Forest Family

Deep in the forest, Sylvania lives in peaceful serenity with her husband, Bernardo the woodcutter, and daughters, Rosy and Daisy, when the lure of adventure leads Bernardo into a foreign war. Years later, when he finally returns, he is an unrecognizable stranger. Using the lore of generations of women, Sylvania and her daughters set out to heal him and recover the man they love.

Incorporating stories as disparate - and as connected - as the story of Ruth and Naomi, the Great Pan, and Sir Gawain and the Loathly Maid, Joan Bodger weaves a masterful and unique work, the culmination of her lifetime as a storyteller.

Joan Bodger juggled the roles of writer, storyteller, and Gestalt therapist. She grew up in a family that treasured books and storytelling. She studied storytelling at Columbia University in 1948 and co-founded the world-renowned Storytelling School of Toronto. She has published a childrens novel, Clever-Lazy (Tundra), as well as How the Heather Looks, a travelogue that explores the English sites found in childrens books (McClelland & Stewart). Joan Bodger passed away in 2003.

Mark Lang is a painter, illustrator, and graphic designer. His has created illustrations for The Boston Globe, The New York Times, The Village Voice, The Globe and Mail, and many others. The Forest Family is his first picture book.