This beautiful and moving picture book is inspired by a letter from a father to his daughter about wildfire, loss, and learning that we carry our homes inside us wherever we go.
In the shade of ancient redwood trees by a creek not far from the ocean, a father builds a house for his newborn daughter, where she grows up wild and strong in their coastal canyon home. When a wildfire takes back their beloved house, he writes his now-grown daughter a letter telling her it’s gone.
Inspired by the real letter the author wrote his daughter, this poignant story—written together by father and daughter—is a resilient declaration that a home is more than just wood and stone; it is made of love and can never be taken away.
You carry home with you wherever you go.
From authors Wallace J. Nichols and Wallace Grayce Nichols and illustrator Drew Beckmeyer, Dear Wild Child is "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. . . Intricate and emotional." (Kirkus)
Includes a note from the authors on climate change
Praise
"The art echoes the text’s emphasis on beauty rather than loss. . .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."Publishers Weekly
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"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. . .Intricate and emotional."Kirkus Reviews
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