A picture book about a timid squirrel who makes a brave journey to help a relative who is ill.
Evergreen the squirrel is afraid of many things: thunder, hawks, and the dark paths of Buckthorn Forest. But when her mother tasks Evergreen with delivering soup to her sick Granny Oak, the little squirrel must face her fears and make the journey.
Along the way, Evergreen is met by other forest dwellers—some want to help her, but some want her mother’s delicious soup!
Readers will delight in this classic tale of bravery and love from Caldecott Medalist and New York Times bestselling creator Matthew Cordell.
Full-color illustrations were created in pen and ink with watercolor and gouache.
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School Library Journal
K-Gr 2—There is something familiar about Cordell's book, and not just the style of art—sketchy line work, with warm earth tones washed over them—but the modern play with story and design broken up into digestible, short chapters, each reading like an Aesop-vignette where Evergreen, the squirrel we follow through Buckthorn Forrest, faces a scary obstacle she must overcome. With each chapter, Evergreen grows more confident, so that by the end, she is better able to predict and prepare for all possibilities. The interior pages start out looking like a chapter book, but the text is broken with exciting spreads, graphic novel—style layouts, and playfully illustrated text. These design decisions make this book feel new and familiar—a classic readers will be talking about in the future. VERDICT Cordell never disappoints and never fails to surprise readers with his evergreen ability to take a story and make it feel fresh and timeless in one go.—Jessica Schriver