On the Other Side of the Forest
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
A 2021 New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Book
“Absorbing storytelling.”—Publishers Weekly STARRED Review
“A riveting read.”—Kirkus Reviews STARRED Review
What’s on the other side of the forest? A young rabbit and his father are determined to find out in this modern picture book that “feels like a vintage gem” (New York Times), calling to mind the tender work of Beatrix Potter.
Some say that wolves, ogres, and giant badgers live in the forest beside Arthur’s house. That’s why no one ever goes in there, to see what’s on the other side. But one day, Arthur’s dad has an idea—a magnificent idea! Build a tower to look over the treetops! But a magnificent idea takes a lot of work. Will the villagers join and help them? And when the tower takes shape, what will they see on the other side?
This wonderful, heartwarming story reminiscent of classic children’s books, is perfect for:
Teaching kids about cooperation and teamwork—and how they help us achieve our dreams!A fun and creative Easter or Spring-themed gift for kids
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Canadian writer Robert (The Shadow Elephant) sets her fable in a rural village whose inhabitants are elegantly clothed rabbits, their trousers sewn to allow space for fluffy tails. The young narrator, Arthur, lives with his baker father, who is preoccupied with the impenetrable forest that surrounds their village. Long interested in what's on the other side, he dismisses superstition ("People say that wolves live in the forest, and ogres, and giant badgers") and forms a plan, ceaselessly baking bread and asking for payment in stones, which the villages bring eagerly, in order to erect a tower. Arthur helps: "It's very tiring. But a magnificent idea takes a lot of work." When a crisis derails the project, the village unites to find a solution. Storytelling by Robert and restrained, classically drafted spreads by DuBois (The Amazing Collection of Joey Cornell) proceed step by step, in documentary fashion, offering suspense and drama along the way. An epigraph from artist Ai Weiwei underscores the value of smart collective action—a potentially dry theory that Robert and DuBois bring to life with absorbing storytelling. Ages 3–8.
