Wild Bog Tea

Gr 1-3-Through their mutual interest in a wild Canadian bog, a boy and his grandfather have built a loving relationship with one another. Now an adult, the narrator looks back on their many walks, when the two marked the changes in the wildlife and nature of the bog, each time bringing back sprigs of Labrador to make "wild bog tea." Eventually, when the young man returns from the city, he must go alone to visit the bog. "My grandfather left us that winter. But I have not forgotten him. When I go walking in the baby bog, I feel him beside me. He is there in the scent of sweet gale-He is there in the hummocks of bright red moss-He is there in the taste of wild bog tea." This quiet reminiscence is beautifully complemented by realistic, soft, sepialike illustrations created with pastels and colored pencils on a background of paper collage. Each page is framed with a narrow, white border, the whole conveying the impression of old photos, which perfectly fits the mood. A two-page author's note describes the wilderness wetland that is the setting for the story, touching on its function in keeping the environment healthy by helping to prevent global warming. An interesting look at a unique habitat as well as a sensitive intergenerational tale.

Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Ages 5-8. In language sweet and clear as birdcall, a boy recounts his relationship with his grandfather connected to a wild place they loved. From marsh to bog and then to encroaching forest, the boy describes flora and fauna through the prism of memories: wild plum, moss, cranes and eagles, eating wild cranberries with sugar cubes and bringing Labrador tea home to make the brew of the title. The illustrations use very few colors--brown, black, blue, and white on a ground that looks like torn-edged craft paper--so the effect is of a burnished bronze-gold recollection. The figures, beautifully and realistically detailed, are close to the picture plane or float off to let a bird or plant take center stage. The whole is evocative and lovely. GraceAnne DeCandido
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