Wildful

Poppy is a young girl who has recently lost her grandmother. Her mother is depressed, unable to get off the couch, and so it is up to Poppy to take her dog Pepper on her daily walks. It is on one such walk that Pepper discovers a broken fence which, of course, she runs through. Unbeknownst to Poppy, Pepper has discovered a secret forest right in her own neighbourhood, and it is there where Poppy meets Rob, a young boy who becomes her closest friend.

As Poppy and Pepper take their daily walks, Poppy becomes infatuated with the forest and decides to visit it every day. There, together with Rob, Poppy and Pepper witness the magic of nature, from blooming plants, to raindrops on a spiderweb, and the beauty of wrens singing. Through their daily escapades, Rob is able to teach Poppy about the power of quiet and how to just be still and enjoy the wonders around her.

Not surprisingly, Poppy wants to share this magic with her mom, but her mom’s growing depression makes it harder for her to leave the house. One night, however, while Poppy’s trying to sneak out to catch a glimpse of a family of badgers, she is finally able to convince her mom to come to the forest.

With Rob’s help, Poppy shows her mom the magic that is all around them if she only takes the time to enjoy it. The graphic novel ends on a high note when, while stargazing, Poppy’s mom finally opens up about her grief, and Poppy teaches her mom that, “…if you listen, really listen, you hear it, something alive, something wild. And it’s joy.”

Wildful, Kengo Kurimoto’s debut graphic novel, is a poetic ode to nature as seen through the eyes of two young children. Hailed as “a modern-day The Secret Garden, Wildful will mesmerize middle grade readers with the simplicity of its dialogue coupled with its stunning artwork. The graphic novel, itself, is nearly wordless, with a sprinkling of dialogue in each chapter, making it the perfect book for reluctant readers or beginner readers who are ready to make the jump from picture books. The story, while simple, leaves a lot to the imagination as young readers can use Kurimoto’s fantastic illustrations to help fill in the blanks.

The illustrations, themselves, are stunning black and white designs that, while lacking any colour, pack a pretty punch nevertheless. Kurimoto’s attention to detail really stands out as he depicts the beauty of a flower opening in mid bloom or a wren quietly flying into its nest. It is the little details that really stand out here, making this graphic novel all the more magical.
Overall, Wildful is a quiet graphic read that will teach middle grade readers to truly stop and pay attention to their surroundings.