FOREST BATH

What could be better than a warm bubble bath with a favorite rubber ducky?

Why, a forest bath, of course. The East Asian–presenting young narrator of this tale soaks up the sights, sounds, and senses of the woods while the child’s watchful mother stands nearby. As dragonflies and butterflies zoom around, the child luxuriates in everything nature has to offer: “I wash between my toes” (an accompanying illustration depicts the youngster leaping barefoot through the mud) “and scrub my back” (with a branch); “I hunt for the sponge” (a lichen) “and pat my face.” By the time the child returns home for an actual soak in the tub, readers will wish they, too, could join this delighted family. In the backmatter, Barton notes that forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, was introduced by the Japanese government in the 1980s to encourage people to “take a break from technology” and “[immerse] yourself in nature as you might in a bath.” Readers will emerge just as “bright and sparkling” as the enthusiastic protagonist, who isn’t at all squeamish about getting wet or dirty. The clever use of terms associated with a traditional bath (“test the water”) makes the story even more relatable. Barton’s words and Henditirto’s luminous artwork combine for a sensuous experience that just might prompt readers to take a quick walk or dip into the woods or a nearby park.

An enticing demonstration of nature’s simple healing pleasures.