Wild: A heart-warming picture book about moving home, accepting change and connecting with nature from an award-winning author and illustrator

by Katya Balen, Gill Smith (Illustrator)

In a poetic, beautifully illustrated story, a child’s move to a big city has her mourning her connection with nature until she makes a serendipitous discovery.

When I shout my name into the sky, nobody answers.
The city is lonely and so am I.
I’ve lost my wild.

In the woods, the girl finds wildness all around her—when she climbs toward the sky and shouts her name into the air, a bird sings back to her. She finds secrets in the stars and stories in the earth. But when her family leaves wildness behind, she sees only towering gray-glass buildings, taller than trees, nothing she can climb. It’s not possible to find the stars, and the moon hangs all alone. She feels bereft—until a bird calls to her from the sky, and following its path through the city streets to the river leads to natural sights that take her breath away. With gorgeous prose from Katya Balen and atmospheric artwork from Gill Smith, this tale of the wondrous ability of nature to prevail shows that wildness never leaves those who cherish it.

Genres: Picture Books, Nature, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published May 1, 2025

About the author

Katya Balen is a British author of children's literature. She was born in 1989, in London. Her novel October, October won the 2022 Carnegie Medal. Her work has also been nominated for the Branford Boase Award and the Wainwright Prize for Children's Writing on Nature and Conservation.

Reviews

[Vincent Desjardins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young girl who grew up in the country, surrounded by the wild, misses the wilderness when her family moves to the big city. Gill Smith's colorful and joyful illustrations add a touch of wonder to Katya Balen's sweet tale of a young girl's discovery that even big cities can have wild places, you just need to know where to look. This would be a wonderful read-aloud and a perfect introduction on teaching children to respect and love nature.

[Becs · Rating 2 out of 5]

I get it - I’d be sad too if I had to move from beautiful countryside to drab city living - and that’s exactly what happens in this book. Feeling as though she’s lost her sparkle and jest for life, this little girl searches the industrial jungle for the wildness of nature she has grown accustomed to.

I like the sentiment but considering the very blurb for this book describes it as beautifully illustrated, I do feel a bit lied to! I suppose it’s all a matter of personal taste, but for me these illustrations don’t capture what it is to be wild, free and filled with joy, instead they feel - even in the supposed wild rediscoveries - still very drab and flat.

Stylistically not for me, but I like the message.

ARC provided from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very much getting an October from October, October and even a Tilda from Ghostlines vibe from this book. Wild girls (not so much Tilda as she has never left the island but you can imagine this is what it would be like for her) who are forced out of the wild into the city and then have to find slivers of wild. Really enjoyable.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book about a girl who loves the wild of the country but when she moves to the city everything is grey and she can't find her wild. When she spots a bird and follows it she discovers there is wild (nature) everywhere even in the city. The use of color vs black and white in this book is fantastic. This would make an excellent read aloud.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review.

[Hannah Schwager · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an official review from CLEAR, a group of librarians with SWON.

An adorable story about adjusting to change, specifically moving from nature to city. Great, meaningful uses of colors. The publishers recommend this book for ages 3-7 but I would probably read it to a slightly older audience in the 4-8 range.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulously wild illustrations fully combine with the text to make a magical experience for the reader. The story is simple, but familiar to those who have moved from a place they love to one they are uncomfortable in.

[Laura Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little girl enjoys the outdoors or wildness; seeing trees, birds, clouds, and the stars. After moving to the city, she can't find the wild. Over time, she realizes the wild is still around her. This is a book about change, loss and realizing nature is still around us no matter where we are.

[Jacaranda21 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful. Lovely illustrations, simple but powerful story. So much to see on the pages, lots to talk about or just enjoy the story and take away the message.