If you were here

Gr 1--3--A brown-skinned child whose gender is not indicated walks out into the forest, thinking "I wish you were here" as they experience the natural world through all five senses. They run through a field where insects buzz and the scent of mushrooms and moss wafts by, then on to a group of green and brown pine trees and "whispering" pine needles, and finally to the ocean, where the taste of a salty ocean breeze and the smell of kelp complete the journey. Along the way, the child refers to an unknown "we" as they are wishing the "other" was with them enjoying the day--it is not specified who or what this might be. The book ends with "My very best place would be even better/ If you were here with me. Sometimes I think that you are." Lovely descriptive language is paired with detailed digitally drawn illustrations of trees, animals, and the ocean. Though the author leaves much up to the imagination, it is vague almost to the point of confusion for some children: is the child missing a family member? A pet? Despite this, the story will lead to discussions about loss, and how spending time in nature can be healing. VERDICT A gentle book dealing with grief, told through the lens of the natural world.--Sue Morgan

A child mourns while taking in the marvels of the forest and ocean. "I wish you were here," begins this tender story. "Together we'd smell the damp mushrooms and moss deep inside these woods." Narrated by a child with light brown skin and chestnut hair, the tale winds through a shining meadow, a temperate rainforest, and a pebbly shoreline. Stinson focuses on the young protagonist's sensory experiences of the land and water all around, encouraging mindfulness and connection to the present moment: tasting "the ocean salt in the breeze," seeing "the light poking through the clouds," hearing "pebbles sayingclickety-clack," and feeling "the tickle of the sea-foam swish up between our toes." Teeming with the flora and fauna of the Pacific Northwest, where illustrator McKibbin (Ojibwe) lives, the vivid, full-bleed digital images bring life to a text filled with heartache and reverence for nature. Stinson's narrator doesn't go into detail about the missing loved one, allowing readers to see their own experiences reflected in the story; this could be a tale about someone who's moved away, died, or is otherwise no longer a part of everyday life. Radiant images and a spacious narrative provide adults with an uplifting space to discuss heavy emotions with young ones. A glowing window into grieving that makes room for sorrow and joy to coexist.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.