A Forest Song - by Kirsten Hall (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Beautifully illustrated by an award-winning artist, this cento poem about experiencing a forest with all of your senses will make the perfect read-aloud for nature lovers and curious explorers"--

Book Synopsis

Beautifully illustrated by an award-winning artist, this cento poem about experiencing a forest with all of your senses will make the perfect read-aloud for nature lovers and curious explorers of all ages.

Into the forest, dark and deep,
With miles to go before I sleep . . .
Beneath the holy oaks I wander.
Here, O my heart, just listen!

This vivid and evocative poem reimagines classic lines of poetry from Robert Frost, Mary Oliver, Emily Dickinson, Edgar Allen Poe and others. Readers will journey into a forest, listen carefully to its sounds, and observe the creatures that call it home.

With swirling colors, the stunning illustrations create scenes of the forest awakening through the eyes of a child - a wolf finds its lair, a deer steps with care, even the trees appear to flutter awake! Through each verse, the forest bursts with life and the trees slowly stretch up toward a starry night sky, whispering a gentle goodnight. And when the child awakens, the forest will be there to greet the morning anew.

A tribute to writers of the past, this stunning picture book by poet Kirsten Hall and award-winning illustrator Evan Turk celebrates the beauty of our forests, and encourages readers to respect, honor, and be in awe of their natural wonders.

Review Quotes

★ "A profound, unified message from poets, both past and present, to love and protect our natural environments." --The Bulletin, starred review

★ "Hall's mastery of rhythm and flow is mesmerizing, transforming the borrowed words into a cohesive and enchanting experience." --The Horn Book, starred review

"An ode to our natural world that draws on poetic wordsmiths of the past....Nature in all its humbling majesty." --Kirkus Reviews

"[A] collaborative celebration of the forest that also serves as a gentle introduction to poetic conventions." --Publishers Weekly

"An evocative and inspiring homage to nature and an enchanting purchase for any collection." --Booklist

"A lyrical and sensory-rich exploration of the forest that captures the wonder and magic of nature....this book offers a great introduction to poetry and creative writing." --School Library Journal

About the Author

Kirsten Hall is a former preschool and elementary school teacher, and the author of several picture books which include The Honeybee, which was praised as "glorious" by The Wall Street Journal, The Jacket, a New York Times Notable Book, and The Gold Leaf, illustrated by Matthew Forsythe. In addition to writing, she operates her own boutique illustration and literary agency. Kirsten lives in New York City with her husband and two sons.

Evan Turk is an award-winning illustrator, author, and animator. He is the illustrator of Grandfather Ghandi, written by Arun Ghandi, which received an Ezra Jack Keats Illustrator Honor and The People's Painter, written by Cynthia Levinson which received a Robert F. Sibert Medal, and Muddy: The Story of Blues Legend Muddy Waters, which was a New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book, and is the author of many more. His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, and NPR. Originally from Colorado, Evan now lives in southern California with his husband and two cats.