The Littlest Family's Big Day

Martin, Emily Winfield

ISBN 10: 0375974318 ISBN 13: 9780375974311

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers, 2016

Synopsis

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Wonderful Things You Will Be, meet Emily Winfield Martin's little forest family and the adventures they have on one very big day.

Who is only under 5 inches tall and has just moved to the woods? The cutest and littlest bear family you have ever seen--and their adopted teeny tiny fox tot! What happens when they venture out to explore their new world...?
 
With an easy-to-read story and the careful brushstrokes of Emily Winfield Martin's illustrations, The Littlest Family's Big Day captures the mystery and magic of the woods. Inspired by classic children’s books such as The Littlest Fur Family and Dream Animals, this is a radiant treasure to be cherished for generations.

About this title

About the Author

Emily Winfield Martin is the New York Times bestselling author of The Wonderful Things You Will Be. She makes paintings, books and other things. When she was small, she spent every moment drawing, reading, dressing rabbits in fancy clothes, and having many peculiar daydreams. When she grew up, she began to illustrate those daydreams and she created a cottage industry called The Black Apple, which sells all manner of her art and etceteras.

She works in a tiny nook of a studio filled with old children's books, wind-up toys, and stacks of fabric. She lives in Portland, Or.

You can visit her at www.emilywinfieldmartin.com

From School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2—A bear family find a home in the woods and set off on a "wander" through their new environment. Following the wind, they come upon a fairy-filled landscape. Using leaves as boats, they "wander on the water." When rain disrupts their picnic, they shelter under a mushroom until an owl arrives to carry them home. The text is printed in cursive, and while the prose is spare, Martin's word choice is unusual and delicious. Among other alliterative examples is her description of the family's day as a "wander " in the "wind" and the "wild" and the "warm." Even her use of the word wander for an outing, so similar to wonder, connotes an intent for the characters to really see the world around them. Long brushstrokes depict towering trees and grasses in the lovely illustrations, executed in a muted palette using acrylic on wood and gouache. They provide surprises on almost every page for readers to see and discuss (including the bears' different shades of fur). When viewed up close, the bears appear normal size. But when seen among huge trees, enormous grasses, leaves as big as boats, and fish as big as whales, they are tiny indeed. The owl that comes to their rescue fills the page as they strain to look up at it. Their flight home opens onto a striking gatefold that reprises the many creatures the family has encountered. VERDICT A delightful choice for storytime and small group sharing.—Marianne Saccardi, Children's Literature Consultant, Cambridge, MA

Edition details

• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0375974318
• ISBN 13: 9780375974311
• Binding: Library Binding
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 36