The Faraway Forest: Wally’s Route

Ages 5 to 8

Welcome to Faraway Forest, a magical woodland village home to an assortment of adorable animal characters, including a sweet and dedicated raccoon named Wally and a loyal white rabbit named Bo. Perfect for kids who love Animal Crossing!

“This book has my stamp of approval! First-class delivery!” ―Ben Clanton, author of the New York Times bestselling Narwhal and Jelly series

A colorful cast of animal friends stars in this charming new young readers’ graphic novel series by award-winning author-illustrator Debbie Fong.

Wally, the Faraway Forest’s mail carrier, always tries his best. In addition to delivering packages of every shape and size, he and Bo, his best friend, also deliver kindness and a helping hand along the way. But can they win over their grumpiest neighbor, the cantankerous Mr. Sternbill? Wally and Bo are definitely going to try!

Follow this pair of friends as they discover the power of kindness and community in the first book in The Faraway Forest series.

GREAT FOR NEW READERS: Wonderfully relatable characters, sweet humor, and comic-style layouts make this series ideal for emerging and independent readers. A playful seek-and-find challenge and a “how to draw” section add some interactive fun to the experience!

GRAPHIC NOVEL FUN: Kids love graphic novels! There’s a ton of excitement among young readers about including illustrated chapter books and graphic novel-style stories in their reading choices. This series will be a delight for visually oriented kids.

A RELAXING ANIMAL WORLD: Stepping into the Faraway Forest is as charming and immersive as playing Animal Crossing or Littlest Pet Shop. Parents, caregivers, and kids can all enjoy the cozy vibes of this magical woodland world.

RELUCTANT READER APPEAL: This book's simple text, short chapters, and engaging artwork make it perfect for readers of all interests and abilities, including less enthusiastic readers.

COZY GIFT FOR ALL OCCASIONS: With a classic feel and stories that are centered around themes of kindness, community, and inclusivity, The Faraway Forest series will make a warm and welcome gift for birthdays, back-to-school, holidays, or any special occasion.

Perfect for: Children ages 5 to 8 years old Family and classroom read-aloud book Early, emergent, and reluctant readers Fans of friendship book series like Fox & Chick, Frog and Toad, and Elephant & Piggie

About the Author

Debbie Fong is a rising children’s book star. The first book she illustrated, How to Be a Person (2020), was a strong seller and her first middle grade graphic novel, Next Stop (2024), which she also wrote, received four starred reviews. Her comic Greenhouse (2018) was nominated for an Ignatz Award and won a Broken Frontier award that same year. She is also the artist behind POMMO Press, an online art shop selling prints, stationery, and other fun goods. Debbie lives in Brooklyn.