Dave Bauer made a career out of teaching environmental science to teenagers, and now that he’s retired, he wants to cut back a little bit. No, not on teaching students about his love for the environment and the great outdoors. That will never change.

What he would like to do is cut back on the age of the students a wee bit, and bring his message to the kindergarten through grade three population … and their parents, teachers, librarians, principals and school administrators.

To help accomplish his goal, Bauer will be a featured guest at the third annual WNY Children’s Book Expo (WNYCBE) taking place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, in the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center in downtown Buffalo. The day-long showcase of new and beloved books written for kids, free and open to the public, will feature numerous local, national and international authors who will interact directly with children, parents, teachers and school officials through readings, book-signings, presentations and demonstrations.

“I am thrilled to be part of the Western New York Children’s Book Expo because it will allow me to encourage children, parents and teachers to create outdoor adventures and explore new places,” said Bauer, author of the children’s book “What’s Under That Rock, Papa?” and founder of Creative Nature Play, a business that uses his vast knowledge of the outdoors to help children grow, learn and create in everyday, natural places.

“The value in reaching out to younger students is that their vivid imaginations and a natural curiosity is unleashed in everyday nature places — backyards, local parks, creeks and often schoolyard green spaces. We have much research on the benefits of nature play for children as shown on my Creative Nature Play website,” Bauer added. “And it’s important for me to reach their teachers and school administrators because the Creative Nature Play curriculum that I’ve developed can become a fun, hands-on part of today’s mandated science curriculum. It takes environmental science to an exciting new level for both students and teachers!”

For more information on Bauer, his book and Creative Nature Play, please visit http://whatsunderthatrockpapa.com or http://creativenatureplay.com. You can also reach the Williamsville resident at ​(716) 432-4294 or by email at davebauer@whatsunderthatrockpapa.com.

For more information on the WNYCBE, please visit http://www.monkeysread.com/wnycbe-home or call (716) 204-8417.