Beneath the Trees: The Autumn of Mister Grumpf

The animals in the forest are preparing for winter, but Mr. Grumpf, a grumpy badger, is too busy sweeping leaves to join in. This new series portrays everyday life in a forest community, showing that even flaws can have charm and strength. The first volume introduces a busy badger who helps his neighbors, and the stories are accessible to young readers. The author uses a graphic style to convey emotions and seasons through a changing palette of colors and rounded designs.

Format: Hardback
Length: 32 pages
Publication date: 12 October 2021
Publisher: Magnetic Press

Winter is fast approaching, and all the animals in the forest are in full preparation, storing food and provisions, dining on the last worms with their neighbors, and so on. All the animals, except one: grumpy badger Mr. Grumpf just can't finish sweeping the dead leaves off his doorstep with everyone coming by to disturb him! Grumpf!

This new series paints a tender and colorful portrait of everyday life, showing that behind every flaw or weakness can lie charm and strength. Readers will recognize their own neighbors, friends, and family members in the endearing animal characters within this forest community. In this first volume, we meet a very busy badger, who may admittedly be a little slow, but who never refuses to lend a paw to help his neighbors. In time, his generosity will be rewarded!

The stories in this four-book series take place in the same forest over the course of four seasons. Each can be read independently, exploring the complexity and richness of relationships with family, friends, and loved ones. As both writer and illustrator, the author doesn't rely on text to convey emotions, oscillating between a clever dose of dialogue and wordless passages to make these stories accessible to young readers starting as young as 5 years old.

Presenting a graphic universe somewhere between Michel Plessix's adaptations of THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS and the cartoons of Walt Disney (in particular those created by Don Bluth, such as THE RESCUERS and ROBIN HOOD), Dav gently conveys each season through a changing palette of colors and rounded designs.

Weight: 284g
Dimension: 186 x 250 x 10 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781951719258