This vibrantly illustrated picture book celebrates a variety of woodland creatures as they make their homes and prepare for their young.
Welcome to a serene woodland where lots of expectant animal parents are in their "nesting" phase--that is, busy preparing safe, cozy homes for their growing families. As they dig, tunnel, gnaw, and gather, they create dens, burrows, lodges, and, of course, nests. Soon the woods are full of new little ones peeping, crawling, romping, and snuggling--and with artwork so gorgeous that it feels like an invitation into the scenery it's depicting, readers will be eager to join them in their beautiful home.
“What will young readers encounter in the peaceful landscape of this picture book? Lush, full-bleed double-page spreads . . . simple poetic text. . . . Whether children are listening in a group or as individuals at home, they will enjoy this book.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Explores how an array of woodland animals build safe habitats for their babies. . . . Mulazzani uses acrylic colored pencils and collage on paper to create expansive illustrations with pink sky tones, giving readers a sense of calm. Soft dark blue night skies, sparkling with stars, and sleeping animals complete this vision of serenity. . . . Poetic narrative, interpreted artistically by the illustrator. Simple elegant rhyming words lead readers to learn the names for each animal baby . . . encourage[s] little ones to immerse themselves in the lush experience. By using the pictures to fill in the missing details, adults and children can explore and interact, creating a conversation.”—School Library Journal
“Invites children to observe nature for themselves as a variety of creatures busily create their homes. . . . Bajaj’s text is simple, specific, and active, reflecting the hard work of each type of creature to stay alive. . . . Mulazzani’s mixed-media illustrations use soft colors and have a generally cozy feel, yet their clarity and precision allow viewers to spot even the smallest insects on the pages. Children can follow their favorite animal throughout and may come away with the (possibly) new idea that the animals they see outside must work to provide homes for their families, too.”—Horn Book
“Seemingly simple but quietly effective . . . works equally well as a source for early elementary curriculum support and as a calming bedtime story. . . . The accessible language effortlessly introduces new vocabulary and the drawings provide lots of little details while their muted tones evoke feelings of safety and serenity. This is a lovely introduction to how animals survive outdoors, and a good way to encourage conversation, whether comparing and contrasting types of forest dwellings during story hour, or chatting about how critters manage to stay warm and dry as they snuggle down to sleep.”—Booklist
Varsha Bajaj (varshabajaj.com) is the author of the middle-grade novels Count Me In (a Global Read Aloud Selection) and Abby Spencer Goes to Bollywood (shortlisted for the Cybils Award and included on the Spirit of Texas Reading Program). She also wrote the picture books The Home Builders and This Is Our Baby, Born Today (a Bank Street Best Book). She grew up in Mumbai, India, and when she came to the United States to obtain her master’s degree, her adjustment to the country was aided by her awareness of the culture through books. She lives in Houston, Texas.
View titles by Varsha Bajaj
This vibrantly illustrated picture book celebrates a variety of woodland creatures as they make their homes and prepare for their young.
Welcome to a serene woodland where lots of expectant animal parents are in their "nesting" phase--that is, busy preparing safe, cozy homes for their growing families. As they dig, tunnel, gnaw, and gather, they create dens, burrows, lodges, and, of course, nests. Soon the woods are full of new little ones peeping, crawling, romping, and snuggling--and with artwork so gorgeous that it feels like an invitation into the scenery it's depicting, readers will be eager to join them in their beautiful home.
Reviews
“What will young readers encounter in the peaceful landscape of this picture book? Lush, full-bleed double-page spreads . . . simple poetic text. . . . Whether children are listening in a group or as individuals at home, they will enjoy this book.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Explores how an array of woodland animals build safe habitats for their babies. . . . Mulazzani uses acrylic colored pencils and collage on paper to create expansive illustrations with pink sky tones, giving readers a sense of calm. Soft dark blue night skies, sparkling with stars, and sleeping animals complete this vision of serenity. . . . Poetic narrative, interpreted artistically by the illustrator. Simple elegant rhyming words lead readers to learn the names for each animal baby . . . encourage[s] little ones to immerse themselves in the lush experience. By using the pictures to fill in the missing details, adults and children can explore and interact, creating a conversation.”—School Library Journal
“Invites children to observe nature for themselves as a variety of creatures busily create their homes. . . . Bajaj’s text is simple, specific, and active, reflecting the hard work of each type of creature to stay alive. . . . Mulazzani’s mixed-media illustrations use soft colors and have a generally cozy feel, yet their clarity and precision allow viewers to spot even the smallest insects on the pages. Children can follow their favorite animal throughout and may come away with the (possibly) new idea that the animals they see outside must work to provide homes for their families, too.”—Horn Book
“Seemingly simple but quietly effective . . . works equally well as a source for early elementary curriculum support and as a calming bedtime story. . . . The accessible language effortlessly introduces new vocabulary and the drawings provide lots of little details while their muted tones evoke feelings of safety and serenity. This is a lovely introduction to how animals survive outdoors, and a good way to encourage conversation, whether comparing and contrasting types of forest dwellings during story hour, or chatting about how critters manage to stay warm and dry as they snuggle down to sleep.”—Booklist
Author
Varsha Bajaj (varshabajaj.com) is the author of the middle-grade novels Count Me In (a Global Read Aloud Selection) and Abby Spencer Goes to Bollywood (shortlisted for the Cybils Award and included on the Spirit of Texas Reading Program). She also wrote the picture books The Home Builders and This Is Our Baby, Born Today (a Bank Street Best Book). She grew up in Mumbai, India, and when she came to the United States to obtain her master’s degree, her adjustment to the country was aided by her awareness of the culture through books. She lives in Houston, Texas.
View titles by Varsha Bajaj
