Wildful -- Kengo Kurimoto, Hardcover

Discover the magic of the wilderness in this breathtaking graphic novel reminiscent of The Secret Garden.

Poppy's mother hasn't been the same since Gran passed away. She stays inside and watches TV, unable to leave the couch. So maybe that's why Poppy has started spending more time outside, taking her dog Pepper for walks around the neighborhood. When Pepper leads Poppy through a hole in the fence, she finds a forgotten forest that's been there all along, as well as a new friend named Rob.

Rob teaches Poppy that you can find magic in the wilderness - if you know where to look! Poppy looks, and then she looks closer ... and sees flowers opening before her eyes, watches animals slip into their hidden homes, and listens to the sound of water droplets falling gently on puddles, leaves and feathers. She can barely wait to tell Mum about everything she's seen, and asks her to come see, too - but her mother rarely has the energy to leave the couch. Will Poppy ever be able help her mother see the beauty in the woods - and in life?

This beautifully illustrated graphic novel is an exploration of grief, love, and finding magic in the wilderness - and in ourselves.

Key Text Features

illustrations

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.7

Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or beauty of a text (e.g., graphic novel, multimedia presentation of fiction, folktale, myth, poem).

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.3

Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.

Author: Kengo Kurimoto
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Published: 02/06/2024
Pages: 216
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.70lbs
Size: 6.90h x 9.70w x 0.90d
ISBN: 9781773068626
Audience: Ages 9-12

Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 11/06/2023
Kirkus Reviews 12/01/2023
School Library Journal 12/01/2023 pg. 93
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 01/01/2024
Horn Book Magazine 01/01/2024 pg. 98
Foreword 12/27/2023
Booklist 02/01/2024 pg. 49
Shelf Awareness 02/06/2024