Home of the Wild - by Louise Greig (Hardcover)

About the Book

A lyrical and uplifting story about a friendship between a boy and a wild fawn, with a tender message of love and letting wild animals be free. Atmospheric illustrations bring the authentic Scottish landscapes to life.

Book Synopsis

"A house is not a home for wild things;
wild things need to run, and soar, and swim."

In the quiet dawn of the spring forest a boy finds an orphan fawn, hungry and alone. He carefully carries her home, caring for her while she grows strong. The boy and the fawn become inseparable. Together they spend long summer days running through the valley, leaping over the heather, and lying in the dappled sunlight.

But the young deer is a wild thing and too soon she is ready to discover a home of her own. The boy misses his friend and worries for her when a big storm threatens. Can the boy and the fawn find each other again? Are some bonds stronger than goodbye?

Lyrical and atmospheric, this beautiful picture book by award-winning author Louise Greig and emerging illustrator J�lia Moscard� is an uplifting story of belonging, the enduring connection between humans and nature, and a tender lesson in learning when to let go of those you love

Review Quotes

'In the quiet dawn of the Spring forest, a boy finds an orphan fawn. An uplifting, lyrical story of wildness and belonging, against the evocative backdrop of the Scottish mountains.'
- The Bookseller

'Although set in Scotland, this story could occur anywhere with tree-covered hills and valleys, deer, and humans with caring hearts... Lyrical language and realistic illustrations honor the natural world and a loving relationship.'
- Kirkus Reviews

'A gentle boy encounters a lonely fawn while he's traipsing through the woods he loves. He "whispers into soft velvet, 'I'll carry you home.'" His mother cautions him that he'll have free Alba, once she's strong enough to go. Until then, though: Alba is his delightful new companion, and the bond they form is strong. Soft, attentive illustrations contribute to the soothing atmosphere of this lovely story about caring for the world around us, which cares for us in return.'
- Foreword Reviews

'Greig's text reads like free verse poetry, with a discernible beat, despite the lack of a rhyme scheme. Moscard�'s beautiful watercolor illustrations are perfectly matched to the text and manage to convey both a cozy sense of warmth and friendship but also the majesty and wildness of the woods. She effectively uses black outlines around the unnamed protagonist and Alba so that our eye is always drawn to them, even when they are small in a large, wooded setting.'
- Youth Services Book Review

Praise for Louise Greig:

'An artful, elegant metaphor for mood.'
- Kirkus Reviews on Sweep

'Evocative, simple, and reassuring.'
- Kirkus Reviews (STARRED review) on The Night Box

'A full, luminous, reassuring story.'
- Publishers Weekly (STARRED review) on The Night Box

Greig's soaring, unrhymed poetry, creates a sense of night's scale, richness and enveloping magic.'
- The Guardian on The Night Box

'A breathtaking, quiet story.'
- Times Literary Supplement on Between Tick and Tock

A true animal fable that has a message of overcoming fear with love at its core. It is a great gift from an area celebrated for its isolated, wild, sea-framed beauty, poetry, and music.' - Midwest Book Review on The Island and the Bear

'The story has a rather ethereal feeling about it, like a folk tale though based on a true story from the Scottish Hebrides. The soft, beautiful illustrations create a lovely tale.'
- Youth Services Book Review on The Island and the Bear

About the Author

Louise Greig is a multi-award winning poet and author born in Scotland. She has featured on the shortlist for several major children's book awards, including the Waterstones Children's Book Prize. Inspired by the Scottish landscape and the company of animals, Louise's picture books include The Island and the Bear (Floris Books) and Kate Greenaway nominated The Night Box (Egmont). She lives in Aberdeen with her rescue greyhound, Smoky. J�lia Moscard� is a Spanish illustrator and visual artist currently based in Nottingham, UK. She studied Fine Art in Valencia, Spain, and Children�s Book Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art.