Forts

Venit, making her picture book debut, invites young readers to expand their definition of fort beyond pillow piles and tree houses. Readers follow a pale-skinned child with dark hair as they and a feline companion discover “tiny worlds within this world,/ safe as coat pockets.” Such bastions appear beneath overhanging branches, within “the hairy roots of a fallen-over oak,” behind window-seat curtains, and under tables—each spot offering a protected yet connected place in the world, whether for solitary reflection or intimate friend gatherings. Pak (On a Summer Night) brings these spaces to life through translucently layered watercolor, gouache, and digital illustrations that evoke the overlapping quality of fort materials themselves; particularly striking are spreads of the autumnal outdoors, in which leaves fall like confetti in the fading light, adding depth and warmth to the visual narrative. Emphasizing quietude and mindfulness over raucous play (“Your slow breath fills the fort until/ all you hear are thoughts”), it’s a serene offering that celebrates the impulse to carve out one’s niche within the larger world. Ages 3–7. Author’s agent: Joyce Sweeney, Seymour Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Kirsten Hall, Catbird Productions. (July)