Welcome to the Forest: The Harvest Party

Ages 6 to 8, Grades K to 4

A group of quirky forest creatures embark on heartwarming adventures in this graphic novel series opener featuring original gouache art. Perfect for beginning readers and graphic novel fans, especially those who love the Studio Ghibli films and Tove Jansson's Moomin. Includes nonfiction information at the back of the book​ about the autumnal season.

Deep in the heart of the Forest lives a handful of monsters. The Forest is home to many creatures, big and small, like:boisterous Mossman, who is much kinder than he looks;cautious but cheerful Wallace; carefree, kind Grumpkin;and a sweet, mysterious entity named Shadow. The creatures prove that every day is an adventure as new discoveries draw them closer together.

In this book, readers will get a glimpse at the woodland creatures' lives and discover three bite-sized stories, perfect for the autumnal harvest season. In Welcome to the Forest: The Harvest Party, Mossman and Wallace decorate pumpkins, Grumpkin meets a new friend, and the creatures celebrate fall with a lively Harvest Party.

Cottagecore and Studio Ghibli meet in this graphic novel by debut author and illustrator Katie Risor. Risor's breathtaking gouache mixed-media illustrations shine throughout this graphic novel. It features a Dyslexia-friendly font and is perfect to share with emerging readers, English and Second Language (ESL) learners, and veteran graphic novel enthusiasts alike.

About the Author

Katie Risor is a professional illustrator and author who loves all things weird, interesting, and whimsical. In her personal work, she's all about weird creatures, hidden themes, and childhood adventures. She gets a lot of inspiration from nature, animals, and history. When she's not painting or writing, you can find Katie gardening, cooking, eating fancy cheese, going on walks, making specialized playlists, or looking for cool new restaurants to try. She grew up in San Antonio, Texas but recently moved to Syracuse, New York with her partner and three cats.