithtykes.com/home.html

NOTE TO EDITORS AND REPORTERS: As a former journalist and newspaper editor, I know how hectic your schedule can get. To make your job easier, at my website I’ve provided answers to common interview questions, samples from the book, and additional photos that you may use as needed to write an article. I am, of course, always available for a personal interview.

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Ojai, Calif.-based Atiswinic Press specializes in the publication of nature and family books. Founded in 2011, the company's name comes from the Chumash word that translates literally as "dreamer" or "having a dream." The Chumash were the first human inhabitants of Ojai (the city's name also comes from the Chumash language) - and the company's owner always has dreamed of living in Ojai and writing/publishing what they enjoyed most. The company and its location are the fulfillment of his dream or vision. Hikes with Tykes is the press' first publication. Several more family-oriented nature books are planned for release in the months ahead. Atiswinic Press currently is not accepting submissions or pitches for book ideas.