Secrets of the Forest: 15 Bedtime Stories Inspired by Nature

by Alicia Klepeis, Kristen Adam (Illustrator), Neon Squid

Overview

A beautifully illustrated collection of 5 minute bedtime stories about the wildlife found in woods around the world. The perfect gift for children and grandchildren!

Every forest contains a thousand secrets… In this charming anthology of stories by Alicia Klepeis readers will be guided into forests to meet the amazing animals that live there. In one story a squirrel hunts for an elusive acorn it buried earlier in the year, while another looks at an Alaskan wood frog as it freezes itself alive to survive a harsh winter. Children will be thrilled by the tale of a reindeer that gets separated from its herd in the snowy woods of Scandinavia, and marvel at a chameleon changing colour in the forests of Madagascar.

Other stories feature elephants, wild cats, pangolins, badgers, foxes, monarch butterflies, otters, walking fish, a tree that can live for thousands of years, and even forest-dwelling penguins! All of these creatures and their habitats are brought to life with impressive skill by illustrator Kristen Adam.

Each story in Secrets of the Forest is based on the real biology and behavior of these amazing wild animals, and at the end of each tale readers will find out more about the science that inspired the story. So as they drift off to sleep, they will know a little bit more about the world around them.

The cover features a timeless design with gold foil and a cloth texture, making this book the perfect gift.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684493111
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	10/03/2023
Series:	Nature Bedtime Stories
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	59,121
Product dimensions:	10.10(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.80(d)
Lexile:	800L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Alicia Klepeis loves to research fun and out-of-the-ordinary topics that bring the world to young readers—from amazing animals to extreme environments. Alicia began her career at the National Geographic Society. She is the author of more than 200 children’s books, including Go Wild! Frogs; Gutsy Girls Go For Science: Astronauts; Polar Bears & Penguins: A Pretty Cool Introduction to the Arctic and Antarctic; and Secrets of the Forest: 15 Bedtime Stories Inspired By Nature. A former middle school teacher, Alicia loves doing school visits. She lives with her family in upstate New York.

Kristen Adam is based in the beautiful city of San Francisco, but grew up a tiny explorer of the wild redwood forests of northern California. Her love of getting lost in the fantasies of her doodles led her to study illustration at California College of the Arts, where she discovered her passion for illustrating children’s books. As a freelance illustrator, Kristen’s work is a whimsical mix of digital media and traditional textures. A few of her favorite projects include illustrating the patterns on her nephews’ favorite Harry Potter, Star Wars Mandalorian, and Lego sheet sets. She’s inspired most by spending time in nature and finding magic in the seemingly ordinary. When she's not wandering the woods identifying wildflowers, she loves stargazing, reading sci-fi/fantasy novels, practicing archery, and snuggling her dog Charlie.

Editorial Reviews

"Very approachable. . .sure to be revisited by readers often. Quality narrative and a treasure trove of details and images." —Kirkus

"This delightful collection of short stories. . .weaves together both enchantment and enlightenment. Adam's sweet, soft illustrations are wonderful additions to Klepeis’ carefully crafted text, perfectly blending realistic details with huggable cuteness. Young listeners and readers will happily relax into these stories, which turn the act of sleep into an adventure." —Booklist

CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE WEEK – "This is a stunningly crafted tome with luscious artwork and delightful bite-sized bedtime stories that should be treasured by families and handed down through generations to come. It’s a great purchase for any science and nature-loving primary school child." —The Independent

From the Publisher

2023-10-07
A collection of brief stories featuring animals and plants living in forests around the world.

While many of the creatures included in this book might be familiar to readers—reindeer, elephants, penguins—the detailed yet digestible stories of each include fascinating facts and helpful blurbs that provide “the science behind the story.” In addition to these animals common to children’s books, Klepeis also includes the lesser-known margay, wood frog, and kauri tree. Some of the more remarkable facts include the wood frog’s incredible cold-weather survival skills such as freezing itself nearly solid. There’s also the baobab tree’s impressive storage skills—some 26,000 gallons of water! Because each story is only a few pages long, with balanced text and image, it’s very approachable for young readers who might only read one section at a time. Adam’s detailed illustrations work well with the text and provide plenty for readers to observe. One impressive image features the stunning aurora borealis casting its glow on the snowy forest. Klepeis manages to discuss both climate change and deforestation with a subtle hand while still clearly showing humans’ effects on animals and their fragile habitats. This book is full of information and illustrations that will appeal to readers of all ages and is sure to be revisited by readers often.

Quality narrative and a treasure trove of details and images. (glossary, index) (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews