If You Get Lost by Deborah Marcero, Nikki Loftin
Published by Anne Schwartz Books on 2023
ISBN: 0593375319
Genres: Animals, Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

Slightly abstract watercolor and ink illustrations accompany very simple text to tell the tale of a stuffed bunny who comes to life after it is dropped out a car window and gets lost in a forest. The book suggests to stop, look around, and listen, then the reader might make a friend and have an adventure. In this case, the bunny is befriended by a fox and they travel with other forest animals to return the bunny to the girl who lost it. She and her parents were headed to this forest to go camping. The final picture shows the girl seated by a campfire holding the once-again stuffed bunny, while the fox sleeps nearby.

I am not certain how I feel about the closing text, “… let go of lost and grab hold of one thing, one place, two smiles, new friends.” I know the author is trying to be gently reassuring to any child who might get lost, but I question the wisdom of urging a child to approach any stranger who smiles at them.

I do want to give a special mention about the end papers of this book. They are maps of the forest where the bunny’s adventure occurs. The front map is bright, as in daylight, while the back map is of the same area in nighttime darkness. They are very well done and add a nice touch to the book, as a whole.

Reviewed by Crystal Wilder, University of Southern Maine, Gorham Campus Library