The Quiet Forest by Charlotte Offsay Illustrated by Abi Cushman
On the front endpapers, a brown mouse wearing a purple backpack hides behind a rock in the peaceful woods. The stillness is short-lived, for the mouse swings on a branch and lands on top of a rabbit’s pancakes snatching breakfast. The mischievous mouse’s actions set off a comical chain of events involving a bothered beaver, a drenched deer, a miserable moose, and lastly, a bellowing bear and her cub. I love how Offsay includes alliterative adjectives repeatedly to describe the animals which not only exposes kids to rich vocabulary but also invites them to join in the reading. In addition, onomatopoeia is cleverly used to convey how the forest is no longer quiet. Kids won’t be either because laughter will fill the air as each page is turned. I also appreciate Offsay’s use of dashes and ellipses to expose young children to these literary devices.
Cushman’s energetic artwork brings Offsay’s peppy text to life. Her action-packed illustrations show the transition from calm to clamorous. At the edge of each page spread, Cushman provides a clue about the next animal joining the mayhem. Readers also need to pay close attention to the mouse who displays innovation and resourcefulness throughout the story. The ending tugged at my heart teaching kids valuable lessons about empathy, collaboration, and friendship. And the back endpapers confirm that the forest has changed for the better. While there is nothing wrong with quiet, I think we can all agree that a little noise is good for the soul.
A special thanks to illustrator Abi Cushman for sharing a copy. The Quiet Forest celebrates its book birthday tomorrow on March 12, 2024.
#IMWAYR is dedicated to dear Etta, my original book beagle. Blessed that Etta is part of my story.
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