Into the Forest

A squirrel has been separated from her family and goes searching; along the way, she meets other woodland creatures. Layered, wavy-shaped flaps reveal a forest scene with flat geometric shapes and rustic shades of orange, brown, blue, and green. Animal surprises appear on every page: foxes, squirrels, a cub and mother bear, rabbits, and deer. Frogs, birds, and butterflies also peek out from lily pads and leaves. Baker writes in simple, rhyming verse: “Watching rabbits/ hide and seek,/ Squirrel joins in to/ peer and peek.” The layering gives readers a sense of heading deeper into a forest grove, while the bumpy textures in the Popsicle-shaped trees provide an appealing hands-on experience. Ages 3–5. [em](Oct.) [/em]