Click here for a Whiff of Pine classroom guide! "Twenty-three evocative poems about forest animals, beautifully illustrated ... An excellent collection with broad age appeal" (Kirkus, Starred Review) A WHIFF OF PINE, A HINT OF SKUNK a forest of poems Illustrated by Joan Rankin Simon & Schuster/McElderry Books, 2009 Ages 4-8 Take a lighthearted romp through four seasons in the forest with these whimsical poems. Marvel at the overachieving beaver, applaud the race-winning snail and its perfect trail of slime, or head off to be pampered at a squirrel spa. Warning: Deborah Ruddell’s quirky cast of animal characters and Joan Rankin’s deliciously daffy pictures will cause giggles. The woods have never been so much fun! Awards 2010 International Reading Association (IRA) Teachers' Choice Book ALA 2010 Notable Children’s Books School Library Journal Best Books of 2009 The Bulletin Blue Ribbon Books Junior Library Guild Selection CCCB Choices 2010 NCTE/CLA Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts Bank Street Best Books of the Year Reviews The Bulletin of The Center for Children’s Books, Starred Review “Deborah Ruddell’s first book for children, the poetic bird-themed collection Today at the Bluebird Café, had the assurance of old masters in the field such as Douglas Florian. Now she’s proved it was no fluke with A Whiff of Pine, a Hint of Skunk, another stellar poetical overview of the wild world … Ruddell has now firmly established herself as a poet of impeccable craft, and young listeners and readers will be happy to join her for this walk in the woods.” School Library Journal, Starred Review "Another winner from the accomplished duo that created Today at the Bluebird Cafe ... Perfect for sharing aloud."