Hike

Starred review from January 6, 2020
Nature forms the backdrop of this largely wordless picture book, beginning with the nature motif of a child’s chamber. A brown-skinned father gently nudges his sleeping child as morning sun spills into the darkened room. The child rubs their eyes, remembers something wonderful, and leaps out of bed to assemble a hat and backpack, sturdy shoes, and a compass and map (a cat assists with the preparations). Then the two are on their way out of town and into the wilderness. With a gentle, misty palette and slender, angular figures, this journey by Oswald (The Sad Little Fact) follows the duo into the forest, capturing small dramas along the way—fear of crossing a log over a river made easier with an outstretched hand, a snack overlooking a magnificent vista, a final shared task. The beauty of the natural world is viewed through the lens of the relationship between parent and child; their closeness is what gives this outdoor experience meaning. On the way home, their eyes meet in the rear-view mirror; they know they’ve shared something special, a moment underscored by a final spread of the two cuddling on the sofa. Ages 4–8. Agent: Kirsten Hall, Catbird Productions.

January 15, 2020
A brown father-and-child pair leave the city behind for a day together in the mountains in this wordless picture book by the illustrator of The Good Egg, by Jory John (2019). The sun sets on a suburban row house with a fenced yard and a jeep outside. A man tucks a child into bed in a room filled with outdoor gear. The next morning comes quickly, and the child jumps out of bed to gets dressed and packed for a day in the great outdoors. The two drive out of the town and park at a trailhead. Backpacks on, they hike a trail that leads through thick woods populated by animals, only some of which reveal themselves. Binoculars, camera, trail mix, walking sticks, and even rope and helmets come in handy along the way as they explore, but the highlights are the wondrous view from the summit and the act of planting a tree together there. Dusk ushers the father and child out of the woods, and it is dark by the time they arrive home and share cookies over the family album in their pajamas. The blue- and green-themed art rewards readers who look closely. The relationship between the father and child makes this not just a picture book set in the outdoors, but a warm expression of how memories are created and bonds form. Like the woods, this book is an immersive experience that invites repeated visits. (Picture book. 2-8)

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Starred review from February 1, 2020

Gr 1-3-This almost wordless book takes readers through a journey from the city to the heights of the timberland, an adventure that begins in the dark of night through the early morning-a preparation time for father and child. Sleepily waking, dressing with care and filling the backpack, father and son drive through the rising dawn to wind past green columns of trees. A bird's perspective finds a young fox and eggs in a nest. A series of vignettes captures deer, hidden insects, a flying eagle, and even the prints of a bear. Late snow, a challenging walk, and a quiet meal precede a final climb and a shared tradition amid the trees. Painted landscapes conjure the soft haze of forest waterfalls, mountain vistas, watery strokes of tree branches, small details of flowers, woodland creatures, and the warm expressions between parent and child. VERDICT A suggested first purchase for all libraries, this visual feast evokes a breathtaking climb to the heights, where the absence of text reflects the serenity of the mountain and those who quietly rejoice in the hike.-Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from February 1, 2020
Preschool-G *Starred Review* One morning, a father wakens his child, who jumps out of bed, puts on warm clothing, and loads a backpack into the car. They drive to the mountains, where their hike begins. After observing animals, paw prints, and feathers, they come to a large log bridging a small river. The child steps slowly, fearful and tentative, then relieved, to reach Dad, waiting halfway across. They watch a waterfall together. Wearing helmets, they climb a steep slope to a lookout point, plant a little sapling, and take a picture before heading back for a cozy evening at home. It's a satisfying adventure, related without narration. The few words found in the illustrations usually appear within books or represent sounds, such as "KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!" (woodpecker) and "CLICK!" (camera). The handsome digital artwork clearly expresses the characters' emotions as well as the beauty and majesty of the natural world. Oswald, who illustrated Jory John's The Bad Seed (2017) and The Good Egg (2019), found his inspiration for the story in childhood memories of family hiking and camping trips. A near-wordless book seems a particularly appropriate way of communicating the quiet yet powerful experience of walking through a wilderness area. A memorable picture book on enjoying the natural world.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)