The Quiet Forest
by Charlotte Offsay
Illustrated by Abi Cushman
A Paula Wiseman Book
An Imprint of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
2024
40 pages
ISBN: 9781665926423
A mischievous mouse sets this story in motion in a cumulative tale about a not-so-quiet forest. The mouse rattles the rabbit which bothers the beaver who soaks the deer who bumps a giant moose which wakes the bear from her den.
The hero of the story is the bear cub who quiets his mama who then calms down. The forest gets a little more quiet but not too quiet. The animals “sing” in their lovely forest.
Beautiful illustrations by Abi Cushman capture each animal’s personality and feelings. The deer looks startled, the bear looks angry with her “serious side-eye,” and the moose looks miserable indeed.
Readers will love the interactions of the animals with each other and the fact that they are all friends in the forest. Parents can follow up with a few non-fiction (but fun) picture books on forest creatures mentioned in The Quiet Forest. Readers who live near forests can attest that forests are not usually quiet at all.
Recommended pre-K to grade 2. Ages 3 and up.
