Wildful

A gentle, poignant tale of awakening to the subtle, healing wonders of the wild.

Staring at their phone with their headphones on, assumed teen Poppy takes their dog Pepper on a daily walk through their suburban neighborhood. When Pepper spies a fox peeking through a hole in a ramshackle fence, the pooch gives exuberant chase, causing Poppy to lose control of the leash before crashing into a hidden woodland overtaken by nature and boasting minimal signs of human activity. Pepper is quickly recovered with the help of Rob, who appears to be Poppy's age. Enlivened by the unexpected adventure, Poppy returns home, where they attempt to explain their excitement to their lethargic mother, who is mourning the loss of Poppy's maternal grandmother. Poppy and Pepper routinely meet up with Rob in the woodland, where the trio investigate deer tracks, listen to bird calls, and take in the unfurling of tree buds. Poppy's careful, meditative observation of their nature findings spills into their home life as they strive to share the magic with their mother in hopes of cheering her up. Kurimoto employs ballpoint and ink to finely render delicate, richly detailed grayscale art in this sparsely worded debut, which elegantly conveys Poppy's wide-eyed delight at each new discovery and the healing powers of connection and time spent out of doors. Ages 9-12. (Feb.) ■

Gr 4-7--Poppy and her canine companion discover nature in a powerful statement on slowing down and opening up. Poppy's mother has been struggling with the death of Gran--her mother and Poppy's grandmother. Befriended by Rob who is a nature-lover, Poppy and her pup spend time each day uncovering the restorative power of the outdoors, which eventually also helps Poppy's mother on her road to recovery after she relents to Poppy's request to get outside. A story of relationships and connection, there are person-to-person and person-to-nature explorations that deepen the meaning of the story, no matter how readers engage with the book. The sparse dialogue is enhanced by the well-paced panel progression throughout, which gives space for understanding how animals and nature are transforming Poppy. Without cluttering the pages, Kurimoto intentionally chooses to allow readers to engage with the story at their own pace alongside the characters. In fact, there are plenty of pages without any dialogue or narration at all, permitting readers' eyes to languidly peruse. Flora, fauna, and an occasional busted vehicle behind a gate can be found and savored within each frame. The overall effect is a quiet graphic novel with a muted palette and a loud message. VERDICT This meditative experience is a necessary addition for celebrating the outdoors and providing another avenue for SEL for all ages.--Alicia Abdul