Dear Wild Child

July 4, 2022
Loosely composed as an address from Wallace J. Nichols to daughter Wallace Grayce Nichols, this nostalgic picture book memorializes the family’s idyllic house among the redwoods, lost in a wildfire. Vividly depicted in Beckmeyer’s textured scenes of an unbounded childhood, recollections evoke a rustic, “hardwood and stone” abode, filled with “books, guitars, a piano, seashells, feathers, and animals./ And memories.” In one emblematic scene, a pale-skinned, blond-haired child appears multiple times: exploring among multicolored flora, jumping into a swimming hole, and carrying a bucket of plums. When “the wildest, most beautiful lightning storm” arrives, igniting a fire, the art echoes the text’s emphasis on beauty rather than loss, with a spread of an inky sky lit up with craggy lines. In the event’s aftermath, the affecting story’s tone remains openhearted, concluding with sentiments that encourage resilience and reflect on the nature of home. An author’s note discusses climate change. Ages 4–8.

August 15, 2022
A letter of loss leads to profound realizations. In this picture book inspired by real events, a father narrates the story of his daughter, a "wild child" born and raised in a newly constructed home in a redwood forest, an environment that played a large role in helping her become the person she is today. The letter describes joyful times--from exploring nature to hosting parties--before informing the wild child that the house was destroyed in a forest fire. But the father urges his child not to despair, because "Your house served its original purpose. / You are healthy and strong because of your home. It grew you.... // Your house might be gone, / but you will carry your home with you wherever you go." It's a touching sentiment that reminds readers of all ages that our lives are defined not by our material possessions but by the memories we make. The text is enhanced with illustrations that make use of crayon- and markerlike textures and suggest childhood drawings of happy memories. Caregivers may find this a helpful tool to remind young readers that our lives are more than just "stuff," and the complexity of the emotional impact of the fire will resonate with children who have also lost homes due to climate change and other disasters. The family is light-skinned; visitors to their home are racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Intricate and emotional. (author's note, photo) (Picture book. 6-10)

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