I received this book from Netgalley/publisher in exchange of an honest review.

Back in May I was delighted to read Beneath the Trees: A Fine Summer and loved that one, so I was happily surprised when in June I saw a new book in the series which was about the first spring, a bit weird that they first upped summer and then spring, but I will take it because more Beneath the Trees is always good. The series is just too adorable and fun.

A beautiful and heart-breaking book, that was what this was. Dav did it again! In this book we meet a father swine and his baby. He is seemingly doing all the parenting all alone and we see how he tries to get his kid outside… though quickly finds out that his kid is very allergic to outside stuff. Which was just so sad and relatable. I know that feeling little one. Sneezing when the pollen go up in the air. Sneezing because of flowers and plants. As an adult I can live with it, but I can imagine how a baby just doesn’t know what to do with it and just cries. Cries until it tires itself out and then falls asleep. Poor thing. I did love how the dad didn’t give up, even when he was feeling pretty hopeless about it all. He just wants to go out with his kid, show him the world, pick flowers for mom, and everything ends in tears. I just wanted to step in the book so badly, I just wanted to give him a hug, tell him it would be fine. Eventually.

As for the mom and picking flowers… I quickly realised where the mom actually was, but seeing it being confirmed on page 31 of my copy just broke my heart. Awww, this poor duo. 🙁

The art is just gorgeous and I love the style. Dav can really convey a story with mostly just images which is amazing.

All in all, a beautiful, but heart-breaking volume in the Beneath the Trees series, I cannot wait to see what is next. I do hope that the next is less sad though, haha.