Children of the Forest

“There is an enjoyable tension between text and images, where what we are told is at odds with what we see. Older children will revel in being in on the joke. . . . Myers’s soft, nostalgic pencil-and-watercolor drawings in muted greens and mauves include details meant for grown-ups (the dozing dad is reading Thoreau), but there is plenty for kids to discover, too, as they plot their own backyard adventures.”—The New York Times

“[A] puckish escapade. . . .”—The Wall Street Journal

“A sly backyard adventure. . . . Pencil and watercolor illustrations offer high-energy encounters, while fantastical shrub-creatures that lurk in the background contribute to the fantasy feel. Myers writes with sharp wit, making exemplary use of the picture book format by employing tension between what readers hear and what they’re shown.”—Publishers Weekly

“Though the illustrations make clear that the duo is exploring their own backyard, the text stays true to the narrator’s sharply etched imagination. . . . An ode to the natural world—and the abundant imagination of children.”—The Horn Book

“The contrast between text and images is clever, and the relationship between the protective older sibling and the younger one is delightful. A short and sweet adventure.”—Kirkus Reviews

“The boy’s descriptive narrative, told with survivalist flair, is amusingly set against the siblings’ actual experiences, depicted in lush watercolor-and-pencil illustrations, which also cleverly convey how nature can inspire imaginations. This affectionate portrayal of a brother-sister relationship also charmingly demonstrates how familiar settings and objects can—with a little creativity—make for big adventures. A strong pick for bedtime reading.”—Booklist

“The combination of spare text with lush illustrations will engage very young children, while the disconnect between the boy’s narration and the reality portrayed in the illustrations will intrigue and amuse older kids. . . . Celebrating the power of a child’s imagination and outdoor exploratory play, this book is particularly well suited to a read aloud and group discussion.”—School Library Journal