New Children's Book DEAR WILD CHILD Encourages Resilience After Loss

 I received the title mentioned here in exchange for this post. All views and opinions here reflect those of my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

We recently received the children's book, Dear Wild Child: You Carry Your Home Inside You, for review, and when I first opened the package I set it aside because we didn't have time at that moment to read it. Later when putting away a stack of books I noticed the cover and realized we had forgotten to read this, so I called the kids into the living room for a quick read-aloud. It's not very often that a picture book impacts me the way that this one did. 

In the shade of ancient redwood trees, by a creek, not far from the ocean, a father builds a house for his newborn daughter, where she grows up wild and strong in their coastal canyon home. When a wildfire takes back their beloved house, a father writes his now-grown daughter a letter telling her it’s gone. Inspired by the real letter the author wrote his daughter, this poignant story—written together by father and daughter—joyfully declares that a home is more than just wood and stone; it is made of love and can never be taken away. You carry home with you wherever you go.

My Thoughts

Being a very sentimental person and an empath this book hit me hard. I didn't expect the emotions to flood in like they did and I bawled like a baby while reading this to my kids. The storytelling is straightforward and lovely painting a picture of a beautiful house built around a loving family where a child grows up creating magical memories along the way. After years of living in this wonderful home, a wildfire catches nearby and rips through destroying their magical home and clearing everything down to the foundations. This is a story of a father having to tell his daughter that even though their home was lost all the memories they made in and around it will carry on inside of them. Reading Dear Wild Child: You Carry Your Home Inside You with my kids sparked a larger conversation about what is truly important after a tragedy happens and that no one can take away the memories we have together. The illustrations are whimsical and eye-catching but the words ring loud with love and tell a story that both children and adults will relate to. 

About the Author & Illustrator
Wallace Grayce Nichols is a student of sustainable design, problem solver, and water lover. Her father, 

Dr. Wallace J. Nichols is a marine biologist and the author of the bestselling book Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do. Home is the slow coast of California. Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Drew Beckmeyer is a fine artist, illustrator, and elementary school teacher. He lives in Northern California. Website | Instagram

A true story of resilience after loss and understanding that possessions will come and go but the life we build around them and the memories we've made with loved ones are what matters most. Dear Wild Child: You Carry Your Home Inside You will make a wonderful addition to your child's bookshelf.