The Fog

A clever and whimsical environmental fable about a bird who is a human-watcher from a dynamic author-illustrator duo.

Warble is a small yellow warbler who lives on the beautiful island of Icyland, where he pursues his hobby of human watching. But on a warm day, a deep fog rolls in and obscures his view. The rest of the birds don’t seem to notice the fog or the other changes Warble observes on the island. The more the fog is ignored, the more it spreads. When a Red-hooded Spectacled Female (Juvenile) appears, Warble discovers that he’s not the only one who notices the fog. Will they be able to find others who can see it too? And is the fog here to stay? Kyo Maclear’s witty story, brought to life with the delicate, misty artwork of Kenard Pak, is a poignant yet humorous reminder of the importance of environmental awareness.

"[S]weet and compelling...Pak’s watercolour and pencil illustrations are playfully reminiscent of Nova Scotian painter Alex Colville." Globe and Mail

"Maclear (The Liszts) and Pak (When the World Is Dreaming) deliver readers to an icy island overtaken by a persistent fog in this haunting but hopeful allegory." Publishers Weekly

"This thoughtful selection, full of amusing details, has much to offer readers and listeners who are thinking about the importance of the environment and the need to come together to care for it." School Library Journal

KYO MACLEAR is a novelist, essayist and children’s author. She was born in London, England, and moved to Toronto at the age of four. Kyo holds an Honors B.A. in Fine Art and Art History and an M.A. in Cultural Studies from the University of Toronto, and is currently a doctoral student at York University, where she holds a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship. She is the author of two acclaimed novels for adults, The Letter Opener and Stray Love, and numerous beloved books for children, including Julia, Child and The Good Little Book. Kyo lives in Toronto where she shares a home with two sons, two cats, a musician and a truckload of books.

Kenard Pak is an illustrator originally from Maryland. Kenard studied at Syracuse University and eventually moved west to California Institute of the Arts. He's worked as an artist on many films with Dreamworks, Walt Disney Feature Animation, and Laika. His picture books include HAVE YOU HEARD THE NESTING BIRD? and GOODBYE SUMMER, HELLO AUTUMN. Kenard Pak lives and works in San Francisco.