The Path - by Pamela Paul (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

This playful yet deep picture book is a celebration of community, nature, and the magic of cooperation.

It's a busy evening at the local park and all sorts of people are taking advantage of the precious natural space. Whether biking or rollerblading, birding or dog walking, there should be room enough for everyone . . . so why does it seem like someone else is always in the way?

Suddenly, a murmuration of starlings erupts from the treetops--one giant winged cloud swirls and spins across the sky, forcing everyone to stop and look up. And after this small, spectacular moment, the park's visitors begin to interact with a new appreciation for what nature and community add to their lives.

With watercolor illustrations full of personality, movement, and life, this special story reminds readers of all ages that we have a lot to offer each other when we widen our perspectives.

* "A remarkably original look at the awesome power of community." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "[An] optimism-inspiring story . . . highlighting the beauty of community formed through empathy." --Publisher's Weekly, starred review

* "This slice-of-life story showcases what nature has to teach us easily frustrated humans about coexistence and community." --School Library Journal, starred review

Review Quotes

★ "A remarkably original look at the awesome power of community. . . [A] strikingly clever story . . . in which myopic individualism is the foe and Mother Nature the superhero. " --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "[An] optimism-inspiring story . . . Overflowing with greenery, calligraphically inked panels smoothly telegraph the characters' shifting emotions via body language, savvily depicting people's worst and best impulses while highlighting the beauty of community formed through empathy." --Publisher's Weekly, starred review

★ "This slice-of-life story showcases what nature has to teach us easily frustrated humans about coexistence and community." --School Library Journal, starred review

★ "The park becomes a friendlier, more harmonious place with a newly heightened appreciation of nature in this humorous and uplifting celebration of kindness, community and our glorious Earth . . . a noisy, busy, kaleidoscopic swirl of vibrant life." --Book Page, starred review

"The crux of the story--the power of nature to change perspective--and the gorgeous spread that depicts the murmuration's wonder, is a lovely one that will resonate." --BCCB

"A charming look at the power of shared experiences and positive connection in an everyday space." -Booklist

"This book is simply cool. The story . . . culminates in a beautiful natural phenomenon that takes all present from strangers in the way to community, witnessing beauty together . . . You could pore over this book for hours." -Book Riot

About the Author

PAMELA PAUL is a writer at large for The Wall Street Journal. She was previously an Opinion columnist at the New York Times and the editor of The New York Times Book Review. She is the author of eight adult books and It Simply Can't Be Bedtime and Rectangle Time for children. Prior to joining The New York Times, she was a contributor to Time and The Economist, and her work has appeared in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and Vogue.

QIN LENG has illustrated numerous picture books, magazines and book covers with publishers from around the world. Her recent picture books include the Canadian bestseller Skinnamarink, One Elephant Went Out to Play and Peanut Butter and Jelly written by Sharon, Lois and Bram; and Trèfle (Clover) by Nadine Robert, which won the 2022 Governor General's Literary Award for Young Persons Literature -- Illustrated Books. She is also the illustrator of A Family Is a Family Is a Family written by Sara O'Leary and Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin, which was a finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award and received the APALA Award for best picture book. She lives in Toronto with her husband and her son.