West Coast Wild Rainforest

We’ve previously met the wildlife that inhabits BC’s Pacific coast in Hodge’s delightful series of three picture books: West Coast Wild: A Nature Alphabet; West Coast Wild Babies; West Coast Wild at Low Tide. This fourth book invites you to turn your gaze from the sea to explore, in more depth, the backdrop of rainforest that hugs the coast. Superlatives like towering, mighty, bountiful, and magnificent appropriately describe the ancient forest. But it is far more than huge coniferous trees nourished by copious rainfall. The author’s term, “mosaic of green”, evokes ground and tree-carpeting mosses and lichens, seedlings that sprout from nurse logs, thick ferns and a variety of berry-bearing shrubs. You’ll see the wildlife that uses the plentiful resources for food and shelter: squirrels, wolves, bears, eagles, deer, owls, songbirds, slugs...and salmon, always the salmon. The life of the rainforest revolves around this keystone fish species that spawns in its streams, and the author makes sure we understand that vital role in supporting the interconnectedness of the ecosystem.

The key points are reviewed and summarized (at a slightly higher reading level) in back matter pages, with a few added details to extend reader understanding—e.g. BC has nearly 25% of the world’s remaining temperate coastal rainforests. There’s a note of emphasis about the “contentious issue” of logging ancient trees that has fueled objections from “Indigenous peoples, conservationists and other concerned citizens of every generation”, all determined to protect and preserve this special habitat. A list of websites and books useful for further exploration of topics in West Coast Wild Rainforest is included.

West Coast Wild Rainforest, like the earlier series titles, is enriched with an impressive display of vibrant illustrations in watercolor: the enormity of the tree trunks, the myriad shades of green, the authentic images of animals, the ever-present water that nourishes the diversity of life. It is obvious that both illustrator and author share a deep respect for and emotional connection with this west coast setting.

Add this latest title to your collection, as each book in the series perfectly complements the others.