Walk on the Wild Side by Nicholas Oldland (Kids Can Press, 2014) is a delightful story about three friends (a bear, a moose, and a beaver) who love to have adventures together. The cartoon illustrations show the humor of these particular friends hiking together, but ultimately the message of “enjoying the journey” is a memorable one.
This is a picture book in which the pictures help to tell the story — the best kind! The three friends go for a hike, but soon find that they want a little more adventure. When they turn it in to a race, however, they face a little too much adventure! I love how the beaver comes to the rescue with the skill that only he has to offer. As the friends return to their hike, they come to realize that being together is enough of an adventure. Although this sounds trite, the book itself is delightful to read, and the balance between the message and the humor is simply perfect.
Note: I received a digital copy of this book for review consideration.