A boy deals with his grief over the death of his father. A letter his father left behind directs him to walk the woods they walked together. The boy sees nature at its best and finds a treasure his father placed for him.

Beautiful story and illustrations.

"A week after the funeral," the boy narrating the story is still hurting, still missing his dad, still angry that his dad is gone. But his dad left an envelope, which the boy opens, and he finds a map to their spot in the woods, with an X marking "treasure." The boy sets off, reminding himself to "Slow down! Pay attention!" In the woods, he becomes calmer as he notices the details of the plants and animals around him. The "treasure" turns out to be sketches and unfinished stories his dad made when he was a kid, with a final blank page for the boy to add his own story.

Jerry Pinkney's sketches are layered over Brian Pinkney's swirling colors, largely yellows and greens with some pinks and blues. An author's note from Grimes talks about her longtime friendship with Jerry Pinkney, and an illustrator's note from Brian talks about the loss of his father and how their sketches and paintings were melded to make the final art for this book.

A gorgeous journey through grief. ( )

First sentence: A week after the funeral,
I stare in the morning mirror,
angry that my father's eyes
stare back at me.
Why, Dad?
Why did you have to leave?

Premise/plot: A Walk in the Woods is, in my personal opinion, a picture book for older readers. The protagonist is a boy grieving the loss of his father. It occurs soon after his father's death. He goes on a walk in the woods. He's following the clues his father left behind to find 'treasure.' This is a nature-centric picture book celebrating life, love, and loss.

My thoughts: Nikki Grimes and Jerry Pinkney are two BIG names, both beloved. They started this project--a nature-themed picture book--together. He was able to complete a rough draft of illustrations before his death. His son--also an illustrator, also a big name--finished the illustrations. The picture book means so much to all involved. Yes, that's the case with all books, I imagine, but especially so in this case.
It is written in prose AND verse. The themes are, in my personal opinion, complex and weighty. Everyone--no matter their age--can appreciate nature. But this one has a weightiness to it that adults may appreciate more. ( )