Children of the Forest

Two pale-skinned siblings confront outdoor life with unusual bravery in a sly backyard adventure. Invoking the vibe of classic children’s book protagonists, the narrator wears a green hoodie and totes a bow and a quiver full of arrows; the other, Sister, sports a red knit cap. Despite a solemn spread that shows the narrator gazing at the outdoors (“What will become of us?...All we know is that Mother Nature will take care of us”), the scheme is quickly revealed as make-believe, and very, very close to home. On second glance, the quiver might be an old oatmeal box; Sister stomps in mud puddles and chews on tent poles. Myers (Dino-Gro) makes the most of the contrast between the narrator’s dramatic voice-over and spreads that show what’s really happening as the children sneak into their house for sustenance (“We are silent, like the wind”), stand up to a puma (their cat), and wrestle a wild beast (the family’s St. Bernard). Pencil and watercolor illustrations offer high-energy encounters, while fantastical shrub-creatures that lurk in the background contribute to the fantasy feel. Myers writes with sharp wit, making exemplary use of the picture book format by employing tension between what readers hear and what they’re shown. Ages 2–5. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Apr.)