Out of the Woods: A True Story of an Unforgettable Event

Reviewed by: Michelle Brenner - Casco Public Library, Casco, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 8, 2016

Review

This almost magical story tells the tale of an event which has been passed down from the grandfather of the author. Antonio Grioux grew up in the early part of the 20th century and lived in Gowganda, Ontario at a lakeside hotel in the wilderness where travelers, outdoor sportsmen, lumberjacks and miners stayed. He was always interested in the animal signs he saw in the forest around him and wanted to see more animals but realized that "the safest place for animals was a distant, hidden one" due to the livelihood of the men staying in the hotel. The summer of 1914 was a dry one and a forest fire forces the animals and the residents of Gowganda to come together for everyone's salvation and it gave me shivers when reading what happened. The detailed pen and ink illustrations are water colored washed with sepia ones and add to the primitive feel of the story. Perhaps Rebecca Bond has taken some liberties with this story as it is a remembrance of a child, but she has an author's note in the back stating it is true. It is a great launching point for talking to children about what life was like for early settlers and pioneers, and how different creatures could come together for everyone's benefit.

Overall Book Score: excellent