Up the Mountain Path

by Marianne Dubuc

Overview

Publisher's Weekly Best Books of 2018 in the picture book category
 
Outstanding Merit, Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year
 
A heartwarming and charming illustrated story that encourages a sense of exploration and adventure in young readers.

Mrs. Badger, an avid collector and naturalist, lives in a house at the foot of a small mountain. Every Sunday, she takes the path from her garden to the mountain’s peak, greeting her friends along the way and collecting treasures she finds on the trail.
 
One day she meets Lulu, a very small but curious cat, who wants to go with her to the top of the mountain. “What will we see up there?” Lulu asks. “The world,” Mrs. Badger replies. Despite being a little nervous, Lulu trusts Mrs. Badger and learns how to climb the trail and appreciate the natural world along the way. And when Mrs. Badger gets too weak to join Lulu for their weekly climb, Lulu continues to climb alone, eventually discovering new paths previously untaken and undiscovered.
 
Rich in wisdom and beautifully illustrated, Up the Mountain Path offers a profound story full of lessons about love, friendship, generosity, and following one's heart.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781616897239
Publisher:	Princeton Architectural Press
Publication date:	10/02/2018
Sales rank:	542,366
Product dimensions:	7.60(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Montreal-based Marianne Dubuc is an award-winning author and illustrator of more than ten picture books, including The Fish and the Cat and The Lion and the Bird.

Editorial Reviews

★ 08/27/2018
Canadian writer Dubuc (The Fish and the Cat ), whose gentle work champions friendship and explores life stages, suggests that kindness can become a tradition. In pencil, colored pencil, and watercolor-washed spreads, she introduces Mrs. Badger, who lives in a hobbitlike dwelling and climbs Sugarloaf Peak every Sunday, helping overturned turtles and speaking with acquaintances along the way. On the trail one day, Mrs. Badger senses that she’s being watched. “There’s enough for both of us, if you’re hungry,” she says, opening her spotted bindle and addressing the air in front of her. Readers see who’s lurking: a young, nervous kitten named Lulu. Lulu joins Mrs. Badger on her Sunday walks, learning about wild plants and making friends. And when Mrs. Badger is too frail to make the trips anymore, Lulu takes over, performing the same kinds of small favors that Mrs. Badger did before her, and inviting a new young friend to trek alongside. Lulu’s faithfulness and loving-kindness implicitly honors Mrs. Badger’s memory. Hand-lettered text adds homey comfort, and so do small side notes (“little, bare red head” reads a description of a turkey vulture named Will). It is, in essence, a guidebook to amity and exploration. Ages 3–7. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

"This amiable, understated picture book has its own quiet charm."
-Booklist

Outstanding Merit, Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year


"A guidebook to amity and exploration." — Publisher's Weekly, Best Books of 2018 in the picture book category

"A quiet, lovely story for the intergenerational shelf.""
- Kirkus Reviews


"Dubuc, whose gentle work champions friendship and explores life stages, suggests that kindness can become a tradition."
- Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"Mindfulness can be a difficult concept to understand, and this book is thoughtfully crafted to show quiet contemplation and serenity in action. A perfect choice for budding naturalists as well."
- School Library Journal

"A badger's weekly hike is enlivened by her new companion, a kitty who's nervous about going along. It's a cozy paean to the joys of nature and friendship." - People

From the Publisher

★ 10/01/2018
PreS-Gr 2—Mrs. Badger, a badger of advanced years, climbs to a mountain peak every Sunday. On her walk, she greets her forest friends, giving gifts, and offering a helping hand. One day she meets a cat named, Lulu. She invites Lulu to walk to the mountain peak with her. Lulu isn't sure she can make the climb. After they craft the perfect walking stick, they begin to walk together. Lulu asks a lot of questions, and Mrs. Badger teaches her to quietly listen and observe the world around her. From then on, Mrs. Badger and Lulu climb the mountain together. As time passes, it is Lulu who needs to lend Mrs. Badger a steadying hand over the steep spots. Eventually, Lulu must climb to the peak without Mrs. Badger. Softly rendered pencil, colored pencil, and watercolor illustrations of forest scenes capture the grandness of nature, from a tiny hedgehog family to sweeping mountain vistas. Vignettes of the rosy-cheeked Mrs. Badger and her friends in conversation break up the forest illustrations and add interest. The text is in a small font, unassuming and, full of gentle wisdom from Mrs. Badger. VERDICT Mindfulness can be a difficult concept to understand, and this book is thoughtfully crafted to show quiet contemplation and serenity in action. A perfect choice for budding naturalists as well.—Mindy Hiatt, Salt Lake County Library Services

School Library Journal

2018-07-24

In this Canadian import translated from French, after many hikes together, an aging badger is no longer able to make it up the mountain; and so her cat mentee, Lulu, becomes the mentor, helping another up the hill in this cyclical story of intergenerational relationships.

Mrs. Badger is an avid hiker, making the trek to Sugarloaf Peak every Sunday, always ready with a kind word or gesture. It's with this attitude of generosity that she befriends Lulu, a young cat who wishes to reach the mountaintop. Together they hike, and over many weeks, Lulu's confidence and knowledge grow under the gentle guidance of Mrs. Badger. Eventually, it's Lulu who's helping Mrs. Badger along the way, until one day the rosy-cheeked mustelid can no longer make the sojourn. With the passage of time, the mountain slowly becomes Lulu's alone, until one day she encounters a rabbit in much the same way Mrs. Badger met her. The two begin the hike together, continuing the same journey of friendship. Simple natural settings and character designs done in an earthy, primary palette are appealing. The artist uses simple washes with colored pencils to accent small details and patterning, and the compositions flow well, echoing the story of Lulu's journey with both intimate scenes and vast environments. Dubuc adheres to the story's pattern both in text and art, which makes for a pleasant and predictable journey.

A quiet, lovely story for the intergenerational shelf. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews