ONCE UPON A FOREST, by Pam Fong, Random House Studio, Feb. 8, 2022, Hardcover, $17.99 (ages 4-8)
A marmot and its bird friend work to help a forest recover after a wildfire in Pam Fong’s new wordless picture book, Once Upon a Forest.
After a fire leaves the forest smoldering, a determined marmot and her resourceful bird friend set off on a rescue mission in this wordless story.
They clear away fallen branches and scorched bushes. They rake and dig and plant new seedlings in the earth. 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. —Random House Studio
Once Upon a Forest is a tender look at the fragility and resiliency of nature. Pam Fong’s use and lack of use of color is inspired, with the majority of her illustrations in black-and-white. Bits of color hint at life and growth, offering a beautiful juxtaposition.
Little ones will be drawn in by the cute characters but stick around for a story that needs no words. That said, I would love to hear the narrative each child creates while immersed in Once Upon a Forest’s pages. This would be great for a number of school units ranging from nature and science to art and creative writing.
The publisher’s suggested age range for Once Upon a Forest is 4-8. I think it could skew as young as 3, particularly in a preschool setting.
