Wildful

Pretty art with very few words. I prefer books with more dialogue, but I did enjoy the artistic choice of having a limited colour palette.

Maddie

Inkscape Critics

The book is pretty, and has a calm feeling. It is sad because the grandma has died. Mum is feeling dull, and she doesn’t see the beauty in anything anymore until her daughter helps her to see it again.

Amelia

Inkscape Critics

The book Wildful is about a girl who spends a lot of time inside and on her phone and then she discovers nature and helps her mum to rediscover nature. The story takes place in a busy town or city and in a small pocket of wild woods. Our favourite part was when the mum agreed to go with her and see the badgers with Poppy. The most exiting bit of the story is when Poppy lost her dog then met Rob. The pictures in the book were black and white and had loads of details. The illustrations help us to imagine the ups and downs of the characters emotions. We liked the picture on the front of the book as it captured the story perfectly and involved a bit of colour. The book was really easy to read and had big illustrations that portrayed the storyline perfectly. The story made us feel a rollercoaster of emotions happy then sad then happy again. We would definitely read this book again and would recommend this book to younger people as it is easy to read and it doesn’t many words and we would recommend it to people who like nature as it is jam packed with illustrations. Another layer for older children is that Poppy’s mum is depressed and grieving and the healing power of nature.

Anouk and Georgina

Sandroyd Bookivores

I loved all the detail in the illustrations and how it can be read by most ages young and old because it is mostly just pictures and the words are not that complex. I also like how it is quite relatable to me as I always have my headphones in my ears and am always on my phone, plus I am a scout so I really like nature and wild animals too. An amazing book!

Grace

Lionel Reading Champions

I love the wild and the story has a lot of tiny things to look at and its very detailed. I love how the animals look. Now that I have read it, I want to make a wild secret place and enjoy it with my friend!

Nika

Lionel Reading Champions

I love the book Wildful because I love nature and animals. The illustrations are really detailed and I loved looking carefully at them.

Emily

Lionel Reading Champions

I love the Book Wildful because it has lots of plants and animals in it.

Timmy

Lionel Reading Champions

I love the way this book has mostly pictures and not very much writing - the pictures can tell the story without the need for any words! It makes it much easier to read for me!

Sadie-Evelyn

Lionel Reading Champions

The illustrations are great though there is not a lot of writing included. But the book is amazing!

Ryan

Lionel Reading Champions

i enjoyed reading wildfull because it focused on the freedom and nature, and that we need to simply go outside. i liked the style of the illustration it was a simple art style

kiera

Sale High Readers

I think it was a good book. I think this book would be good for primary kids because of all the pictures. Overall i think this book was good i enjoyed reading it in my lunch break.

Aisha

Sale High Readers

easy to read i enjoyed the pictures telling the story

carol

St Mary Magdalene Story Seekers

I dont really like reading lots of words so i enjoyed putting my own words to the pictures

carol

St Mary Magdalene Story Seekers

i enjoyed the pictures telling the story

carol

St Mary Magdalene Story Seekers

easy to understand and the words that were used help to tell the story

carol

St Mary Magdalene Story Seekers

I chose Wildful, even though there's almost no words you can work out what's going on from the pictures and you can following along easily. I liked the colours that the illustrator used.

Towa

Stillness Infants Reading Ambassadors

I liked the drawings but I wish that there was more colour.

Sophie

Bassingbourn Readers

Y1 said they loved how many picture there were and all the details. It makes you use your brain and your imagination. Some children in Y2 thought it needed more bright colours but most of them said they liked the pictures, especially the animals! Y6 said they loved that the illustrations enabled you to make your own story and that it could be different every time. Y5 loved the comic strip/ graphic novel approach. Some children said it was too dark but the lack of colours makes it easier to focus on.

Reading Ambassadors

Langtoft Reading Ambassadors

I really enjoyed this book despite having little words so little to actually read, its illustrations captured a stunning side of nature full of live thriving and growing. It follows the story of a curious girl when her dog runs off under a fence chasing a fox into forest, where she meets a boy and falls in love with the pants, animals and peace away from the stress of her grieving mother. Her new friend helps her opens her eyes to the true beauty of the natural world and the beautifully details really capture heartfelt emotions and curiosity. I would really recommend this book to those would like a little break of and action-packed book.

Nina

Willow Book Whispers

This book, although mostly quiet, had a captivating storyline of friendship and adventure - but also taught me that silence can be more than gold - it can be understanding. It taught me to understand and appreciate wildlife, while we still have time.

Lucas

Willow Book Whispers

I thought the general illustration was pretty satisfying and I thought the general moral of the story was pretty good. there wasn’t a lot of dialogue and that fit the scenery pretty well, but the entire thing was in black and white which just in a way rely on dialed down the feel to the book so overall, I would give it a 3/5.

Freddie

Willow Book Whispers

I loved it because it had a greyhound, who looked like my nans greyhound Donny, minus the white splotches. I also liked how the different bird song was portrayed. I disliked how I could not follow the plots every so often, but that happens to me and picture books. I would recommend it to anyone who likes dogs and animals and picture books.

