What do you think?
Rate this book
Finding Wild by Megan Wagner Lloyd
A lovely, lyrical picture book with gorgeous illustrations that explores the ways the wild makes itself known to us and how much closer it is than we think.
There are so many places that wild can exist, if only you know where to look! Can you find it? Two kids set off on an adventure away from their urban home and discover all the beauty of the natural world. From the bark on the trees to the sudden storm that moves across the sky to fire and flowers, and snowflakes and fresh fruit. As the children make their way through the woods and back to the paved and noisy streets, they discover that wild exists not just off in some distant place, but right in their own backyard.
There are so many places that wild can exist, if only you know where to look! Can you find it? Two kids set off on an adventure away from their urban home and discover all the beauty of the natural world. From the bark on the trees to the sudden storm that moves across the sky to fire and flowers, and snowflakes and fresh fruit. As the children make their way through the woods and back to the paved and noisy streets, they discover that wild exists not just off in some distant place, but right in their own backyard.
Hardcover
First published May 10, 2016
11 people are currently reading
1170 people want to read
About the author
Megan Wagner Lloyd
19 books215 followersMegan Wagner Lloyd is the writer of the kids' graphic novels ALLERGIC and SQUISHED, co-created with illustrator Michelle Mee Nutter, and the SUPER PANCAKE series, co-created with illustrator Abhi Alwar. She's also the author of HAVEN: A SMALL CAT'S BIG ADVENTURE, and several picture books. She lives with her family in the Washington DC area.
Sign up for her newsletter: meganwagnerlloyd.com
Find her on Instagram: @meganwagnerlloyd
Sign up for her newsletter: meganwagnerlloyd.com
Find her on Instagram: @meganwagnerlloyd
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews
December 4, 2021
Text is wonderful. Almost poetic. I love the inclusion of all sensory inputs, including the admission that sometimes wild *hurts* (nettle, ant bites, whatever).
But the pretty art work fails. It skips over the transitional patches of wild that are likely to be the only things that young urban explorers can actually find while roaming unsupervised, like a dandelion in the corner of a playground, or starlings & pigeons. Also, why are these two children both white??
I have to knock off two stars for the art. I think it could have been a five star book. Try sharing the text, sans pix, with your children &/or spouse, parents, friends... and let us know what they think of the 'poem' itself.
But the pretty art work fails. It skips over the transitional patches of wild that are likely to be the only things that young urban explorers can actually find while roaming unsupervised, like a dandelion in the corner of a playground, or starlings & pigeons. Also, why are these two children both white??
I have to knock off two stars for the art. I think it could have been a five star book. Try sharing the text, sans pix, with your children &/or spouse, parents, friends... and let us know what they think of the 'poem' itself.
April 22, 2025
Precioso y 100% scout 💛
July 5, 2017
The title of this particular book is what caught my eye. What is finding wild? What does wild mean? And how is wild being seen by the two children on the cover who look like they may be trying to escape from it? These are all really important questions to think about, especially if you live in an area where there is more concrete and traffic than fresh air or green.
The book does a wonderful job in being a quick and easy read while presenting the topic of the wild in descriptive words. As there are a lot of facets I find it wonderful that children are able to see more than one side whether that means the wild is shown as being nice and pleasant or nasty and brutish. Sometimes our children are sheltered too much and need to be made aware of how the world is, which may lead to another subject on human opposites.
The illustrations of the book are wonderful and capture each descriptive word on the dollar. When wild is being presented in all her dark and brutish aspects the pages hold a gloomy touch to them but then brighten right back up. Some readers may also enjoy looking at the pictures to see what all has been tucked into the midst of wild while questions can be asked by those who may be reading to younger audiences to help them relate the events in the story to those in their own lives.
Although I know that the wild can be hard to find in some bigger cities I think the book goes to the point of making it seem like those bigger places are completely devoid of life. And although the message is a bit lightened up towards the end I think that this would be a good book to at least get started on the idea of safely exploring the wild places that are still kept by your city such as in my case the 52 parks all around us and helping children to know the differences of the worlds that they stand on the edges of.
