WHAT FOREST KNOWS

An extended poetic appreciation for what goes on in a forest through the seasons.

“Forest knows waiting,…Forest knows waking,…Forest knows growing,…[and] Forest knows gathering in.” This lyrical tribute makes note of the changing textures, colors, animals and activities in this beautiful, mysterious world. From buds and birds to moles and centipedes, there is much to see at any time of the year. Hall's painterly Photoshop illustrations, some created over actual photographs, match the poem's mood. Often hazy, just beyond the edge of realistic, they give the impression that there’s still more to be seen. And there is. Parts of an exploring dog appear in each image—coming into the picture or just leaving, hidden behind a tree or partially obscured by a deer's leg. Only toward the end is the whole (and wholly enthusiastic) dog revealed, as well as the child who accompanies it through the forest. Then a double-page spread closes in on the dog’s face, which totally expresses its joy at exploring this world of interesting smells. “Forest knows everything belongs. / YOU, too.” The final page turn invites readers to appreciate this walk through a forest year as much as the poet does.

Lyon’s ability to see the connections among things and her affection for the natural world, amply demonstrated in earlier works, shine through this latest offering.