Children of the Forest — Matt Myers

Two siblings set off for adventure in the untamed wilds... of their own backyard.

Pairing a serious text with charming illustrations that show the mundane truth of the kids' adventurous roaming, Children of the Forest is an ode to imaginative play and the wild fun you can have while staying close to home.

We are wild.
We are children of the forest.
We were raised by wolves.

Grabbing a bow and quiver, a kid sets off, toddler sister in tow, to live off the land-- in the expanses of their own backyard. First, they sneak past their snoozing father to pilfer supplies from the refrigerator, but only what they need. After that, they're utterly on their own.

Out in these uncharted spaces they encounter many dangers, from a ferocious mountain lion (a house cat) to a hulking canine beast (their dog). When the sun dips low, they make a camp complete with defenses to ward off predators.

Matt Myers's cool self-serious text is juxtaposed with whimsical art depicting the playful antics of backyard life, making for a tale full of delight for imaginative children.