Ellie

Willow Book Whispers

loved the themes of grief and peace and how they were expressed and the finding of peace

freya

Sale High Readers

This book is all about the meaning of life and you don't realise how alive the world is when you are caught up in your life. You never realise what your life is meant to be. The pictures were beautiful.

Esme

Sale High Readers

A very enchanting and magical story about nature- what a book! I liked the graphic novel style of the book itself, because it not only appeals to children and adults, but also teenagers too. I think that a lot of people would like this book, and it's very refreshing to read a graphic-novel style book like this in between larger books and novels, as a graphic novel can be interpreted in so many ways- a picture, in my opinion, can tell more words that any novel could. I like the amount of detail and precision in these drawings as well.

Bella

TGGS Carnegie Readers

Eirlys

Atlantic Awesome Readers

Keira

Atlantic Awesome Readers

Scarlett

Atlantic Awesome Readers

Hazel

Atlantic Awesome Readers

Charlie

Atlantic Awesome Readers

We think the illustrations are very detailed and we think that Wildful is a wonderful story, and the illustrations were insightful. We really enjoyed the book , thank you Kengo Kurimoto. We wish this book luck.

B , C

Wormies2026

In Wildful, there is a girl who loves nature and she is just like her Grandma. Her Grandma also loved nature. She goes into a secret, natural sort of place with her dog and meets a boy. What I like about this book is the secret place that she goes to because it has lots of flowers. What I don't like is that there is a dog, because I don't like dogs. I would really recommend this book because it's enjoyable.

Mumina

Read for the stars

I love the way the story is told through the picture (in the brownish panels) and only has a few words for the really important things. It has a good storyline and I love how the wilderness is represented. The use of different sized panels is very clever, and I love how it used multiple versions of the main character to show she was searching in different places. The dark panels can be hard to read but are fun, too. I would rate the book 10/10.

LuCy

TGGS Carnegie Readers

It’s an enchanting story of both love and nature. The way the author, through pictures only, very few words, shows the ‘language’ of nature, is amazing. It’s very true, the more you go back somewhere, the more beauty you find. I completely recommend this book to any nature lovers. I love how it’s like a piece of their grandma was passed down to Poppy, as she loved nature just as much.

Georgina

Sandroyd Bookivores

The children were big fans of this book too. They liked the graphic novel style of the book and could really focus on the images as there is not a lot of text. The children liked how the animals were illustrated too and we talked a lot about British wildlife.

Katie

The St James Shadowers

Eyad

North Manchester Novel Navigators

Eyad

North Manchester Novel Navigators

Eyad

North Manchester Novel Navigators

Eyad

North Manchester Novel Navigators

I loved this book. It helps the fact that when a relative dies, they can be completely forgotten and there will always be a piece of them left that gets passed down through generations. They will always be remembered and never forgotten. It reminds me of how one friend could turn a bad day into a good day and someone's mood to a good mood. They will always be kind, respectful and listen. And will never bully or betray you.

Eyad

North Manchester Novel Navigators

I love this book! Not only does it show how the adolescence find fun NOT on screens, but in the creation of friendship and exploring. I like how at the end, the mum is finally encouraged to join the two friends to venture into the wild.

Amelia

Weald of Kent Grammar (Sevenoaks)

The technique of the drawing was pencil lines because most of it was black, grey and brown but there was some bits in the book ( like some of the flowers ) that were in brighter colours. There wasn't much text in the book but where it was used it related well to the illustrations because the author only used the text when it was really needed. The shape of the book was a landscape rectangle. I think it was in that shape so that there could be more pictures on one page. On the cover, some flowers are highlighted in purple and there is a badger poking its head out of a hole in a tree. There is also a squirrel running along near the top of the book. The font in Wildful looked a bit like a child's handwriting so Poppy probably wrote it. I think Poppy and her mum ( and maybe the boy as well ) were Asian. I think the author only chose people of that ethnicity because maybe he was thinking of him or his family when they were that age. Also at the end of the book there was a few pages of the dawn chorus and since there is lots of different types of birds, the author drew lots of squiggles and wiggles around the page to show the type of noise that a bird makes. The impact of the book on me was that I felt a bit sorry for Poppy because in the book it said that her nanny had died recently and I think Poppy's nanny liked going outside a lot so now Poppy's mum doesn't want to go outside anymore because that's what her mum liked doing. The part I liked the most was the dawn chorus at the end because at that moment it is the first time Poppy's mum goes in the wilderness since her mum died. I also recognised some of the squiggles as I went to a dawn chorus walk in the woods myself and the song thrush had different types of squiggles for the different sounds in its song just like in this book.

