By Christine McFaul
Forest Magic is a delightful nonfiction nature guide for little explorers (ages 4-8), words and illustrations by Canadian creator Sarah Grindler. On a personal note, this book landed within my four-year-old’s most requested books this past summer, and in my opinion, there is no higher compliment than the child requested repeat-read!
Grindler’s guide opens with a question: “What do you notice when you are walking in the forest?” To answer this question, it prompts readers to take note of the sights, smells, sounds, and feel of the natural world around them. The pages that follow are informative, interactive, and even whimsical in places, showcasing all manner of flora and fauna commonly encountered in North American forests. Each new page offers a compelling mix of facts, musings, explanations, and beautiful new vocabulary. It won’t be long before readers are able to identify a nurse log, turkey tail mushrooms, lungwort lichen, and maybe even a pixie (…pixie cup moss, that is!).
But the narrative is not all facts, being scattered throughout with open-ended questions sure to spark imagination and further discussion. Questions like, “If you planted a sapling today, would it grow faster than you?” and “Which wildflower is your favourite?” As a parent, I very much appreciated two pragmatic spreads that Grindler chose to include near the end. These spreads outline “things that are safe to touch” and “things that are not safe to touch” while exploring in the woods, reminding us to take into account not only the safety of ourselves but also the wildlife we encounter. Grindler also includes brightly coloured illustrations of each item she lists, making it easy for even the youngest audience to identify what can and cannot safely be touched.
And on the topic of illustrations, Grindler’s pictures are lovely and bring this guide to life. Her palette showcases the many shades of nature, with a predominant theme of soft greens and browns. Grindler plays with light to advantage, often having it stream through her illustrations, invoking the lush peace of quiet forest glens. She also includes detailed closeups of leaves, flowers, animals, and insects. My favourite of these pages is one full of mushrooms, a highly underrated vegetation, and as Grindler’s art so perfectly proves, can be as varied, fascinating, and beautiful as any wildflower.
Forest Magic is the perfect introductory guidebook for young explorers, managing to impart its wisdom without sacrificing the imagination; to teach while never feeling boring or didactic. Reading this book truly feels like taking a walk in the woods with a fellow nature lover. I highly recommend this book and have already put a library hold on Grindler’s first book, Seaside Treasures (2019).
Thank you, Nimbus Publishing Ltd., for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.