The Hideout

K-Gr 2–Completely and safely ensconced, Hannah hides in a thicket in the park. Her only companion is an Odd Furry Creature, who says very little but is a cozy and contented partner. Together they roast pigeons over the fire and collect caterpillars, sticks, and dried leaves. As they grow more at home in their hiding spot, the bramble closes in tightly around them until they are sure that no one could possibly find them in the perfectly quiet den that they have created. Rich, earthy illustrations are filled with myriad precious things, such as marbles and leaves, acorn tops and blue buttons. Hannah is a young child with red hair, a coonskin cap, and practical and patched pants; she is completely content in her rustic and homey den. The lovely text weaves and flows through the story with a dreamlike quality, and builds such a completely immersive world that readers will be startled when they must return to reality.