The Artists

The first installment of the Tales from the Hidden Valley series features a curious cast of forest-dwelling beings. Fall is arriving in the Hidden Valley, but Ticky—a bluebird troubadour—is soon to fly south. Yula, a pink creature with plucky ears, is so busy creating a goodbye painting for Ticky that she misses his departure, then goes in search of her friend. Meanwhile, Sara—a fox-like girl with a red bob—follows swirling leaves as they blow through the forest. Their stories meet when the leaves land in a colorful, autumnal pile. Porta’s roundabout storytelling, oddly endearing characters (including a mischievous ballerina with an onion head), and precise detailing are whimsical, though perhaps too strongly reminiscent of Tove Jansson’s Moomintroll series. Readers may initially struggle to follow seemingly disparate story events, but the world Porta introduces is one full of gentle enigma. Ages 3–5. [em](Sept.) [/em]