What do you think?
Rate this book
Win a free print copy of this book!
7 days and 17:32:46
25 copies available
U.S. only
Wildspeak
Not yet published
Expected 14 Apr 26Win a free print copy of this book!
7 days and 17:32:46
25 copies available
U.S. only
In the wide, wide world with its wide, wide skies,
There are wild, wild words waiting to be spoken.
Where the stream twists and sparkles? That's SUNGLITTER.
Where the sunset touches the sky? That's CLOUDBLOOM.
Come take a walk full of the joy of real nature words—mayflies, sea snails, blackbirds, brambles—and full of the joy of new words just waiting to be discovered.
There are wild, wild words waiting to be spoken.
Where the stream twists and sparkles? That's SUNGLITTER.
Where the sunset touches the sky? That's CLOUDBLOOM.
Come take a walk full of the joy of real nature words—mayflies, sea snails, blackbirds, brambles—and full of the joy of new words just waiting to be discovered.
- GenresPicture BooksNature
40 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication April 14, 2026
2255 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 21, 2025
Such a beautiful book!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wildspeak is a wildly creative and joyful book that follows two little girls as they navigate the world, inventing their own unique language for everything they encounter. It’s a beautiful celebration of linguistic play and child-like wonder.
The Standouts
• Masterful Illustrations: The artwork is a stunning highlight, featuring a rich mixture of mediums and textures. From realistic imagery to fluid watercolors, the flow between styles is seamless. The attention to detail, using everything from deliberate brush strokes to energetic paint splatters, makes every page a visual feast.
• Imaginative Storytelling: The journey takes readers through diverse landscapes, from the tide pools to the peaks of mountains and the heart of the forest. It perfectly captures the "wonderment" of a child seeing the world for the first time.
• Creative Language: The book strikes a perfect balance between introducing real vocabulary and encouraging the creation of "wild words." It’s an inspiring way to show children how they can claim the world through their own imagination.
Final Verdict
This book is a joy to read and a triumph of creativity. The marriage of creative art and an explorative story makes it a standout choice for imaginative children. I would definitely recommend this book!
The Standouts
• Masterful Illustrations: The artwork is a stunning highlight, featuring a rich mixture of mediums and textures. From realistic imagery to fluid watercolors, the flow between styles is seamless. The attention to detail, using everything from deliberate brush strokes to energetic paint splatters, makes every page a visual feast.
• Imaginative Storytelling: The journey takes readers through diverse landscapes, from the tide pools to the peaks of mountains and the heart of the forest. It perfectly captures the "wonderment" of a child seeing the world for the first time.
• Creative Language: The book strikes a perfect balance between introducing real vocabulary and encouraging the creation of "wild words." It’s an inspiring way to show children how they can claim the world through their own imagination.
Final Verdict
This book is a joy to read and a triumph of creativity. The marriage of creative art and an explorative story makes it a standout choice for imaginative children. I would definitely recommend this book!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The language and nature exploration possibilities with this story are expansive and are likely to inspire children.
Two children are on a walk with their mom and dog, and during their walk they look for "wild, wild words waiting to be spoken. It's called wildspeak."
The scenes are set with a variety of unusual characters - a spread of a stream features dragonflies, mayflies, and waterweeds; a hillside spread features screen, ridge, and saddle. (These words are defined in a glossary at the back.) The wildspeak the girls discover and later record are likewise rich and varied, yet very similar to what you might hear children in your own life naming things if asked. (Examples: goblingems, fairygold, rooty spies, websparkle)
The illustrations feature persons of color and are evocative, but it's the language that really pulls this book ahead of the pack.
ARC received by publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Two children are on a walk with their mom and dog, and during their walk they look for "wild, wild words waiting to be spoken. It's called wildspeak."
The scenes are set with a variety of unusual characters - a spread of a stream features dragonflies, mayflies, and waterweeds; a hillside spread features screen, ridge, and saddle. (These words are defined in a glossary at the back.) The wildspeak the girls discover and later record are likewise rich and varied, yet very similar to what you might hear children in your own life naming things if asked. (Examples: goblingems, fairygold, rooty spies, websparkle)
The illustrations feature persons of color and are evocative, but it's the language that really pulls this book ahead of the pack.
