An urban-dwelling, Asian child looks out a high window at a large, forested park. “This is my forest.” The child, who clearly loves making art, has also created a “forest” of nature-inspired drawings. “Well, actually … this is my forest.” These two opening page spreads lead into a series of observational statements, often expressing opposites, as the child explores and describes the park and creates artwork inspired by these explorations. “My forest,” the child notes, is tall (trees) and short (ants), wide and narrow (different sized tree trunks), heavy and light (large rocks and small stones), crispy (fall leaves) and soft (moss and lichens), and so on. The fairly simple declarative statementshave terrific, sometimes surprising descriptions (“tiptoe gray … patient white … carefree red”) in a story set against equally vivid mixed-media illustrations. (Ages 4–8)

A boy explores his urban forest, then interprets it through his art. With art supplies in tow, a young boy meanders through the forest near his home. A keen observer, the boy sees his forest as both ÒfluffyÓ and Òprickly,Ó and as both ÒcrispyÓ and Òsoft.Ó ItÕs also Òscattered and soggy, and spotted and foggy.Ó His forest is made up of many colors Ñ but he decides that Òmostly itÕs green.Ó Each aspect of the forest inspires a different kind of art: charcoal rubbing, rock art, photography, sponge painting, snow sculpture, cut-paper collage. With every new day in the forest, thereÕs a new way to capture it! Such a delightful nature companion is sure to awaken the artist in every child.