Beneath the Trees: A Fine Summer

Beneath the Trees: A Fine Summer
Author(s)
Age Range
4+
Release Date
May 31, 2022
ISBN
978-1951719548
Buy This Book
      
It's summer, and the laughter of children echoes under the trees. But for some of the older animals, the frivolous abandon of childhood is far behind them. Old Mr. Owl and Mr. Toad get the crazy idea to relive some of their youth if that's even possible anymore...

The third book in a new series designed to paint a tender and colorful portrait of everyday Life, showing that behind every flaw or weakness can lie charm and strength. Readers will recognize their own neighbors, friends, and family members in the endearing animal characters within this forest community. In this third volume, a pair of older animals set out to relive their energetic youth. A heart-warming tale suitable for all ages.

The stories in this four-book series take place in the same forest over the course of four seasons. Each can be read independently, exploring the complexity and richness of relationships with family, friends, and loved ones. As both writer and illustrator, the author doesn't rely on text to convey emotions, oscillating between a clever dose of dialogue and wordless passages to makes these stories accessible to young readers starting as young as 5 years old.

Presenting a graphic universe somewhere between Michel Plessix's adaptations of THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS and the cartoons of Walt Disney (in particular those created by Don Bluth, such as THE RESCUERS and ROBIN HOOD), Dav gently conveys each season through a changing palette of colors and rounded designs.

Editor review

1 review
Summer Time Vibes
Overall rating
 
5.0
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
It's summer time beneath the trees and for some animals that means it's time to play. For others, the loud noises are a bit too much and come off as annoying. Mr. Owl is one of those grumpy animals, and when the children's ball flies through his window, he's more than happy to hold on to it. Finally, he gets a moment of peace. Until he throws the ball back out the window and makes it into the goal. Quickly realizing how fun the activity is, he tries again and again to replicate his goal. What will the kids and Grumpy Toad think when they find out Owl's secret?

BENEATH THE TREES: A FINE SUMMER is the definition of how one picture can speak a thousand words. The illustrations are bold, adorable, and words are not needed to tell their story. There's a bit of dialogue and the formatting is that of a graphic novel/comic book. It's perfect for children who like quick reads that tell beautiful stories. This one is about how everyone can find their inner child and teaches to look at things from another person's perspective. You never know what you might like if you turn your nose up at everything. I love how Owl expresses all types of emotions in the short amount of time we see him. Anger. Guilt. Happiness. Each page has you eager to see what will happen next.


Final Verdict: I would recommend this to young readers who enjoy comic books and animals. There's some humor in it that will make children smile and the art style of the illustrations reminds me a bit of Winnie the Pooh.
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