Each time we step into the woods, regardless if the trail is known and well-traveled or barely visible and new, we can never totally predict what we will encounter. We are never sure what may happen during those encounters. The wild is full of surprises.
It's this unknown that sends shivers of anticipation or unease through the minds and hearts of those who enter the forest. If you happen to be the latter kind of individual, with a bundle of other things you fear, going into the woods is the last thing you want to do. Author illustrator Matthew Cordell shows us bravery can come when we least expect it in his new title, Evergreen (A Feiwel and Friends Book, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group, February 7, 2023). This squirrel's trek represents the special turning point when bravery sets us free to enjoy the best kind of adventure our world has to offer.
PART ONE
Magic Soup
Deep in Buckthorn Forest, at the
northernmost edge of Burr Valley high in the
tallest red oak tree, behind the closed curtain of a
bedroom window, hid a squirrel named Evergreen.
As soon as Evergreen hears her Mama utter three familiar words, her timid heart sinks. Her mother has more faith in her abilities than she does. Mama wants her to take soup to a very sick Granny Oak who lives in the opposite corner of Buckthorn Forest. Evergreen has never been in the woods alone.
One of the things Evergreen fears more than anything else is thunderstorms. Every sound she hears in the forest gives her pause, but so far no thunderstorms. A sudden terrifying sound leads Evergreen to a white rabbit trapped between two heavy rocks. The rabbit is naturally panicked thinking about hawks. Swallowing her own panic, Evergreen and the bunny, Briar, move the stones.
How does Briar repay Evergreen? That wily rascal steals the soup, but before Briar can vanish a hawk swoops from the sky. Does the hawk get Briar? Does Evergreen get the soup back? (Now would be a great time to recall the Aesop fable, The Lion and the Mouse.)
With Ember airborne again, Evergreen grasps the soup-filled acorn and starts to continue her travels when a bone-chilling sound pierces the air. An elder and his great-grandson are in need of her assistance. As she has done several times today, Evergreen places the anguish of another ahead of her own. With this feat, she surprises herself again. As she makes her way toward Granny Oak's home, she repeatedly finds herself facing friends and foes. So far, she has not spilled a single drop of soup!
GRRROOOAAARRR!
What is a squirrel who is definitely scared of her own shadow supposed to do upon hearing a sound like that? After this day's adventure, there is only one thing for her to do. Granny Oak needs the soup now. Upon returning home, she has no sooner hung up her shawl, when she hears Mama utter those same three words. Evergreen answers her mother's request with much more confidence this time, but . . . Yikes! Is that sound what she thinks it is?
Told in six sections, author Matthew Cordell uses the four middle parts to introduce us to forest characters whose expected personality traits offer unforeseen results; an enemy can be a friend, a friend can be a thief and a granny can be downright startling. Narrative and dialogue are deftly woven together to accurately describe a particular place, create tension-filled moments and astonishing twists and fashion a cast of memorable characters. Another thing Matthew Cordell does with each of these parts is to demonstrate how courage replaces dread when a being's heart has been supported with and filled with love. Mama makes more than magical soup. Here is a passage.
The first two stones were easy to step across. And the next one, too. But the next
stone was a big hop away.
Hop! She made it! The next stone was an even bigger hop. HOP! SLIP!
When readers look at the right side, front, of the open jacket, there is no doubt that squirrel is afraid. Framed by forest fauna and a vine, we can see anxiety etched in every line of her body and in her wide-eyed look. What has her so frightened? The title text is varnished.
As we move our eyes over the spine to the back, left side, we see more framing with intricate woodland vines and leaves before we look carefully at the circular image of Evergreen and Mama. They are seated in their home, spooning steaming soup into their mouths. Their eyes are closed in contemplation. (It is on the front and back of the jacket that only the most careful of readers can see the clever addition Matthew Cordell adds to specific images throughout this book. Oh, how I loved this when I discovered it. Thank you, Matthew!)
Across the entire book case is a bird's-eye view of Buckthorn Forest. This map shows fourteen labeled places amid trees, fields, hills, a mountain, a pond and a stream. The compass rose is a centered acorn with branches separating each of the directions.
On the opening and closing endpapers is a soft, grass green shade. A large full-page image bordered in vine announces each part. The illustrations vary in size to complement the text and supply readers with a stronger sense of pacing. The artwork as a whole provides an intimate experience bursting with emotion. (There is one heart-stopping double-page visual with only a sound and another double-page picture that accompanies shocking text.)
Rendered
with a 005 Micron pen and painted with watercolors,
the illustrations invite readers to pause and notice the elements within each one. The fine lines create floral details in Evergreen and Mama's home, notable expressions on the characters' faces and their physical portraits, and in the depiction of Buckthorn Forest. Sometimes a scene is shown to us in a panoramic view and other times we are so close to the action, we are there.
One of my favorite illustrations of many is a single-page picture. It captures every small creature's fears as it capture's Evergreen's terror. The image is framed in a leafy vine. The background is a field edged with trees along the top. Coming from the top of the frame are two feet with hooked talons belonging to Ember. The one on the right is just the open talons. The one on the left is more of the foot and talons. These talons grasp Evergreen, barely holding on to the soup-filled acorn. Her mouth is open in a scream. This is the second illustration certain to induce gasps from readers, if not shouts of Evergreen!
When you finish reading Evergreen written and illustrated by Matthew Cordell, you will go back to the beginning and read it again. With every reading something new will present itself to you in either the text or the artwork. And as you read it, you will wonder how he selected the names for his characters and the points on his map of Buckthorn Forest. Trust me when I say, people will be reading this title for generations to come. Be sure to have at least one or more copies in your professional and personal collections.
To discover more about Matthew Cordell and his other work, please follow the link attached to his name to access his website or visit his Facebook and Instagram accounts. At the publisher's website, you can view interior pages.
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