From Powells.com
Staff Pick
Winfield fans will delight in another gorgeous book filled with whimsy. The Littlest Family's Big Day hearkens picture books of another era with its sweet and simple woodland story of a "little" bear family — and fox baby — wandering through the neighborhood of their new home. Feast your eyes on the rich gouache illustrations with the tiniest of details — even adults will appreciate the wit of a "snailman"! Recommended By Kate L., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Wonderful Things You Will Be, meet Emily Winfield Martin’s little forest family and the adventures they have on one very big day.
Who is only under 5 inches tall and has just moved to the woods? The cutest and littlest bear family you have ever seen–and their adopted teeny tiny fox tot! What happens when they venture out to explore their new world…?
With an easy-to-read story and the careful brushstrokes of Emily Winfield Martin’s illustrations, The Littlest Family’s Big Day captures the mystery and magic of the woods. Inspired by classic children’s books such as The Littlest Fur Family and Dream Animals, this is a radiant treasure to be cherished for generations.
Review
"A family of tiny bears has settled into its new tree trunk home and now it’s time to explore the forest neighborhood—or as Martin (The Wonderful Things You Will Be) writes “set out on a wander.” They find welcoming animal and elf families butterfly fairies and a river “deep and wild” that they skillfully navigate on skiffs made from leaves. Momentarily lost after a rainstorm the bears are flown home by a huge benevolent owl (“But when you are Lost it is the best time to Found” Martin opines) and feted with a forest block party on a foldout spread. Martin’s fans know what they like: pretty decorative artwork with touches of magic and characters who are unfailingly serene whether they’re confronted by nature’s grandeur or an animal (the owl) that could easily eat them. But even skeptics will enjoy the cozy details of the bears’ world including a mail carrier who’s an actual snail and an elf child so engrossed in a book that he doesn’t even look up as he waves good bye. Ages 3–7. Agent: Brenda Bowen Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (Oct.) This review has been corrected. A previous version listed the incorrect title." Publishers Weekly Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved."
About the Author
Emily Winfield Martin sketches, paints, and stitches to create imaginary worlds and characters. She is the author/illustrator of The Black Apple’s Paper Doll Primer. Her store, The Black Apple, has been featured in national publications and on TV shows, including the New York Times and The Martha Stewart Show. Emily lives among the giant fir trees of Portland, Oregon, with her fellow adventurer, Josiah, and their cat Miette.