About the Author

Tiger Cox is a passionate outdoor enthusiast. He is the youngest member of the Fly Sussex paragliding team, based in Sussex, UK. Taught by his father, Tiger has passed on his skills to countless beginner fliers - even teaching his imprinted (trained to accept humans as their 'parent') Lanner falcon, Safire, who often accompanies him up to great heights on paragliding flights. Tiger has a natural affinity for outdoors skills and wants to inspire and educate others, of all ages, to spend more time enjoying these pursuits - whether that be through adventure sports, outdoor cooking or getting out and exploring their local landscapes. He caught the bug for exploring from his 'crazy' parents and four older sisters, who showed him what was possible and lovingly encouraged his earliest forays in the stunning South Downs National Park in Sussex, UK. No stranger to wild adventures and expeditions, Tiger has taken on many epic challenges. At age 13, he completed a sailing voyage from Sussex in the UK to the Caribbean on a wooden boat that his parents built. The final stage of the journey saw them sail across the Atlantic Ocean in under three weeks without sighting land or other ships. At age 18, he cycled 600 miles across France, wild camping all the way in a bivvy bag - despite having smashed his front teeth in his first training ride (by hitting a lamp post) but began the journey a week later anyway. He also competed in the 2015 world fireball (a racing sailing dinghy) championships in Wales. Tiger is an accomplished public speaker, having given talks on exploration and nature to audiences of over 250 people, including his old school and local chambers of commerce. This is his first book for GMC Publications.

Reviews

Juno Magazine review, early Spring issue, o.s. 1st February 2022 "A fantastic book to inspire adventure. I like the mix of encouragement, useful information and anecdotes from famous explorers. The section on al-Idrisi, a cartographer born in 1100, is fascinating. I especially love the section on wild maps in which Cox shares his passion for drawing maps and the way they help him tell a story."
The Tiny Activist Blog Included in Earth Day Non-Fiction Round-Up, 22nd April 2022, https: //thetinyactivist.com/earth-day-nonfiction-roundup/
"A wonderful outdoor skills manual for kids! This book is written in a way that empowers kids to spend time (and thrive!) outdoors, but doesn't sugarcoat how hard it is to live a subsistence lifestyle. Interspersed throughout are profiles of explorers like Jeanne Baret (a French naturalist), Bungaree (a Native Australian sailor), and mountain climber Junko Tabei. This gives inspiration and additional biographical information about historical explorers, many of which are people of color. This is a much-needed nod to the Indigenous knowledge that was lost during colonization and the Industrial Revolution. Inside the book are practical skills like safe knife usage and water filtration, and also how to develop observational skills like air patterns and understanding how water reacts to different weather. There is a lot of safety information, and some tasty looking recipes for cooking over a campfire!" Mid-West Book Reviewhttp: //www.midwestbookreview.com/cbw/jun_22.htm#rc
"Truly exceptional and 'kid friendly' in organization and presentation...a 'real world' practical instructional guide and 'how to' manual for developing outdoor skills and enjoying crafts projects" The Week Junior Science+Nature Review in recommendations page, Magazine issue 44, o.s. January 2022
"Whether it's learning about building shelters, filtering water, reading clouds or cooking on a fire you have (safely) made yourself, this guide from a real-life explorer has it all. You'll also discover more about adventurers past and present." Red Reading Hub Blog post https: //redreadinghub.blog/2021/12/21/how-to-be-an-explorer/ "With the author's enthusiasm for his subject shining through in his writing, this is a super book to encourage children away from their screens and outdoors for some adventuring."
Cross Country Magazine News Piece 4th December 2021 https: //xcmag.com/news/how-to-be-an-explorer-by-tiger-cox/
"a fantastic book for 5-11 year olds on how to get into adventuring...It would make a perfect present for anyone looking to help encourage youngsters into the outdoor lifestyle."
@the_playful_expert Instagram Review https: //www.instagram.com/p/Ca5HeJrM9eE/?utm_medium=copy_link
"This book is perfect for our family as it provides so many opportunities to explore in so many fun ways! 'How to be an explorer' aims to give young people the know-how and confidence to get our abs about - with practical tasks and activities, mini-adventures, rustic crafts and by telling some truly inspiring tales of real-life explorers that you won't have heard of before."
@picturebookplaydate Instagram Review https: //www.instagram.com/p/CcnvqyauRNa/
"This is a compendium, packed with everything a person would need to really get outside and explore nature. I love the full color illustrations that make the activities more approachable. This is one to keep in mind for gifting- it's beautifully made and full of so much information that kids will spend loads of time just pouring over it." @al_humphreys Instagram Review https: //www.instagram.com/p/CW-wRNLKsrW/
"An excellent new book for young explorers by @tigercoxexplores"
@the_treasure_babes Instagram Review https: //www.instagram.com/p/CYegzAIsOGx/
"It's a wonderful book to engage with nature in an exciting yet safe manner which leaves them full of self-confidence and gives them genuine survival skills for the great outdoors."
@bookishwaytoplay Instagram Review https: //www.instagram.com/p/CZ7YJDIsfyk/
"a fantastically comprehensive guide about developing outdoor skills and my goodness there are just so many things we want to do that are explained here (and I love the photographs used throughout - makes everything seem so achievable)"
@mancunian_mum Instagram Review https: //www.instagram.com/p/CaZTbj9MDIt/
"In this beautiful book, @tigercoxexplores shares a wealth of advice on how to develop outdoor skills. It includes over 20 step-by-step activities, 6 inspiring stories from the forgotten explorers of history, & so much more. I love reading books like this. It's always interesting to read about history, nature & learn a skill by creating something new. As you discover new things, you can apply that knowledge acquired out in the wild. @homeplaylearn Instagram Review https: //www.instagram.com/p/CYgvK67BvJE/
"This book contains information on all the things an explorer needs to know - from what to take in an essential outdoor kit, how to read maps, knots, whittling, cooking on a fire, foraging, filtering dirty water to understanding clouds! There's so much to learn and there's stories about real explorers to further inspire you! You could read it all at once or delve in sections that interest you that might help you on your next outing into the wild!"
@mssburns Instagram Review https: //www.instagram.com/p/CZboGOhMTvk/
"This book is a real gem of a find...It's packed full of useful information for how to be an explorer. From types of knots to use to measuring the strength of the wind. It's also interspersed with profiles of different explorers...A great book for anyone who loves the great outdoors."
@picturebookrecommendations Instagram Review
"How to Be An Explorer is the perfect guide to the great outdoors. This is a fun one to prepare for a trip or even just to encourage your kids to get outside and explore the world around them through a whole new lens. It is packed with practical and fascinating information not to mention outdoor crafts" @stylishmodernmotherhood Instagram Review https: //www.instagram.com/p/CazwaBsF_hy/
"another great addition to our exploring resources....It's a must for outdoor loving families." @thebabybookworm Instagram Review https: //www.instagram.com/p/Ca5wLYAg01C/
"An awesome guidebook for the budding wilderness scout. Gear up, explorers! Because as any good adventurer knows, the key to a successful foray into the unknown wildness is preparation, and this handy hardcover is the perfect place to start.... A fantastic reference guide for the adventurous bookworm...Cox has compiled a commendable compendium of the types of outdoorsy activities that kids love to learn about. A nice addition are the mini-biographies of the historical explorers, a lineup that includes a diversity of genders and ethnicities. The design, photography, and illustrations are all eye-catching, well laid-out, and colorful."

