Into the Forest — Anthony Browne

A shortcut through the forest to Grandma's house produces some eerie moments -- and some oddly familiar characters -- in a strikingly illustrated tale about facing fears.

One morning a young boy wakes up to find that Dad is gone. And in this affecting tale from acclaimed picture book artist Anthony Browne, nothing seems quite right after that. When Mom sends the boy to deliver a cake to Grandma, he decides to cut through the forest, a route he's been warned not to take. Soon he's off on a strange, dreamlike journey full of fairy-tale allusions -- a personification of a child's anxiety as reflected in the surreal illustrations of Anthony Browne. It's a haunting place where nothing is quite what it seems, until the boy -- and the reader -- are deeply relieved to arrive at a warm, welcoming homecoming.