Expedition Backyard is an engaging and whimsically illustrated story for the youngest readers (~4-8 years)about the nature adventures to be found in our own backyards, written and illustrated by Roesemary Mosco and Binglin Hu. Due out 21st June 2022 from Random House on their Children's imprint, it's 128 pages and will be available in hardcover library binding and ebook formats.
This is such a sweet and engaging story about two friends, an anthropomorphic mole and vole who go out with their nature journal to see what they can find and learn about in their own backyards. It's written in panel style in a graphic novel format with colorful pen & ink drawings in an appealingly playful style. Although there are no photographs and the story is told with simple drawings, the characters, animals, plants and backgrounds are clear and detailed enough to be easily recognizable. They're full of small details like insects and vole's little sun hat which are cute and lightly humorous and will appeal to all ages.
Mole and Vole are likeable, honest, and curious to learn about the nature around them. Through their adventures they show readers how interesting and fun it is to learn and document their own natural environment wherever they live. The authors have also included advice from the two friends about helping the environment in the form of protecting birds, caring for nature, keeping pet cats safe from dangers in their neighborhoods (and nature safe from our pets), composting, joining a community garden and more.
Five stars. This would make a superlative public or school library selection or for the home library, activity groups, reading circles and similar. I love the graphic novel format and it's a good example of stories which are ideally suited to the format.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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