Phyllis of the Forest

A girl in the wild can be anything . . . Summer in the city is full of places where Phyllis isn’t welcome. People stare. Whispers follow. Sometimes it feels like the world has already decided who Phyllis is and what she can do. But Phyllis has a secret: a forest in a park near the heart of the city where she climbs trees, catches fish, and swims like a mermaid. Dragonflies skim the ponds, salamanders lurk under damp logs, and orange-bellied turtles bask on the banks of sun-dappled streams. Here, Phyllis finds not just an escape, but the power to define who she is and what she stands for. In nature, the only limit is her imagination. Based on the childhood memories of North Minneapolis resident Phyllis Chatham in collaboration with the Loppet, this beautifully illustrated picture book celebrates the healing power of nature, inviting readers to discover belonging in unexpected places and embrace the courage it takes to truly know yourself.