We're off to the forest by Katarina Macurova

 I've been fortunate to have the opportunity to read and review more translated and overseas titles, via Publisher's Spotlight, over the past few years and it's been very interesting to experience other styles. One of the things I really like about a lot of European picture books is their nature-centric, peaceful themes and this latest title from Katarina Macurova is no exception.

The story begins with two plump orange squirrels, Dad and a child, setting out into the woods. The child squirrel narrates the story in simple sentences, explaining that they are making a familiar trip to see an acorn they buried last autumn. They talk casually about how they love acorns, the other animals who eat them, and how there are fewer every year. As the two travel through the woods, there is a rich forest life to watch all around them.

Birds flit about and watch them, other squirrels zip up and down the trees, and woodland animals, from bugs to bears, enjoy acorns in their own way. There are colorful leaves falling, rotting logs providing homes to animals, berries and fungi, and a delightful variety of plants. Finally, the two arrive at the largest oak in the woods, from the branches of which they can see their buried acorn, which has sprouted!

They water and care for it and the small squirrel imagines coming back the next day and the next - and finally seeing it grow into a giant tree with acorns for everyone.

There's no explicit lesson or dramatic plot twist, just the quiet enjoyment of two creatures in the woods and the gentle hope for the future. This is a very different style from most American picture books, which tend to have a very specific narrative style, but it's one I find refreshing and peaceful.

Verdict: It might take a little while for storytime audiences to adapt to this different style, but it's a lovely book to accompany outdoor expeditions or storytimes about forests, acorns, or the fall season.

ISBN: 9788000072890; Hardcover on Baker & Taylor for $10.05

Published November 2024 by Albatros Media; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library