Carlotta

Orpington Library Chatterbooks Group

Firstly I mean the pictures in this book are absolutely incredible! I read this book carefully tracing every finger on each dramatic page and it just made me want to keep reading! This book is great if you want a picture book with absolutely no words. It made me really focus on everything more with no words as it created a sort of emotianal feeling between me and the pictures especially how often we get disracted sometimes with our phones and music and we forget to look up and see the real world. In this book it showed a lot of nature and that's what I loved about it! Beautiful book it illustrates, describing in detail also the fact it had no words and Kengo described it in such detail making me and some other readers understand it exceptionally. Brilliant book.

Angelo

Wetherby Prep Book Club

The book is mostly about Poppy taking her dog Pepper for a walk and spending time with Rob in the woods. My favourite part of the book is when Poppy and Rob went to Rob’s sitting spot because I felt very calm just watching the water drops and the reflection of the amazing pond. I liked the pictures a lot because it was a manga styled book which made the story natural and calm. I partiliked the last photo because I could see all the birds twitter. I really enjoyed the book because I am Japanese and I am used to reading manga typed books. I recommend this book to everyone when they want to calm down.

Tomonori

Sandroyd Bookivores

I thought that the book was pretty, and it had a calm feeling to it, although it was sad because the grandma died. Mum felt dull; she struggled to see the beauty in nature. It was her daughter who helped her to see it again.

Amelia

Inkscape Critics

This book is interesting. Firstly, let’s admire the artwork: it’s stunning. I really enjoy the details, especially the lighting, the truly capture each moment vividly and is a pleasure to see. I love the way it feels animated though it is shown in jerked movements, everything feels connected and so real. Furthermore, the lack of speech is used well. The author is clearly an amazing artist and a prolific writer. The reason of the lack of speech is because (maybe) nature is somewhat beautiful and calm, it doesn’t need human interaction and when there is human interaction, the lack of speech shows the narrators admiration. Conversely, despite all the amazing aspects of this wonderful book, it was a quick read (I read it in one sitting lol). Though I did somewhat rush the book (I do regret it :/) I feel it was fast paced which isn’t necessarily good for graphic novels or artistic books because it will end soon. And why’s this a problem? It causes a lack of attachment to characters and makes it less emotional. Yet again, this book, through sublime art, highlights a very significant and, somewhat, depressing reality of death. In the book, spoiler ahead though this won’t matter much since the book won’t be long, the grandmother does die and causes the mother’s extreme isolation, despair and detachment from reality. This point is also further intensified through the young girl starting the book on her phone and taken into the suddenness of nature. I believe this likens the unhealthy, unnecessary attachment to mobile devices to the beautiful, scenic view of nature and its soothing nature. Overall this book would be five stars, I’m sure, but only because of my, unfortunately, quick reading and shortness of this book causes less depth and emotional attachment to characters. Though, I would recommend if you don’t have a big pile of books to read BECAUSE you must take this book slowly and enjoy the journey. This is truly a great artwork and book by a prolific writer and imaginative artist.

Esa

Wetherby Prep Book Club

Plot is hard to follow as there are rarely any words

netanel

Belsize Stories

I found this book very heartfelt and inspiring. It shows the struggle after a loved one passes away. It also focuses on the journey getting better. The book is based on going outside when times are hard. It helps to explore the outdoors and the flora and fauna around you in your free time. You begin to notice more animals around your surroundings and different patterns they may make. In conclusion, the book shows that when you go outside, your worries start to fade and you feel free.

Riyanshi

Sherwood Shortlist Squad

I loved the illustrations and how they told the story. I also loved how the book was almost entirely monochrome except for a few pops of colour!

Orla

Danum Doodlers Does Books

I liked the pictures. I liked the story. I liked the title.

Dylan

Danum Doodlers Does Books

The art style is very detailed and the colours are darker with blacks and browns which makes the little bits of colour on the flowers on the front cover pop. Poppy starts like a typical teenager who is very obsessed with her phone but as the story progresses, you can see that she notices more about the world around her. Her friend Rob is more observant and looked at all of the trees and flowers and sees the beauty that some people might just view as boring. I really like the dog because she’s very funny and you notice her energy and chaos brought to life by the illustrations. The story is very touching and heartwarming, reminding you that we are surrounded by nature and beauty but we just need to be focussed enough to see it. You can hear the story telling itself to you as you look at it and despite the lack of words, you can definitely understand the story. An excellent read that I would highly recommend!

Kate

AGS Carnegies

The book is a graphic novel about a young girl called Poppy, her dog, Pepper, and her bereaved mum, who is too sad to leave the house after Poppy’s gran passed away. During a morning walk with Pepper, Poppy finds a long-lost patch of woodland in her neighbourhood that contains all sorts of plants and animals. She also befriends a young boy called Rob who she was led to by Pepper and who helps Poppy in curing her mum of her sadness. I liked the book because it’s a delightful insight into the beauty of nature, how it “soothes the heart” and of nature’s importance in our day-to-day lives. One of the things that makes the story compelling is how it is told almost entirely with pictures, which shows how you don’t need words to talk to nature. Overall, it was a beautiful story with a valuable message.

Theo

Forest Hill Library

Lisa

Danum Doodlers Does Books

Lisa

Danum Doodlers Does Books