@houstonlibraryfinds Instagram Review https: //www.instagram.com/p/Cb7soHLA_AK/
"This is exactly the kind of book
I would have loved as a kid. Part-instruction, part-guide, part-biography, the pages explain everything a young person needs to know to explore and thrive in the wild. From edible plants, to making your own cordage and compass, to the different ways you can get clean water and build shelter, this book nurtures the explorer in all of us. I love the personal anecdotes from the author throughout the book telling of his successes and failures... Cox imparts his knowledge to encourage the next generation to get outdoors and explore!"

@family_book_club Instagram Review https: //www.instagram.com/p/CZTkvNJriLy/ "This is a great book to dip into and there is a wide range of outdoor explorer ideas, craft activities and fascinating tales of six real-life explorers including Tiger Cox's own exploring experiences...This is the perfect book for any keen mini explorers out there and one that is already a firm favourite in our house." @mrsbrownsbookbox Instagram Review https: //www.instagram.com/p/CY3Pls1qiV7/
"I have 100% fallen for this book. Not only do we learn about the extraordinary life of author Tiger Cox and about a diverse collection of other incredible explorers, it is also jam packed with practical skills and activities to create mini explorers who are confident taking risks and embracing adventure." @booksb4bedtime Instagram Review https: //www.instagram.com/p/CY3bh34KGcQ/
"It is a really inspiring book for any child (or adult) interested in the outdoors...The book not only gives practical advice but really communicates the wonder that the natural world offers by including facts about insects, plants, birds, and others. The use of photos of children doing the activities provides an additional 'can do' element to the book." @teenyreaders Instagram Review https: //www.instagram.com/p/CYOH3C2q3A-/
"A useful and inspiring book for children...a book for all the family to enjoy on a camping holiday or just a fun day outside in the local park. The ideal guide for budding adventurers!"

@readerosaurus Instagram Review https: //www.instagram.com/p/CeO36fXPzui/
"Our outdoor BFF is this wonderful book! From reading the clouds to racing rafts we will be busy all summer long! A book for an explorer!"