The Mailbox in the Forest

September 20, 2021
For quiet excitement, finding a secret message in the forest is hard to beat. When first grader Mayu, a city child staying with her grandparents, finds a small box between two tree trunks labeled “Mailbocks,” she leaves a note for the leaver, correcting the spelling. “Dear Mayu,” starts the reply she finds the next day, “Thank you for the letter. Im Konta. I dont write much so my spelling is not good.” Who is Konta? Author Hara gently draws out the suspense as Mayu, cued as Japanese, travels back and forth from the mailbox, finding out more with each missive—and eventually meeting the figure. The story unfolds in an atmosphere of safety and security as the child learns that a letter “holds happy memories,” and a serviceable translation by Mallia makes the action clear. Soft, unlined illustrations by Takahashi
(Kuma-Kuma Chan, the Little Bear) alternate between inky b&w scenes and a palette of autumnal golds enhanced by splashes of teal and scarlet. The lengthy story allows luxurious development and mystery as Mayu and readers wait to meet the letters’ enigmatic author. Ages 4–8.

Starred review from August 1, 2021
A young girl exchanges letters with a forest friend. Even from her apartment window in the city, first grader Mayu can see the forest that is near her grandparents' house. Every time she looks at the forest, she smiles and imagines what it must be like to be in it. Luckily for Mayu, she stays with her grandparents for the winter holidays and is excited to explore. One day she stumbles across a box in a tree, labeled "mailbocks" and inviting passersby to drop in their letters. Realizing whoever made the box spelled mailbox wrong, she writes a letter with the correct spelling. The next morning she finds a letter for her in the forest mailbox, which begins a correspondence with her mystery forest friend, whose name she learns is Konta. She soon discovers the joys of writing letters and that her new friend is a young fox. Hara pens a sweet story of magically everyday life and an unexpected friendship. Appropriate to the focus on letter writing and format, each letter is placed on its own page, Mayu's missives tidy and Konta's full of misspellings and cross-outs. The illustrations switch between full color and black and white, adding playfulness and whimsy. This Japanese import is infused with distinct cultural elements, from foods to the teru teru bozu doll Mayu makes with her grandfather to ward off the rain. A charming story of everyday life with a hint of magic. (Fantasy. 5-8)

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January 1, 2022
In this appealingly illustrated chapter book, Mayu, a city-dwelling first grader, spends a holiday with her grandparents in the country and becomes enthralled by the adjacent woodland. When she discovers a private mailbox deep in the forest, she posts a letter, and soon she has become pen pals with the mysterious Konta. They share information about their families, and an alert reader might begin to suspect that Konta has a secret. On a glorious watercolor spread glowing with the gold of fall foliage, Konta is revealed as a fox child. Mayu is due to return home and wonders how she and Konta will be able to maintain their epistolary friendship; happily, a bird suggests a creative solution. Occasional culturally specific Japanese references, such as making a teru teru bozu doll to discourage rain, are perfect for early-chapter-book readers, whose horizons are expanding. A subtle subtext suggests that Mayu is ambivalent about her new baby sister and that time spent with indulgent grandparents, the freedom to explore nature, and making a new friend are just what is required to weather that potentially sticky family shift. Sarah Ellis

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2022
In this appealingly illustrated chapter book, Mayu, a city-dwelling first grader, spends a holiday with her grandparents in the country and becomes enthralled by the adjacent woodland. When she discovers a private mailbox deep in the forest, she posts a letter, and soon she has become pen pals with the mysterious Konta. They share information about their families, and an alert reader might begin to suspect that Konta has a secret. On a glorious watercolor spread glowing with the gold of fall foliage, Konta is revealed as a fox child. Mayu is due to return home and wonders how she and Konta will be able to maintain their epistolary friendship; happily, a bird suggests a creative solution. Occasional culturally specific Japanese references, such as making a teru teru bozu doll to discourage rain, are perfect for early-chapter-book readers, whose horizons are expanding. A subtle subtext suggests that Mayu is ambivalent about her new baby sister and that time spent with indulgent grandparents, the freedom to explore nature, and making a new friend are just what is required to weather that potentially sticky family shift.

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)