The book does a wonderful job in being a quick and easy read while presenting the topic of the wild in descriptive words. As there are a lot of facets I find it wonderful that children are able to see more than one side whether that means the wild is shown as being nice and pleasant or nasty and brutish. Sometimes our children are sheltered too much and need to be made aware of how the world is, which may lead to another subject on human opposites.
The illustrations of the book are wonderful and capture each descriptive word on the dollar. When wild is being presented in all her dark and brutish aspects the pages hold a gloomy touch to them but then brighten right back up. Some readers may also enjoy looking at the pictures to see what all has been tucked into the midst of wild while questions can be asked by those who may be reading to younger audiences to help them relate the events in the story to those in their own lives.
Although I know that the wild can be hard to find in some bigger cities I think the book goes to the point of making it seem like those bigger places are completely devoid of life. And although the message is a bit lightened up towards the end I think that this would be a good book to at least get started on the idea of safely exploring the wild places that are still kept by your city such as in my case the 52 parks all around us and helping children to know the differences of the worlds that they stand on the edges of.
December 6, 2019
"What is wild? And where can you find it?," the narrator at the beginning of Megan Wagner Lloyd's poetic debut picture-book wonders, going on to describe a variety of qualities and experiences that belong to the wilderness. The wild can be both terrifying and soothing, it can threaten with forest fires and cool with soft rain. Full of rich and varied scents, sounds and feelings, the wild is all around, even when we, as city folk, don't immediately see it...
Although less of a story than a series of impressions, Finding Wild is nevertheless an engaging book, one which pairs a quiet, almost contemplative text with lovely artwork done in watercolor and colored pencil by Abigail Halpin. The theme here, of finding nature even in urban places, reminded me a bit of Peter Brown's The Curious Garden , although it was really the artwork, with its lovely color palette and pleasing composition, that made the book for me. Recommended to anyone looking for beautiful picture-books exploring the themes of nature and wilderness, and the human connection to them.
Although less of a story than a series of impressions, Finding Wild is nevertheless an engaging book, one which pairs a quiet, almost contemplative text with lovely artwork done in watercolor and colored pencil by Abigail Halpin. The theme here, of finding nature even in urban places, reminded me a bit of Peter Brown's The Curious Garden , although it was really the artwork, with its lovely color palette and pleasing composition, that made the book for me. Recommended to anyone looking for beautiful picture-books exploring the themes of nature and wilderness, and the human connection to them.
July 8, 2016
The art in this children's picture book is gorgeous, and I really like the message of getting out and exploring the natural world to "find wild", however as an adult reader the text is rather underwhelming. This one is geared for the very young, and maybe it's just right for that audience, so if you've got littles in your home this one might be worth checking out.
August 18, 2016
Can't wait to kick off the school year with my 3rd graders and find OUR wild!
Ooh! And would be great to pair w/The Curious Garden by Peter Brown!
Ooh! And would be great to pair w/The Curious Garden by Peter Brown!
August 2, 2024
*4.25
August 2, 2023
This was a cute book about the beauty and variety found in nature or wild.
May 17, 2016
Although city dwellers might think they need to head off into the mountains or to the ocean in order to experience nature in its purest form, that isn't always the case as this picture book demonstrates. The illustrations, created with watercolor and colored pencil, and then enhanced digitally, shows a boy and a girl in a city scape as they try to find the wild in the world. The various scenes depicting the unexpected pleasures of the wilderness are enhanced with the use of onomatopoeia and unique vocabulary that evokes the feel of weather ("storm-thunders and wind-whispers" (unpaged) as the two youngsters come to realize that the wild is often right under our noses or right behind us, if we only care to look closely enough. I appreciated the idea that the wild isn't necessarily stamped out by civilization but can thrive right alongside the modern conveniences and may simply be waiting until the right time to take back what is rightly its own. The book possesses an adventurous yet meditative quality that lends itself to reflection.
