THE GRIZZLED GRIST DOES NOT EXIST!

Signs say a Grizzled Grist hides in the woods. Should Ms. Whisk and her class be afraid?

Optimistically, they forge ahead on the Dismal Hills hiking trail anyway. Ms. Whisk takes notes as her students, except for Liam, boast of great outdoor skills, such as cooking, climbing, and taming wild beasts. Liam’s talent is hiding. The other students scoff, but Liam puts his stealth to good use; as he hides behind rocks, he notices a sign about the Grizzled Grist and observes other clues. But his warnings are ignored as the clueless and frazzled Ms. Whisk races from one wilderness crisis to another. Everyone remains unscathed and unfazed—until they meet a bear. Liam distracts the creature, but soon after, Ms. Whisk and the class come face to face with a toothy, hairy beast. They are doomed to be ingredients in the Grizzled Grist’s Cream of Children Soup unless Liam can save them. Detailed illustrations in soft textures and muted but eye-catching hues set against a white background create plenty of fun opportunities to find Liam and see what only he notices. Using a mix of rhyming couplets (with dialogue from Liam in speech bubbles) and longer stanzas as well as creative line breaks, MacIver creates a bouncy read-aloud that will tickle children and adults alike. Ms. Whisk is light-skinned, Liam is brown-skinned, and the class is diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Brave—and not so brave—hikers will giggle at this class’s brush with peril.