"Johnny, you must promise me that you will not think about trying to find your mother and father. You are all that I have left, and we are the last of our kind. We are the Teeny Tiny Ancients, the smallest woodland creatures in the world."
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The Adventures of Johnny Ancient:
Lost in a Dangerous and Bizarre Forest by Chell Onsig Trafford Publishing
book review by Jenifer Kimble
A tiny boy, merely a few inches tall, named Johnny and his butterfly friend Zoe find themselves on a wild adventure as they become lost in the forest in search of Johnny's parents. Running into creatures they have not seen before, they meet fireflies, a moth, a hungry one-eyed fish, a giant dragonfly, and the legendary Sir Marmot among others. Amazed by the sights and sounds beneath them as they flutter through the air in the leg basket of their befriended dragonfly, they realize that the beauty disguises great danger for things their size. Undeterred by the unknown, the three certainly endure the adventure of their lives as they trudge day and night towards their happy ending.
This clever story weaves nature with a mythical touch as forest insects come to life. It is a pleasant family read appropriate for all ages. Chance meetings throughout the adventure introduce new characters and provide depth. Well thought out detail describes the scenery in such a way that the reader is able to envision the sights and sounds of the forest stage on which the characters find themselves. The author spends appropriate amounts of time moving through the story, not lingering too long before the next surprise is introduced. This method keeps the reader engaged, not an easy task for the target audience. Additionally, the story while ending as expected, leaves the reader with an open-ended question and begins to introduce yet another adventure that could certainly be continued in a secondary text.