  | Once upon a forest Author: Fong, Pam | |
| Price: $22.58 | ||
Summary:
After a fire leaves the forest smoldering, a determined marmot and her resourceful bird friend set off on a rescue mission in this illustrated, wordless story. With determination and ingenuity, as the seasons pass, they care for the little trees by making sure they have enough water, protect their branches from the wind and snow, and keep away hungry creatures, until the trees can thrive on their own.
Reviews:
Booklist (+) (01/01/22)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 01/01/2022 *Starred Review* In a small forest clearing sits a log cabin, where a helpful marmot lives and tends its garden. One day while watering plants, the marmot sees a ribbon of smoke rising from the trees below, which a fire-fighting helicopter quickly takes care of. Knowing there is work to be done, the marmot, accompanied by a little bird, fills a wagon with supplies and dashes to the burn site. Once there, the pair begins the hard, sooty work of clearing the damaged land and planting saplings to replace the trees destroyed by the fire. Fong wordlessly unfurls a story of environmental stewardship through panels and full-page spreads filled with soft, spare digital illustrations styled as graphite drawings reminiscent of Peter McCarty's work and punctuated with meaningful color—the green of sprouting saplings, the blue water of a stream, the golden glow of a sunset. The marmot itself is an adorable wooly creature with an explosive pompom of a tail, a broad, triangular nose, and a wonderfully expressive face. The marmot and bird determinedly work to keep the saplings alive through the changing seasons, camping beside them until they are strong enough to make it on their own. The story’s gentle drama pairs with the marmot’s huge amount of heart to form a timely tale that quietly affirms the intrinsic value of nature. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.
