Once upon a Forest

Upon spotting a wildfire, a bighearted marmot springs to action in this gentle wordless picture book. When the ground squirrel, busy watering tree seedlings, spies smoke in the distant forest, it loads up a wagon, heads to the burn, and sets about reforesting, erecting a tent for the long haul. Delicate grayscale scenes show the fuzzy creature and an avian companion laboring through the seasons—clearing the land, lugging water to the wilting saplings in summer, protecting them from autumn’s blustery wind, and sheltering them from winter snow. Fong’s digital illustrations, suggestive of pencil and charcoal sketches, are brightened with occasional pops of color that highlight woodland flora and emphasize the transformational impact of the marmot’s efforts. Once the saplings have grown tall, the marmot heads home, its evident love for the forest giving the story a bright outlook that encourages stewardship. Ages 4–8. (Feb.)