May 3, 2016
Looking for the wild and finding it in even the most unlikely places.
May 11, 2016
Beautifully written and will give readers much to talk about.
The illustrations are simply gorgeous.
The illustrations are simply gorgeous.
May 31, 2016
Beautiful and simple, this book is one that will be cherished by many. The illustrations echo and embrace the heart of the story. Truly lovely.
April 20, 2024
Adorable and beautiful illustrations.
November 29, 2022
Finding Wild is an adventure book following two children who are searching for wild. In it we see them go through the forest, through the woods at night, they see lakes, and then finally end up in a city that appears to be wildless. Right when they are about to give up they find a floating leaf that leads them to the wild, right in the middle of the city. This book is a WOW book for me because of the messages and illustrations within the book. I personally love the wild, if I could live anywhere comfortably it would be a little shed out in a flower field by a lake, free from the outside world. This book is the closest thing to that. Reading it and seeing it I felt mesmerized by the wild. The illustrations are the main center point of the story and it is definitely one of the most breathtaking visual experiences I have had in a while. I think children would definitely benefit from reading this book as it would inspire them to appreciate nature and to seek it out.
The author uses a few literary devices, the first one being repetition. During the entire book the author repeats “The wild is…”. They then describe and give many synonyms for the reader to imagine the feeling the children are feeling in the book. Another technique used is onomatopoeia. The author uses terms like crash, bang, woosh, hiss, and more to describe the sounds you may hear while experiencing the wild. This makes the book more fun and entertaining to read. This book is free from bias as it has no negative or insensitive material within the book. The only part of the book that is seen as bad is the city for covering up all the nature, but even then the author shows you that you can still find wild in places where you may think there is none. This was one of my favorite children's books I've read recently, I highly recommend it to anyone.
The author uses a few literary devices, the first one being repetition. During the entire book the author repeats “The wild is…”. They then describe and give many synonyms for the reader to imagine the feeling the children are feeling in the book. Another technique used is onomatopoeia. The author uses terms like crash, bang, woosh, hiss, and more to describe the sounds you may hear while experiencing the wild. This makes the book more fun and entertaining to read. This book is free from bias as it has no negative or insensitive material within the book. The only part of the book that is seen as bad is the city for covering up all the nature, but even then the author shows you that you can still find wild in places where you may think there is none. This was one of my favorite children's books I've read recently, I highly recommend it to anyone.
June 19, 2017
Love it! Lots of ways to think about wonder.
December 10, 2019
Un libro salvaje para exploradores chiquitos. Me encantó y creo que en español lo publicó Errata Naturae, me da gusto que estén traduciendo libros para niños.
March 3, 2017
Gorgeous illustrations, plot and words are okay for it's intended audience, but I think the main appeal is that in addition to being a beautiful book, it doesn't romanticize wild, it includes both the bugs and thorns as well as the lakes and the flowers which is always welcome to see in a nature book, and especially a children's book.
June 30, 2016
Two children set off to discover the wild, leaving their urban world and heading into a nearby park filled with trees, ferns and birds. There are moments of wonder and some shivers too. Wild smells different from the city too and demands that you breathe it in deeply. Wild can be dangerous, prickly and poisonous, but it can also be filled with softness and soothing. It can be hot and cold. It is filled with secrets to explore and even discoveries to eat and savor. Even in large cities where there doesn’t seem to be room for wild to exist, you can see it if you follow the subtle clues.
Lloyd’s writing is a poem about wilderness and the importance of it in our lives. She doesn’t lecture about it in any way, allowing nature itself to invite readers in more deeply. She allows nature to sing on the page, showing its many sides. She does not shy away from showing that nature can be slightly frightening but balances that nicely with more positive sides of being outside and enjoying the outdoors.
