Into the Thicket

This tender picture book follows a boy and the rabbit he hopes to help, gently exploring themes of compassion, courage, love, and the bittersweet beauty of letting go. It invites young readers to develop empathy and a deeper appreciation for the natural world, showing how even the smallest acts of kindness can ripple through a great, big world.

The boy, Patrick, must overcome his fear of entering the thicket to get the tiny, injured rabbit the help it needs quickly. He anxiously remembers his brother’s tales of goblins within. Will he go through the thicket to the wildlife rehabilitator’s home? Will the rabbit get the help it needs quickly enough? Will the boy muster the courage to help care for the rabbit? Will the rabbit live?

Featuring stunning watercolor illustrations by acclaimed Ann Arbor artist John Megahan, Into the Thicket is a story families will return to again and again.

Into the Thicket is a longer form picture book, divided into three sections for easier reading. Watercolor illustrations on every page bring the story, the characters, and even the boy's imagination, vividly to life.

The primary audience for the book is children aged 4 - 7. Parents, teachers and librarians will be interested in this book that children and adults alike will relate to. A tribute to wildlife rehabilitators and animal lovers of all kinds, they will appreciate the story. The book includes helpful information for those who find injured or abandoned wildlife, and as importantly, how to know when to leave animals alone.