Look Inside!
Illustrations by Kristen Adam, Secrets of the Forest, Neon Squid 2023.
Illustrations by Kristen Adam, Secrets of the Forest, Neon Squid 2023.
Want to read a whole story? Click here to find out what happens to the sun bear in “The Honey Hunt.”
Secrets of the Forest: 15 Bedtime Stories Inspired by Nature
Published by 
A beautifully illustrated collection of 5-minute bedtime stories about the wildlife found in woods around the world.
Every forest contains a thousand secrets…In this charming anthology of stories by Alicia Klepeis, readers will be guided into forests to meet the amazing animals that live there. In one story a squirrel hunts for an elusive acorn it buried earlier in the year, while another looks at an Alaskan wood frog as it freezes itself alive to survive a harsh winter. Children will be thrilled by the tale of a reindeer that gets separated from its herd in the snowy woods of Scandinavia, and marvel at a chameleon changing color in the forests of Madagascar.
Other stories feature elephants, wild cats, pangolins, badgers, foxes, monarch butterflies, otters, walking fish, a tree that can live for thousands of years, and even forest-dwelling penguins! All of these creatures and their habitats are brought to life with impressive skill by illustrator Kristen Adam.
Each story is based on the real biology and behavior of these amazing wild animals, and at the end of each tale readers will find out more about the science that inspired the story. So as they drift off to sleep, they will know a little bit more about the world around them.
Want to listen to a sample of the audiobook? Click here to enjoy a squirrel’s adventures in wintertime.
“This delightful collection of short stories. . .weaves together both enchantment and enlightenment. Adam’s sweet, soft illustrations are wonderful additions to Klepeis’ carefully crafted text, perfectly blending realistic details with huggable cuteness. Young listeners and readers will happily relax into these stories, which turn the act of sleep into an adventure.” —Booklist
CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE WEEK: “This is a stunningly crafted tome with luscious artwork and delightful bite-sized bedtime stories that should be treasured by families and handed down through generations to come. It’s a great purchase for any science and nature-loving primary school child.” —The Independent
