HOW THE FOREST FEELS

A grandpa and a grandchild explore the many textures found outdoors.

The short rhyming verses, written from the grandfather’s perspective, largely stick to mentions of what the two see and feel on their autumn walk. Meanwhile, Hokkanen’s illustrations tell a larger tale about a child who’s sullen at being pulled away from a video game but gradually warms up to the wonders of nature exploration and Grandfather’s irrepressible enthusiasm and hijinks. Thistle weeds are “fuzzy and spiked”; long-stemmed reeds are “feathered and fluffy.” The two also encounter oozy mud, wet stones in the creek, spongy moss, gnarled roots, and sticky frog toes. When the youngster trips and falls over a log and “day fades to night,” the textures turn toward ones that reflect the tender multigenerational relationship: Grandfather’s woolen cap, his “wrinkly and warm” hand, and his “scratchy and dry” chin as he tucks his little one into bed. Backmatter provides two activity ideas, a basic summary of the five senses (“You taste only with your tongue”), and a safety note. The bright fall colors will draw listeners in, but it’s the grandparent-grandchild bond that’s the true star. This grandpa allows the child time to dilly-dally, observe, and just be out in nature. The two share the same light skin and brown hair.

A book that will both get kids outside and give them the words to describe what they find.