Through The Mickle Woods - Valiska Gregory - Barry Moser: A king grieves for his late wife, whose last wish is that he seek the wise bear in the mickle woods.
Written by Valiska Gregory, illustrated by Barry Moser. First edition, 1992. Little Brown & Company. (Published simultaneously in Canada.)
This is a frame story, a literary device that tells a story within a story: The King, immobilized by grief over the death of his beloved Queen, is presented with a letter bearing her last wish, which sets him on a reluctant journey with no expectation other than to fulfill her wishes.
"Do one thing more for me, my king, my love. Into the dark and mickle woods go forth to find the bear. This child will give him my ring, and when the bells ring out at morningtide, mark you, closely, how merrily they sing."
The King and the boy, Michael, find the wise old bear of the mickle woods, who shares the wisdom the Queen knew would help ease the king's grief.
Gregory's book has been used as an aide in grief counseling for all-ages, but the emotionally dark background Barry Moser created for her story has been characterized as rather heavy for younger readers. Children experience loss in ways we sometimes overlook, and their grief is heavy. I think Moser honestly captures a universal depth of feeling, for readers young and old. He also brings the characters to life in individual portraits, as he did for East Of The Sun, West Of The Moon, and in the end, the darkness lifts and life is renewed.
Valiska Gregory has written many other well-received children's books: When Stories Fell Like Shooting Stars, Babysitting For Benjamin, and The Mr. Poggle and Scamp Books.
Barry Moser is an respected, award-winning artist, with a particular love of print making. He's illustrated an interesting variety of books for children: The Call Of The Wild, Lousy Rotten Stinkin' Grapes, What You Know First, Once Upon a Twice, The Mushroom Man, Voices of Ancient Egypt, and many others.
Learn more about Barry Moser:
https://goo.gl/Xr1sm9
Condition*: Fine/Fine.
*Based on guidelines from the Independent Online Booksellers' Association.
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