DEAR WILD CHILD

A letter of loss leads to profound realizations.

In this picture book inspired by real events, a father narrates the story of his daughter, a “wild child” born and raised in a newly constructed home in a redwood forest, an environment that played a large role in helping her become the person she is today. The letter describes joyful times—from exploring nature to hosting parties—before informing the wild child that the house was destroyed in a forest fire. But the father urges his child not to despair, because “Your house served its original purpose. / You are healthy and strong because of your home. It grew you…. // Your house might be gone, / but you will carry your home with you wherever you go.” It’s a touching sentiment that reminds readers of all ages that our lives are defined not by our material possessions but by the memories we make. The text is enhanced with illustrations that make use of crayon- and markerlike textures and suggest childhood drawings of happy memories. Caregivers may find this a helpful tool to remind young readers that our lives are more than just “stuff,” and the complexity of the emotional impact of the fire will resonate with children who have also lost homes due to climate change and other disasters. The family is light-skinned; visitors to their home are racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Intricate and emotional.