Halifax-based author Penelope Jackson has created a delightful book for children with Wild Trails to the Sea. It is an ode to Nova Scotia’s natural landscapes, including the LaHave River, Crystal Crescent, Kejimkujik Seaside, Hirtle’s Beach, High Head, Second Peninsula, and Cape Smokey.
Although the text isn’t long, younger children likely won’t understand the concepts being expressed, such as, “I hope you see the goldfinches swoop and trace their bunting paths to treasure,” and, “I hope you find cranberries growing between them, plump and sour and ready to be boiled down with cinnamon and maple syrup and apples you picked from ancient trees.” Still, the narrator’s descriptions are whimsical and graceful, and it will certainly be a hit with nature-loving families. There are some great vocabulary-building words such as amble, periscope, and vast; adults can use the book to create a conversation with children about nature and some of the different ways to describe the movements of animals.
On top of the charming text, Wild Trails to the Sea boasts artist Elena Skoreyko Wagner’s paper collages. Every page of this picture book is richly filled with warm colours and varying textures, and intimate attention is paid to detail, such as a coffee mug on a window ledge or a solo rainboot lying scattered on the floor. Each scrap of paper plays a part in how the visuals pop, and, regardless of whether it’s strands of a child’s wind-blown hair or bear cubs playing by the water, the art moves and flows. The combination of engrossing art and whimsical text creates a fresh, bright, exciting picture book. While this reviewer isn’t particularly into hiking or camping, the collages capture the beauty of the outdoor settings in a way that had me slowly scanning to decipher each tiny facet and how it contributes to the overall aesthetic and the vibrancy of each scene.
Wild Trails to the Sea is a celebration of family and nature, and it is a wonderful enticement to visit Nova Scotia’s parks and beaches.