Halpin’s illustrations are done in watercolor and colored pencil. She creates a wild that is filled with huge trees, large leaves, flowers and shadow. It is also full of water, places to swim and berries too. Her art covers the entire page at times, filling it to the brim with nature. Other times, the wild is surrounded by white space on the page, allowing young readers to both feel immersed in green wonder but also able to glimpse it from a distance at times too.
A lovely encouragement to find your own wild in your neighborhood, this picture book should be wildly successful. Appropriate for ages 3-6.
Reviewed from e-galley received from Penguin Random House and Edelweiss.
Lloyd’s writing is a poem about wilderness and the importance of it in our lives. She doesn’t lecture about it in any way, allowing nature itself to invite readers in more deeply. She allows nature to sing on the page, showing its many sides. She does not shy away from showing that nature can be slightly frightening but balances that nicely with more positive sides of being outside and enjoying the outdoors.
Halpin’s illustrations are done in watercolor and colored pencil. She creates a wild that is filled with huge trees, large leaves, flowers and shadow. It is also full of water, places to swim and berries too. Her art covers the entire page at times, filling it to the brim with nature. Other times, the wild is surrounded by white space on the page, allowing young readers to both feel immersed in green wonder but also able to glimpse it from a distance at times too.
A lovely encouragement to find your own wild in your neighborhood, this picture book should be wildly successful. Appropriate for ages 3-6.
Reviewed from e-galley received from Penguin Random House and Edelweiss.
June 29, 2016
Written by Megan Wagner Lloyd Finding Wild was illustrated by Abigail Halpin who brilliantly captures the unbridled, untamed, free spirited energy of life. Ostensibly about the wildness of nature, it’s about so much more than that, more than wild creatures in their natural habitat, more than locations unchanged by humans. It is scent and sound, places and dreams, full of challenge and possibility, risks and rewards. It is determination and persistence. It is flowers growing in sidewalk cracks, trees shattering through boulders doggedly pursuing survival. Life thriving under the most inhospitable of circumstances. It is indomitable human spirit. Though the text is brief, the possibilities it suggests are immense.
Adoption-attuned Lens: This book also is an excellent potential conversation starter for adoptive families. Kids feel freer to explore a story that is not overtly their own yet may bear similarities in terms of difficulties, danger or survival. This added layer of dissociation enables them to explore events without fully awakening their own struggles, tough situations, harsh circumstances. Tread lightly. Let kids take the lead. Unless kids choose to speak of their personal events, focus conversation of how “some kids” faced these challenges and survived. --Gayle H. Swift, "ABC, Adoption & Me: A Multicultural Picture Book
Adoption-attuned Lens: This book also is an excellent potential conversation starter for adoptive families. Kids feel freer to explore a story that is not overtly their own yet may bear similarities in terms of difficulties, danger or survival. This added layer of dissociation enables them to explore events without fully awakening their own struggles, tough situations, harsh circumstances. Tread lightly. Let kids take the lead. Unless kids choose to speak of their personal events, focus conversation of how “some kids” faced these challenges and survived. --Gayle H. Swift, "ABC, Adoption & Me: A Multicultural Picture Book
November 17, 2017
Beautiful: must read again!
October 23, 2016
Some very nice things, but inconsistent and it tries a little too hard and never quite gets there. Most of the poetic attempts are fine, but "juice-bursting blackberries" does not make sense. The blackberries are (figuratively, not literally) bursting with juice - the juice isn't being burst. Mostly good illustrations, though the two kids are my least favorite part.
May 27, 2016
Couldn't be truer. I was born in the country; moved to the suburbs; and miss the country. I wish my children could run free as I did when I was little and experience "wild"...but this is a different world and a different time. Loved reading this beautiful reminder.
May 31, 2016
Equally stunning writing and illustrations
May 10, 2016
This book is very sensual in a good way. The words seem to come alive and the pictures seem to dance.