ARC received by publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is exceptionally well done. The illustrator deserves a ton of credit. They bolded all the words that can be found in the glossary. Those are real words that kids may or may not have heard before. For the wildspeak or the made-up fun words They use an even Boulder semi crazy font. I will say the everyday reading font is a little hard to see on some of the illustrations. This book is a family out exploring nature. What are things really called? What do you call them? What does it make you feel, etc? Things like the rocky bottom of a river being a rock glitter. One of my favorites are goblin sneezes, which just happens to be dandelion seeds floating in the sky. This book was imaginative. It was fun and it was endearing. This could be fun either at a storytime or even as a classroom activity. With kids telling us what their wildspeak for some of their favorite things in nature. I think this book could go far if you get it in the right hands.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
We absolutely loved Wildspeak. The illustrations were stunning and truly carried the story in the most beautiful way. While the book was a bit on the longer side for my child, the artwork consistently drew their attention back in and kept them engaged the entire time.
Reading this during winter felt especially meaningful. As we’re surrounded by cold, gray days, it was such a gift to explore the natural world through these pages noticing the small details of nature and learning the names for the things we can look forward to spotting this spring.
This book feels like seeing the world through a child’s lens, full of wonder, curiosity, and quiet magic. It gently reminds you to slow down and pay attention to the beauty all around you.
A lovely read for families who enjoy nature, mindfulness, and meaningful illustrations.
I received an advance copy through NetGalley and am sharing my honest thoughts.
Reading this during winter felt especially meaningful. As we’re surrounded by cold, gray days, it was such a gift to explore the natural world through these pages noticing the small details of nature and learning the names for the things we can look forward to spotting this spring.
This book feels like seeing the world through a child’s lens, full of wonder, curiosity, and quiet magic. It gently reminds you to slow down and pay attention to the beauty all around you.
A lovely read for families who enjoy nature, mindfulness, and meaningful illustrations.
I received an advance copy through NetGalley and am sharing my honest thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
WildSpeak immediately feels whimsical and inviting, the kind of book that makes you want to head outside and notice the world a little more closely! It beautifully captures the essence of childhood spent outdoors, blending imaginative language with gentle moments of wonder in nature. The vocabulary is especially engaging. Kids will love the playful, silly words, and the story weaves in just enough factual information to satisfy young readers who love nonfiction details without ever feeling heavy-handed. The illustrations are stunning and perfectly complement the tone of the text, making this a truly immersive read-aloud. I also loved the glossary in the back, which adds an extra layer of learning and makes this a book families and educators will return to again and again. A perfect story as we head into spring.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
We had the pleasure of reading this delightful children's book as a family, and it captivated us until the end. The illustrations complement the narrative wonderfully, and the art style itself is stunning, with a whimsy that really brings this story to life. This has the perfect blend of entertainment and education, we are always searching for stories that foster learning and creativity. The story is rich with nature and animals - two of our 5 year old's favourite topics, and things he is always eager to learn about. We tend to pick books that engage us in discussions as we read along and this one did just that.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this, our whole family enjoyed reading this thoroughly. Definitely looking forward to its release.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this, our whole family enjoyed reading this thoroughly. Definitely looking forward to its release.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I love how this book encourages both the learning of everyday scientific language, but also the creation of new, descriptive words for phenomenon. It encourages drawing and writing about scientific observations. It shows you how to be a scientist, no matter what you see! The "wasteland" still has scientific and natural lessons to teach us and observations to make.
The illustrations are lovely and blend the kid sketches with the typical illustrations. It shows the beauty of blending styles and values both the professional and the amateur, reinforcing the lessons of the book.
The illustrations are lovely and blend the kid sketches with the typical illustrations. It shows the beauty of blending styles and values both the professional and the amateur, reinforcing the lessons of the book.
