Into the Wilderness

"Every summer, we go into the wilderness," begins this luminous picture book about a child whose family backpacking trips become both physical milestones and emotional anchors. Vignettes show the youth as a baby riding in a carrier, then walking ever more confidently, carrying increasing amounts of gear, and finally tackling navigation. But as the child at last climbs a rock solo, parents nearby, these epic adventures become part of a different kind of journey. Alone, the narrator contemplates the "left out feelings" awaiting them at school and wonders why everyday life can't feel more like time in the outdoors: "In the wilderness, I never feel uninvited," Iverson (Slow Down, Tumbleweed!) writes in musing text. Debut illustrator Zhang's digital paintings amplify this yearning while offering hope as cinematic wide-angle views depicted in glowing colors make the outdoors feel like a place where anything is possible. And it's clear that some of that outside magic clings to the child like trail dust--after returning home, "Sometimes I pull out the strength or the wonder. Sometimes the quiet" of the trips, as the landscapes that hold a young heart become part of how they hold themself. The family presents as East Asian. An author's note and contextualizing back matter conclude. Ages 3--7. Author's agent: Rachel Orr, Prospect Agency. Illustrator's agent: Jemiscoe Chambers-Black, Andrea Brown Literary. (Mar.)

Backpacking trips teach life lessons. On the face of it, this is a story about an East Asian--presenting family's yearly journeys into the mountains. They enjoy their time together and appreciate the flora, fauna, and landscapes. As their child grows, the little one proves capable of carrying a backpack and mastering map skills. But the deeper message concerns what can be learned in the wilderness: quiet, bravery, confidence, strength, how to carry both fear and wonder, and how to refuse to carry things that cause sadness, like loneliness. And when the world gets to be too much, the wilderness can do the carrying, sharing its strength. All of this is related in lyrical language that evokes nature and in relatable snippets of kid life. The lengthy backmatter offers an in-depth discussion of the termwilderness and notes that it differs from Indigenous people's conception of the topic. Iverson also considers wilderness protection and provides additional facts and ideas for being a good steward. Zhang's digital illustrations use perspective masterfully to trace the family's wanderings in the great outdoors, scratchy textures in the art bringing to mind sticks and pine needles. Facial expressions and body language are spot-on--younger children could tell a tale of their own just from the pictures. No matter your age, after reading this, you can't help but think that the world would be better if we all went out in the wilderness more. Break out the backpacks.(Picture book. 3-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.