Book Review of A Giraffe in the Forest: A Geoff and Banks Adventure
Sponsored* | All opinions are our own
The Children’s Book Review
A Giraffe in the Forest: A Geoff and Banks Adventure
Written by Jillian Fanning
Illustrated by Eleanor Loseby
Ages: 4-6 | 33 Pages
Publisher: Jillian Fanning (2024) | ISBN: 9798989285426
What to Expect: Friendship, exploration, trust, new environments, and accepting difference.
In A Giraffe in the Forest, readers can learn about differences, vulnerability, and new experiences through a scenario that will eventually happen to most children—that of being alone in a new and unfamiliar environment.
Geoff the Giraffe does not feel very brave. On holiday with his family in the forest, Geoff decided to explore alone—and now he’s lost! Geoff isn’t sure he’ll ever find his way back to his family in such a strange and unfamiliar place—until he meets Banks, that is. Banks is a bear, and he knows all about the forest. Despite his wariness of a creature so different from himself, Geoff decides to trust Banks, and that is a good decision. Banks shows him how to find berries to snack on, throw snowballs, and climb the steep forest paths. Soon, Geoff is back with his family—and even better, he’s made a new friend!
Geoff and Banks make an unlikely but endearing pair of protagonists, and readers are sure to enjoy laughing at Geoff’s mistakes in the forest, even as they sympathize with his discomfort. Banks, on the other hand, is the perfect mentor—knowledgeable, friendly, and warm-hearted, he’s the guide every child hopes they will find along the way. The vibrant cartoon artwork uses different perspectives, from close-ups to panoramic long-shots, to help readers follow along Geoff’s journey and see the forest as he discovers it from his point of view.
A Giraffe in the Forest is a comforting and funny exploration of being lost and finding help—we hope there will be many more stories to come in this series!
Buy the Book
About the Author
Jillian Fanning is a former elementary education teacher. While teaching, Jillian saw firsthand the joy children’s books brought to her students, and she loved sharing in that excitement with them. Now, as stay-at-home mom, Jillian writes whenever she can. She wants to continue to bring that excitement to children by writing books of her own.
Jillian is an avid runner. Although her daughter is her muse, many of the details of her books come while out on the quiet of a run. Jillian lives in Wyoming, with her husband, Bret, and their daughter, Palmer.
Explore Jillian’s delightful world of children’s literature and be a part of her exciting journey by visiting jillianfanningbooks.com. Connect with her on social media @jillianfanningbooks to stay up to date on her latest releases and behind-the-scenes adventures.
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This is a sponsored*, non-biased review of A Giraffe in the Forest: A Geoff and Banks Adventure. Learn more about getting a book review …