December 5, 2025
Wildspeak is a delightful reminder of the wild wonder we naturally carry as children. It celebrates the whimsical language kids invent to describe the world around them, and it immediately brought to mind the playful terms my own son has created. The book is fun and imaginative, inviting young readers into creativity while gently nudging adults to hold onto delight, curiosity, and a sense of enchantment.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book for review.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book for review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I read the digital ARC on NetGalley. This book is perfect for nature lovers as well as those who love words. It would make a great outdoor storytime, or an outdoor display. The illustrations are lush. The cover depiction had me hoping the girls remembered to check for ticks, and the image of the "rock fizz" beckoned me to touch the water. Children and parents alike will find it engaging and interactive and hopefully it will encourage some nature exploration and creative naming.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Adventure awaits for kids as they move around nature and make up words and identify others for the amazing awe-inspiring pieces of nature whether it's the sparkle of the sun off of water or scree (a collection of stones or rocks on a mountaintop). They adventure until they're exhausted and head in for the day filled with the beauty of all that being out in the wild has to offer.
For the adventurers out there.
For the adventurers out there.
November 7, 2025
***Read DRC through Edelweiss***
The kind of childhood every child should have, being able to explore and play in nature. A very thoughtful kind of adventure. I love how the children recorded in their nature journals. This book could very much be the start of a kindergarten-second grade activity where the kids keep nature journals.
Pub date: April 14th 2026
The kind of childhood every child should have, being able to explore and play in nature. A very thoughtful kind of adventure. I love how the children recorded in their nature journals. This book could very much be the start of a kindergarten-second grade activity where the kids keep nature journals.
Pub date: April 14th 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an electronic ARC from SOURCEBOOKS Kids through NetGalley.
Francis takes us along as the characters explore natural environments. The two make up words to capture what they see and experience. I appreciate the beautiful illustrations that wrap around the story and bring the newly created names to life. This will be a fun read together or read aloud for families and classes.
Francis takes us along as the characters explore natural environments. The two make up words to capture what they see and experience. I appreciate the beautiful illustrations that wrap around the story and bring the newly created names to life. This will be a fun read together or read aloud for families and classes.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I absolutely adored this book! The combination of new vocabulary learned and created facts coexisting in childhood exploration and imagination was so well written As was the children’s nature journal in the beginning and end f the illustrated pages which was an intricate of the book
February 16, 2026
Thank you SOURCEBOOKS Kids, Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this book. Beautiful writing and colorful, detailed illustrations combine into a wonderful story about nature, sibling relationships, and pure imagination. Simply delightful.
October 2, 2025
Glorious art in this wonderful book about nature, imagination and what you can see if you get off the screens and step outside. I loved this so much.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was such a sweet book to read! The illustrations weren't too much ea=ither so they were easy for my child with vision impairment to see!
January 13, 2026
Cakeeeep
December 27, 2025
⭐ Picture Book | Nature | Definitions
Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Kids for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Wildspeak captures the way children interpret and experience the natural world around them, from the land beneath their feet to the sea beyond the horizon. Each page blends poetic language with a child’s sense of wonder, transforming everyday nature into something magical. One moment I especially loved shows dandelion seeds drifting across the sky, described by the children as “air dancers.”
The visuals are beautifully rendered, looking hand-painted and hand-drawn, with several spreads feeling especially atmospheric. The text itself is thoughtfully designed, using different visual weights and bolded words to guide young readers and emphasize new vocabulary. At the end, there’s even a creative dictionary that expands on those highlighted terms, adding an extra layer of learning.
Overall, Wildspeak is a poetic and visually rich picture book that celebrates imagination, language, and a child’s connection to nature.
Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Kids for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Wildspeak captures the way children interpret and experience the natural world around them, from the land beneath their feet to the sea beyond the horizon. Each page blends poetic language with a child’s sense of wonder, transforming everyday nature into something magical. One moment I especially loved shows dandelion seeds drifting across the sky, described by the children as “air dancers.”
The visuals are beautifully rendered, looking hand-painted and hand-drawn, with several spreads feeling especially atmospheric. The text itself is thoughtfully designed, using different visual weights and bolded words to guide young readers and emphasize new vocabulary. At the end, there’s even a creative dictionary that expands on those highlighted terms, adding an extra layer of learning.
Overall, Wildspeak is a poetic and visually rich picture book that celebrates imagination, language, and a child’s connection to nature.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews