Just a few of the reviews I’ve done for children’s books.
Age range 0-12 years old, approximately. Includes Picture Books, Pre-Kindergarten, and Elementary School level chapter books.
See all reviews by Debra Scott on LibraryThing.com at The Blind Librarian
Into the Wilderness by Haven Iverson, illustrated by August Zhang Published 2026 by Roaring Brook Press
Published 2026 by Roaring Brook Press
A poetic and beautifully illustrated picture book about a child growing up learning to hike into the wilderness with family.
“As our path traversed through aspen groves, their roots holding hands beneath the earth, the three of us hummed their songs, listened to their quiet, and ate really good trail snacks beneath their leaves. Together, we carried wonder.”
However the child faces insecurity. The fear of using the map for the first time, but also a sense of sadness, of feeling left out at school. Uninvited. There is no explanation for this sadness. But the towering mountains speak of strength and the child makes a decision. “I decide that today, I won’t carry things that make me sad.”
The afterword is a series of paragraphs about The Wilderness Act and its creation to offset the industrial revolution. It also speaks of the indigenous people for whom all of what we call wilderness is just their home, their life. It ends with notes on how to be a good steward of the wilderness.
This book was like dipping my hands in a forest stream and splashing my face. The wilderness is where I go when feel overwhelmed. It is my place of healing.
Word Seeds 