Beneath the Trees: The Autumn of Mister Grumpf

Winter is fast approaching and all the animals in the forest are in full

preparation: storing food and provisions, dining on the last worms with the

neighbors, etc... All the animals but one: grumpy badger Mr Grumpf just can't

finish sweeping the dead leaves off his doorstep with everyone coming by to

disturb him! Grumpf!

This new series paints a tender and colorful

portrait of everyday Life, showing that behind every flaw or weakness can lie

charm and strength. Readers will recognize their own neighbors, friends, and

family members in the endearing animal characters within this forest community.

In this first volume, we meet a very busy badger, who may admittedly be a little

slow, but who never refuses to lend a paw to help his neighbors. In time, his

generosity will be rewarded!

The stories in this four-book series take

place in the same forest over the course of four seasons. Each can be read

independently, exploring the complexity and richness of relationships with

family, friends, and loved ones. As both writer and illustrator, the author

doesn't rely on text to convey emotions, oscillating between a clever dose of

dialogue and wordless passages to makes these stories accessible to young

readers starting as young as 5 years old.

Presenting a graphic universe

somewhere between Michel Plessix's adaptations of THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS and

the cartoons of Walt Disney (in particular those created by Don Bluth, such as

THE RESCUERS and ROBIN HOOD), Dav gently conveys each season through a changing

palette of colors and rounded designs.