Home of the Wild

A young boy lives and breathes the wild; it’s his love. One day, when he sees a bundle lying in a pile of leaves, he discovers a baby fawn who is too weak to survive on her own. He brings her inside and nurses sweet Alba until she’s strong enough to fend for herself. When that day comes, his mother has him return her to the place she came from. His heart aches for her almost instantaneously. As he sits under a tree, he notices storm clouds approaching and sets off in search of her. In the wilderness, he loses his way, and it’s Alba who leads him home.

Any child aged five to nine who adores nature and the amazing creatures that survive in it will be drawn to this story. It’s beautifully written, with a plethora of imagery, similes, and personification. The fawn’s legs are “as thin as rose stems” and “her dark eyes glitter like the dancing streams.” There’s an eloquence and softness to the flow of the words that add a calm, welcoming aura, and the illustrations, with their earthy watercolor hues and uninhibited display of emotions, invite children to feel along with the boy and his precious fawn.