FICTION

Explorers of the Wild

by Cale ATKINSON
illus. by Cale Atkinson. 40p. Disney-Hyperion. Apr. 2016. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781484723401.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 2—A boy and a bear cub enjoy being in the woods. When they meet, they are wary of the unknown other but find common ground in their love of exploring. At first, each character describes his individual wanderings, but once they meet, the "I's" become "we's" and they narrate as one. The illustrations are vibrant and fill the entire page, with the text "handwritten" into the story.
VERDICT This adorable tale of friendship and exploration is a great buy for every collection, as picture book readers will delight in the cartoon adventure.
Reviewed by Heather Massa, East Rockaway Public Library, NY
On left-hand pages, a boy explores the woods; on right-hand pages, a bear cub does the same. After they meet, their narratives merge. Smartly conceived and rendered in simple, enthusiastic text and jammed-with-forest-delights illustrations, the book finishes neatly with a return to facing pages, pairing the boy's souvenir (a photo of the friends together) with the bear's (a painting on a rock of the same).
 , May 01, 2016

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

BOOKS

Maddie and Mabel Ready for Snow
by Allen, Kari
BOOKS

Welcome to the Woofmore
by Gephart, Donna & Lori Haskins Houran
BOOKS

Eleven Houses
by Oakes, Colleen
BOOKS

Don’t Let the Forest In
by Drews, CG
BOOKS

Summer Nights and Meteorites
by Reynolds, Hannah
BOOKS

A Vile Season
by Ferraro, David
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?