A trio of friends are inseparable…mostly.Rabbit, Duck, and Big Bear do everything together, from dancing and singing to playing and celebrating. But for all their fun activities, they always avoid the "long, winding path" that snakes off into a darker part of the woods. There's always a reason not to go down the path: It's too narrow for them to walk together; they're too tired; the path is too muddy in the autumn. This tactic works well until one day, while ice skating, Rabbit overshoots her stop and goes skating down the path alone. When she finally stops, she's at the base of a gigantic fir tree. Duck and Big Bear run after her, and some secrets about the tree and its peaceful aura are revealed to both Rabbit and readers. This winning story about the importance of quiet places to reflect on life is enhanced greatly by pencil and acrylic illustrations that capture movement and expression in every stroke. Storytellers looking to introduce concepts of meditation or the need for alone time will make the most of this, but the narrative's humor and heart will appeal to anyone simply looking for an engaging tale. (This book was reviewed digitally.)As sublime as sitting under a magnificent fir tree in quiet contemplation. (Picture book. 4-8)

A trio of friends are inseparable…mostly.Rabbit, Duck, and Big Bear do everything together, from dancing and singing to playing and celebrating. But for all their fun activities, they always avoid the "long, winding path" that snakes off into a darker part of the woods. There's always a reason not to go down the path: It's too narrow for them to walk together; they're too tired; the path is too muddy in the autumn. This tactic works well until one day, while ice skating, Rabbit overshoots her stop and goes skating down the path alone. When she finally stops, she's at the base of a gigantic fir tree. Duck and Big Bear run after her, and some secrets about the tree and its peaceful aura are revealed to both Rabbit and readers. This winning story about the importance of quiet places to reflect on life is enhanced greatly by pencil and acrylic illustrations that capture movement and expression in every stroke. Storytellers looking to introduce concepts of meditation or the need for alone time will make the most of this, but the narrative's humor and heart will appeal to anyone simply looking for an engaging tale. (This book was reviewed digitally.)As sublime as sitting under a magnificent fir tree in quiet contemplation. (Picture book. 4-8)