Early Reader Review: Beneath the Trees: First Spring by Dav

Source: From Netgalley and Magnetic Press in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Beneath the Trees: First Spring by Dav 
Series: Sous les arbres #4
Publisher: Magnetic Press
Publication Date: August 2, 2022

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:


Synopsis: 

Winter has thawed and Spring has sprung! The forest is turning green again and no one is more excited to experience it than Mr Warthog and his brand new baby boy who gets to experience the great big outdoors for the very first time!

This new series paints a tender and colorful portrait of everyday Life, showing that behind every flaw or weakness can lie charm and strength. Readers will recognize their own neighbors, friends, and family members in the endearing animal characters within this forest community. In this second volume, a self-assured fox tries to stay warm with his ridiculously log scarf, but winds up having to deal with the embarrassment of getting caught up in everything... especially embarrassing in front of the pretty lady fox he's trying to impress! A warm-hearted and simple romance tale suitable for all ages. The stories in this four-book series take place in the same forest over the course of four seasons.

Each can be read independently, exploring the complexity and richness of relationships with family, friends, and loved ones. As both writer and illustrator, the author doesn't rely on text to convey emotions, oscillating between a clever dose of dialogue and wordless passages to makes these stories accessible to young readers starting as young as 5 years old. Presenting a graphic universe somewhere between Michel Plessix's adaptations of THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS and the cartoons of Walt Disney (in particular those created by Don Bluth, such as THE RESCUERS and ROBIN HOOD), Dav gently conveys each season through a changing palette of colors and rounded designs.

Review: 

The synopsis for this one says a lot...and pretty much sums up the feelings that Dav invokes with his colors and lack of text. What this description fails to tell us, is that this book takes an interesting turn.

Mr. Warthog is taking his baby boy out to pick some flower for mom. Sadly, baby has allergies and immediately dislikes the outdoors becuase he is sneezy and uncomfortable. You soon pick up that mom is not around through the expressions and actions of Mr.Warthog, and his need to get her some flowers. It is clear that he is struggling as a single parent and not knowing what to do all the time. He is just trying his best.

The book does not lead with this information, obviously it doesn't have to, but with a book about spring, I was looking for rebirth, beauty, and the outdoors being an oasis after the winter months. It wasn't, the poor baby has allergies and the father doesn't do anything to help him, or doesnt know that he should (I'm unsure which), and the flowers are for a mother that has passed away.

I think that this book is beautiful and simplistic, however it is very deep and emotional, and it caught me by surprise. I have not read the others in the series so I am not sure where this book falls in comparison, but it was lovely in its own way. 

Albeit not what I expected, this was a nice book, a very easy read. However if you plan to pick this up as a parent/young reader book, there might be some explanation that needs to happen because the book does not do that part.