Forest opens by looking at a lush forest from afar, then slowly draws the reader in closer and closer to discover all the life inside of it: the trees and their component branches, trunks, leaves and needles, the sounds of tiny birds, food for squirrels and deer, holes and tunnels in which numerous woodland creatures take cover, glistening spiderwebs, places to nest and rest, and shelter from storms. In other words, a forest is far more than just a bunch of trees. It is a home.

Christine Matheson’s text is rhythmic, simple, and sparse, just perfect for an early reader. The watercolor and collage illustrations, primarily in warm green and brown tones, lend a calm quiet to the text and provide ample details for little readers to discover. Matheson has also thoughtfully provided some helpful ways we can help protect our forests and those who live there and a list of websites to learn more. Possibly the only thing that could improve this book is to take it along on your next hike and read it among the trees.

(Review originally published on the Portland Book Review and book donated to the Maltby Food Bank.)