The Forest Family

by Joan Bodger, Mark Lang (Illustrator)

Deep in the forest, Sylvania lives in peaceful serenity with her husband, Bernardo the woodcutter, and daughters, Rosy and Daisy, when the lure of adventure leads Bernardo into a foreign war. Years later, when he finally returns, he is an unrecognizable stranger. Using the lore of generations of women, Sylvania and her daughters set out to heal him and recover the man they love.

Incorporating stories as disparate – and as connected – as the story of Ruth and Naomi, the Great Pan, and Sir Gawain and the Loathly Maid, Joan Bodger weaves a masterful and unique work, the culmination of her lifetime as a storyteller.

112 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how Bidger weaves a variety of different stories - English folktales, European fairy tales, Bible stories into this delightful narrative but the best part for me is the re-telling of Sir Gawain and the Loathly lady - I can hear Bodger's voice as I read this story and it is as moving and stirring now as when I first heard her tell it!

[Meaghan Steeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been such a big favourite of mine since I got it when I was eleven. I am in love with the fact that they live in the forest, are gleaners and storytellers, and the fact that this story is interwoven with so many other stories. The illustrations are stunning too, and I wish there were more books like this.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story takes Snow White and Rose Red and traditional women's wisdom as it's jumping off point. It weaves in many other fairytales into its tapestry -- at times the story is too dense to be satisfying.