The two protagonists are Winslow and Rosie, one brown-skinned with long dark hair, one light-skinned with short reddish brown hair, both using female pronouns.
In their tree house, they display their marvelous collection of natural wonders. Winslow finds amazing things, Rosie sketches and catalogs them, and then they store them in an array of display boxes, glass jars, and bins. Their collection includes plants, skeletons, insects, fungi, and minerals - and there is one space left for the most special item of all.
They set out to discover that last item, but every discovery they make isn't quite right; the dinosaur fossil is too big, a special feather is too high, and when they finally enter a dark cave, if there is something in there it's too hidden. Unfortunately, the bear in the cave isn't hiding at all! The angry bear chases them back through their route and they arrive home, tired, dirty, and disappointed... until they realize that the day wasn't a complete failure and, just maybe, the most extraordinary thing is waiting for them at home.
Feagan's cut-paper illustrations focus on natural colors, lots of browns and muted blues, greens, and oranges. Against this background, the bright sheen of a fantastical purple jewel and golden nugget stand out sharply. Triangles and circles of trees are dotted across the landscape and the girls' occasional exclamations are shown in big, colorful speech balloons.
The ending is a little abrupt, but the portrayal of a strong female friendship, outdoor exploration, and the fun of collecting is attractive. This is a little long for storytime, but could tie in well for a program on outdoor exploration or art program on cut-paper collage.
Verdict: Not a necessary purchase, but a fun addition if you have young readers who enjoy making collections and exploring outdoors.
ISBN: 9781525302046; Published May 2021 by Kids Can Press; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library
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