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INTERMEDIATE FICTION
Fong, Debbie

The Faraway Forest: Wally’s Route

88 pp. | Chronicle | September, 2025 | Trade ISBN 9781797230412 $12.99
(2) 4-6 The Faraway Forest series. Illustrated by Debbie Fong. In this enchanting graphic-novel series starter, Fong (Next Stop, rev. 1/24) introduces the Faraway Forest and its animal inhabitants. Four interconnected chapters follow raccoon Wally, the forest's devoted mail carrier, and his best rabbit friend, Bo, as they faithfully deliver goodwill and neighborliness along with letters and packages. With all-speech-bubble dialogue geared toward newly independent readers, each genial chapter takes place over the course of one day and concerns small everyday dramas. Wally shares his folksy mottos (e.g., "To all you meet, be good and kind -- you never know what's on their mind"), and he embodies each one. Fong's cozy compositions are engagingly detailed and easy to read visually; the digital illustrations' rich colors and expressive characters are nestled in panels that vary in size and number per page. The overarching story concerns a grouchy stork, who takes his crankiness out on Wally and Bo. When Wally catches a cold after working all day in the rain, his neighbors encourage him to rest and show their gratitude with a card, soup, freshly picked vegetables, and cupcakes. Mr. Sternbill the stork joins them "to apologize for being rude" and to give Wally a special gift. A cutaway view of Wally and Bo's burrow is appended, as are pages with instructions to draw the two main characters. A delightful and special delivery.
Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2025

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