" ... he remembered his mother
and their summer days together.
She showed him how to cross the creek,
how to blend in with the underbrush,
and how to find a snack when hunger
gnawed his belly."
Although Mungo and his mother are finished dinner, Mungo is still hungry. His mind calls up images of the red berries he so loves. He thinks he can set out to find them on his own, even in the cold and darkness of November. His mother agrees. It is cold, and Mungo has never gone foraging on his own. There are sounds that worry him as he makes his way through the forest.
He splashes through cold water, climbs a nearby hill, and quickly crosses the road. Hearing a hooting owl, he tucks himself into an oak tree's hollow. He is scared and wonders about turning back; instead, he remembers all his mother taught him in the summer about being brave. On he goes, smelling all the smells with his nose pointed toward the berry bush he is looking for. The berries make his journey worth every step. As night falls and the cold swirls around him, Mungo makes a joyous journey through the newly-falling snow home. Mama is proudly waiting at their den door. Mungo is just in time to watch the night sky fill with stars from the warm comfort of the family den.
Using pencil and charcoal for the linework and art colored using Procreate and Photoshop, Julie Benbassatt's illustrations are filled with warmth and emotion as Mungo travels the forest landscape in search of his treasured berries. Mungo's yellow eyes and orange fur keep him front of mind for young readers as he makes his dark and somewhat scary search.
Helicopter parents, take heed. Our kids are capable of independence and bravery when given the chance to show us.
No comments:
Post a Comment