Find Me: In the Forest

Find Me: In the Forest by Jess McGeachin (Lothian Books)  ISBN 978-0-7344-2384-9  RRP $29.99 (HB)

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

“This is the forest, the green blanket that wraps around our planet.”

In this beautiful non-fiction picture book, author and illustrator Jess McGeachin leads us through the six different forests of the world, where we meet the many and varied plants, animals and insects that inhabit them. Through both words and illustrations, we have close-up encounters with several of these interesting creatures and learn about their vital roles in the forest ecosystem.

As we wander from tropical rainforests to cloud forests and boreal forests, we look up at giant redwoods, look down upon winding rivers and through the tangles of twisted roots in a forest understory. All our senses are awakened with descriptions of bird calls, the smell of fire, the buzz of insects and the howl of wolves. Every page is filled with gorgeous, soft, water-coloured illustrations that evoke the mood and season of each setting. Right in the middle of the book is a beautiful fold-out page depicting a deciduous forest’s transition from the cold greys of winter to the soft yellows of autumn, the pretty blues and pinks of spring, and the bright greens of summer.

Short paragraphs of text are spread across each visually enticing page, making it both an easy and comfortable read for independent children. However, beginner readers and non-readers will gain just as much enjoyment and learning from this book because of the detailed, realistic and hugely attractive illustrations.

It is a book that I am sure children will want to come back to again and again. It would be enjoyed by younger children aged from around 3 years for the beautiful illustrations of animals, as well as by older children who have a thirst for information about the natural world.

This book is one of a series of books that McGeachin has created about nature. His other title includes Find Me: On the Coast, Lost, Deep, and High.