Forest

Fisherman Finn and his dog, Skip, set off on an adventure through a lush, tropical rain forest. They are amazed by the life and energy of the experience until they suddenly come to an area where all the trees have been chopped down. They help the newly homeless animals find shelter in a protected part of the forest, and they vow to help further by reusing and recycling, doing more thoughtful shopping, and supporting ecological nonprofits. Kearney uses color quite effectively to support the book's themes, with vibrant jades of the rain forest joltingly giving way to bland taupe, treeless fields and hot-orange flames. The plot and characters, while adorably drawn, are thin, certainly; but that is only because the book is so bold and overt in its mission. Much in the way that Finn and Skip's first adventure, Fish (2020), is about the dangers of water pollution, Forest has a clear goal to alert children about the ecological issue of deforestation and its negative effects, and to encourage children's productive involvement in helping the world become a better place.

Kearney revisits ecological themes in this earnest follow-up to Fish. "Let our adventure begin!" declares white-bearded, pale-skinned fisherman Finn as he and dog Skip disembark their ship and venture toward an animal-populated shore. The rainforest landscape the two cycle toward is idyllic ("There is life wherever you look!" Finn shouts as the two sail over a waterfall)--until they stumble upon a barren clear-cut area. Offering to aid a young solo tapir and other animals displaced by deforestation, Finn travels forth only to discover the land aflame. Abruptly changing tone, the book takes on an instructional feel: two firefighters explain that trees are being cleared to make consumables, after which the land will be used for farming, but that everyone can help protect the rainforest in small ways (recycle, look for the FSC logo, support nonprofits). After successfully depositing his charges in a protected area, Finn heads home, enlightened. Kearney's patterned forest graphics and earthy color palette give the book a contemporary vibe that suits its overt eco-message. Ages 3--5. (Feb.)