Reviews: (by author)

Bowen, Betsy. Tracks In The Wind. Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 1998. 29 pages. $16.00 hardcover. ISBN 0395884004.

This is not a story-book about cute, fuzzy animals, but a lovely tribute to the wild things of the the North Woods in which this author/illustrator lives. Each double-page spread includes a short section of text that describes the tracks and habits of an animal, along with a magnificent wood-block illustration of the animal in its habitat. Life-sized animal tracks skitter across the text page, tempting the reader to follow in the imaginary footsteps of the beast through the woods and fields and into the rivers. These tracks range from the delicate tracery of the deer-mice to the single heavy imprint of the black bear.

The pictures themselves are rich, dark, with strong lines and a certain sense of mystery, while the text, at its best, is beautifully simple and evocative of the strong presence of wild things. It would make good bedtime reading for children and parents interested in nature, or perhaps for children and parents on a camping trip. It would also make a fine classroom reading for young students studying nature.

Recommended reading level: Age 5-8

Reviewed by Jamie Madden

Back to Reviews A-C