A delightfully charming picture book from Chris Wormell, FEROCIOUS WILD BEASTS (Knopf, 2009, $16.99) arrived recently. This little story is truly what I would classify as a standard children’s book. Jack is lost in the forest. Yes, the forest his mother has warned him about numerous times. This place, she says, is where the ferocious wild beasts live, hide and pounce on people. Then they gobble them up.
Imagine Jack’s surprise when one day, after he gets lost in the woods, he is approached by a large grizzly bear. He tells the bear the woods are dangerous and full of ferocious wild beasts who gobble people up. The bears asks if they gobble up bears, and Jack replies Yes. With some fear the bear agrees to lead Jack out of the forest. Along the way they encounter other wild beasts who are equally alarmed over the wild ferocious animals of the forest. This makes for a wonderful parade of scared ferocious animals. Mother ultimately finds Jack and safely leads him out of the forest and home.
Chris Wormell’s art is absolutely perfect for this amusing clever storyline. The expressions on the faces of the animals, when they hear of the ferocious wild animals in the forest, are wonderful. The ending, when a real ferocious something (Jack’s mother) comes into the forest, the faces of the forest animals are extra special. Such fear will send young listeners or readers into giggle fits.
The art is up to Mr Wormell’s usual high standards. There is a minimum of details allowing the reader/listener to focus full attention on the title characters. This is a magnificent book.