Dear Wild Child: You Carry Your Home Inside You by Wallace J. Nichols, Wallace Grayce Nichols Illustrator: Drew Beckmeyer
Published by Harry N. Abrams on August 9, 2022
Genres: Picture Book
Pages: 32
Source: Blog Tour, The Publisher
My rating:
A story inspired by a letter from a father to his daughter about wildfire, loss, and learning that we carry our homes inside us wherever we go.
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.
Buy the Book
This lovely letter from a father to a daughter after a wildfire destroys their family home celebrates our bonds with nature. It tells the tale of a girl who grows up surrounded by the beauty and majesty of the outdoors in a home filled with the love and dreams of her parents. And the book shows how home is not a place, but the essence of what makes us who we are. While the physical structure that the girl grew up in is gone, the letter assures her that it will always hold a place in her heart. The book’s illustrations are captivating, capturing the freedom of a childhood spent adventuring in the outdoors. This book will encourage kids to explore the natural world around them and to do their very best to help preserve it.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via Media Masters Publicity so I could provide an honest review. No compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
About the Author
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.
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Drew Beckmeyer is a fine artist, illustrator, and elementary school teacher. He lives in Northern California.
It sounds beautiful. I love the illustrations.
Oh wow this art is gorgeous! The story sounds lovely too, frankly. Feel like it would be a tearjerker, the message sounds so beautiful!
[…] DEAR WILD CHILD: YOU CARRY YOUR HOME INSIDE YOU – REVIEW & GIVEAWAY […]
This is such a touching and meaningful story. The way you describe the father building a home beneath the redwoods feels so alive, and it reminds me that a true home isn’t about walls or roofs but the love we build within it. The wildfire taking the house yet leaving the bond intact really emphasizes resilience. Thank you for sharing this—it inspires readers to appreciate relationships over material possessions.contractor in bali
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This is such an inspiring introduction to Wallace Grayce Nichols. I really admire how she’s blending sustainable design with her love for water—it shows how personal passion can drive meaningful innovation. It’s also fascinating to see how her father’s work in marine biology and the book Blue Mind has influenced her journey. The connection between water, wellness, and sustainability is so important today. I’d love to learn more about the projects she’s working on along California’s slow coast.Dubai Hills estate Dubai
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