June 14, 2016
I admit I'm biased on this one but I loved the story and illustrations.
December 6, 2016
Gorgeous illustrations!
February 25, 2017
Beautiful book lyrically written. Good Earth Day read about where nature can be found. Could be used for personification lessons also.
September 20, 2023
“Finding Wild” by Megan Wagner Lloyed is a book about two children who find ‘wild’ within and nearby their home in the city. A new perspective is brought to nature, as not everyone has access to it as easily. In addition, the book highlights the juxtapositions found within nature. It shows the fragile yet strong aspects of nature as it is depicted as fresh and new and yet strong enough to poke through the cracks and thrive in places within cities where one would not think to find it. It also talks about some of the dangers or scary aspects within nature as well as things one can enjoy, acknowledging that nature is not always pleasant but still creating a sense of admiration for its diversity and the joy and calm we can find within it. It also highlights the sensory details of nature – the tastes, sights, sounds, and textures within it – that young readers can possibly relate to. In the second as well as the final illustration, we can see the two characters at the head of a pathway that leads into a vast jungle-like bunch of trees and wild tangly shrubbery. The pathway into this wild, natural place they have found within a city symbolizes a threshold into a place that is unlike the city, vibrant and alive, and signals a new adventure for these children as seen in the symbolic codes of picture books by Moebius.
July 11, 2025
After moving from the quiet woods to a city full of concrete and straight lines, Finding Wild really hit home for me. Like the two kids in this story, I’ve had to search a little harder to find that sense of wildness — those pockets of nature hiding in unexpected places. This book is a beautiful reminder that the wild is still out there, even if it’s not always obvious. Megan Wagner Lloyd’s writing is beautifully poetic and takes you on a journey that’s all about the senses. You can almost feel the twigs crunch under your feet, smell the fresh air, and hear the quiet rustle of leaves or the howling wolves. I love that she doesn’t shy away from the scrapes and stings either as it’s all part of the adventure.
The illustrations by Abigail Halpin are just as magical. They’re rich, detailed, and full of movement, like you could step right into the page. Finding Wild is a celebration of the outdoors. Whether you live in the forest or in the middle of a city, it’s a great read for all ages and would be a perfect kickoff to a family hike, a school nature unit, or even just a weekend walk around the block. It reminds you to slow down, pay attention, and appreciate that the wild is waiting to be found. Highly recommend!
The illustrations by Abigail Halpin are just as magical. They’re rich, detailed, and full of movement, like you could step right into the page. Finding Wild is a celebration of the outdoors. Whether you live in the forest or in the middle of a city, it’s a great read for all ages and would be a perfect kickoff to a family hike, a school nature unit, or even just a weekend walk around the block. It reminds you to slow down, pay attention, and appreciate that the wild is waiting to be found. Highly recommend!
September 6, 2017
Lloyd, Megan Wagner Finding Wild, illustrated by Abigail Halpin. PICTURE BOOK. $16.99. Content: G.
This picture book follows two urban children as they hunt for nature -- both in the wilderness and, later, in their own city. It turns out that the wilds can be found anywhere as long as you look hard enough.
The illustrations are colorful and attractive, and the un-rhyming text has a lovely lyricism to it. The message about finding nature even in the midst of a city is a good one. Would pair well with Weeds Find a Way by Cindy Jenson-Elliott.
EL (K-3) -- ADVISABLE. Reviewed by Sydney G., K-6 Library Media Specialist
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
This picture book follows two urban children as they hunt for nature -- both in the wilderness and, later, in their own city. It turns out that the wilds can be found anywhere as long as you look hard enough.
The illustrations are colorful and attractive, and the un-rhyming text has a lovely lyricism to it. The message about finding nature even in the midst of a city is a good one. Would pair well with Weeds Find a Way by Cindy Jenson-Elliott.
EL (K-3) -- ADVISABLE. Reviewed by Sydney G., K-6 Library Media Specialist
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews