Close Modal

Pia in the Forest

Illustrated by David Bruggink
Look inside
Hardcover
6.31"W x 8.03"H x 0.47"D   | 11 oz | 36 per carton
On sale Jul 21, 2026 | 112 Pages | 9780823461608
Age 5-8 years
FOC Jun 22, 2026 | Catalog May 2026

Join Pia as she explores a forest, plays pranks on her dad, and even makes a surprise friend in this young graphic novel for fans of Bluey and Calvin and Hobbes.

There are sounds that only exist deep in the woods: the low rumbling inside fallen trees; the tiny tck-tck-tck of a bustling ant colony; the woosh of bird wings in the wind. And Pia and her Dad are determined to record them all!

But in her rush to explore, Pia quickly gets lost. With the help of a new friend Quinn, Pia resolves to find her way back to dad using the sounds of the forest . . . after she and Quinn build fairy houses and play some games, of course.

With warmth and humor, David Bruggink has created a lovably impish character with Pia and a forest world filled with waterfalls and creatures. A color palette of soft greens and blues with simple paneling makes this a cozy read for any afternoon. Back matter includes more information on field recording, how to build fairy houses, and more.
David Bruggink is an illustrator, field recordist, and product designer living in Portland, Maine. An active member of the Kids Comics Unite and Sequential Artists Workshop Communities, and he also leads comics workshops for kids. Pia in the Forest is his debut.
Available for sale exclusive:
•     Afghanistan
•     Aland Islands
•     Albania
•     Algeria
•     Andorra
•     Angola
•     Anguilla
•     Antarctica
•     Antigua/Barbuda
•     Argentina
•     Armenia
•     Aruba
•     Australia
•     Austria
•     Azerbaijan
•     Bahamas
•     Bahrain
•     Bangladesh
•     Barbados
•     Belarus
•     Belgium
•     Belize
•     Benin
•     Bermuda
•     Bhutan
•     Bolivia
•     Bonaire, Saba
•     Bosnia Herzeg.
•     Botswana
•     Bouvet Island
•     Brazil
•     Brit.Ind.Oc.Ter
•     Brit.Virgin Is.
•     Brunei
•     Bulgaria
•     Burkina Faso
•     Burundi
•     Cambodia
•     Cameroon
•     Canada
•     Cape Verde
•     Cayman Islands
•     Centr.Afr.Rep.
•     Chad
•     Chile
•     China
•     Christmas Islnd
•     Cocos Islands
•     Colombia
•     Comoro Is.
•     Congo
•     Cook Islands
•     Costa Rica
•     Croatia
•     Cuba
•     Curacao
•     Cyprus
•     Czech Republic
•     Dem. Rep. Congo
•     Denmark
•     Djibouti
•     Dominica
•     Dominican Rep.
•     Ecuador
•     Egypt
•     El Salvador
•     Equatorial Gui.
•     Eritrea
•     Estonia
•     Ethiopia
•     Falkland Islnds
•     Faroe Islands
•     Fiji
•     Finland
•     France
•     Fren.Polynesia
•     French Guinea
•     Gabon
•     Gambia
•     Georgia
•     Germany
•     Ghana
•     Gibraltar
•     Greece
•     Greenland
•     Grenada
•     Guadeloupe
•     Guam
•     Guatemala
•     Guernsey
•     Guinea Republic
•     Guinea-Bissau
•     Guyana
•     Haiti
•     Heard/McDon.Isl
•     Honduras
•     Hong Kong
•     Hungary
•     Iceland
•     India
•     Indonesia
•     Iran
•     Iraq
•     Ireland
•     Isle of Man
•     Israel
•     Italy
•     Ivory Coast
•     Jamaica
•     Japan
•     Jersey
•     Jordan
•     Kazakhstan
•     Kenya
•     Kiribati
•     Kuwait
•     Kyrgyzstan
•     Laos
•     Latvia
•     Lebanon
•     Lesotho
•     Liberia
•     Libya
•     Liechtenstein
•     Lithuania
•     Luxembourg
•     Macau
•     Macedonia
•     Madagascar
•     Malawi
•     Malaysia
•     Maldives
•     Mali
•     Malta
•     Marshall island
•     Martinique
•     Mauritania
•     Mauritius
•     Mayotte
•     Mexico
•     Micronesia
•     Minor Outl.Ins.
•     Moldavia
•     Monaco
•     Mongolia
•     Montenegro
•     Montserrat
•     Morocco
•     Mozambique
•     Myanmar
•     Namibia
•     Nauru
•     Nepal
•     Netherlands
•     New Caledonia
•     New Zealand
•     Nicaragua
•     Niger
•     Nigeria
•     Niue
•     Norfolk Island
•     North Korea
•     North Mariana
•     Norway
•     Oman
•     Pakistan
•     Palau
•     Palestinian Ter
•     Panama
•     PapuaNewGuinea
•     Paraguay
•     Peru
•     Philippines
•     Pitcairn Islnds
•     Poland
•     Portugal
•     Puerto Rico
•     Qatar
•     Reunion Island
•     Romania
•     Russian Fed.
•     Rwanda
•     S. Sandwich Ins
•     Saint Martin
•     Samoa,American
•     San Marino
•     SaoTome Princip
•     Saudi Arabia
•     Senegal
•     Serbia
•     Seychelles
•     Sierra Leone
•     Singapore
•     Sint Maarten
•     Slovakia
•     Slovenia
•     Solomon Islands
•     Somalia
•     South Africa
•     South Korea
•     South Sudan
•     Spain
•     Sri Lanka
•     St Barthelemy
•     St. Helena
•     St. Lucia
•     St. Vincent
•     St.Chr.,Nevis
•     St.Pier,Miquel.
•     Sth Terr. Franc
•     Sudan
•     Suriname
•     Svalbard
•     Swaziland
•     Sweden
•     Switzerland
•     Syria
•     Tadschikistan
•     Taiwan
•     Tanzania
•     Thailand
•     Timor-Leste
•     Togo
•     Tokelau Islands
•     Tonga
•     Trinidad,Tobago
•     Tunisia
•     Turkey
•     Turkmenistan
•     Turks&Caicos Is
•     Tuvalu
•     US Virgin Is.
•     USA
•     Uganda
•     Ukraine
•     Unit.Arab Emir.
•     United Kingdom
•     Uruguay
•     Uzbekistan
•     Vanuatu
•     Vatican City
•     Venezuela
•     Vietnam
•     Wallis,Futuna
•     West Saharan
•     Western Samoa
•     Yemen
•     Zambia
•     Zimbabwe

additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
Lush, detailed illustrations anchor the story in a vivid natural world. Domestic characterizing moments—Pia’s interrupting her father, asserting control over car-trip music, impulsively snacking on sprinkles—add humor. It’s a playful look at wilderness wonders. Back matter includes a practical primer on using field recording equipment.
—Publishers Weekly

Bruggink captures the essence of a young child with Pia: playful, active, and a tad ­impatient but eager to learn and experience everything around her. The soft greens, browns, and blues create a snug atmosphere for readers. . . . An enjoyable book for emerging readers. A recommended first purchase.
—School Library Journal

Pia’s childish wonder, coupled with her humorously limited attention span, reflects the temperament of many young readers, while the pine forest is drawn with a light, observant touch evoking its captivating charm. . . . A simple, playful invitation to delight in the natural world.
—Kirkus Reviews

Energetic graphic novel. . . . The exuberant digital art matches Pia’s vibe, with occasional wordless panels a respite for both her busy brain and the likely weariness of some of the readers trying to keep up with her. The palette is soft, with single, muted hues in the background mixing with a range of colors to reflect the depth and dynamism of the forest scenes.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

About

Join Pia as she explores a forest, plays pranks on her dad, and even makes a surprise friend in this young graphic novel for fans of Bluey and Calvin and Hobbes.

There are sounds that only exist deep in the woods: the low rumbling inside fallen trees; the tiny tck-tck-tck of a bustling ant colony; the woosh of bird wings in the wind. And Pia and her Dad are determined to record them all!

But in her rush to explore, Pia quickly gets lost. With the help of a new friend Quinn, Pia resolves to find her way back to dad using the sounds of the forest . . . after she and Quinn build fairy houses and play some games, of course.

With warmth and humor, David Bruggink has created a lovably impish character with Pia and a forest world filled with waterfalls and creatures. A color palette of soft greens and blues with simple paneling makes this a cozy read for any afternoon. Back matter includes more information on field recording, how to build fairy houses, and more.

Creators

David Bruggink is an illustrator, field recordist, and product designer living in Portland, Maine. An active member of the Kids Comics Unite and Sequential Artists Workshop Communities, and he also leads comics workshops for kids. Pia in the Forest is his debut.

Photos

additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo

Praise

Lush, detailed illustrations anchor the story in a vivid natural world. Domestic characterizing moments—Pia’s interrupting her father, asserting control over car-trip music, impulsively snacking on sprinkles—add humor. It’s a playful look at wilderness wonders. Back matter includes a practical primer on using field recording equipment.
—Publishers Weekly

Bruggink captures the essence of a young child with Pia: playful, active, and a tad ­impatient but eager to learn and experience everything around her. The soft greens, browns, and blues create a snug atmosphere for readers. . . . An enjoyable book for emerging readers. A recommended first purchase.
—School Library Journal

Pia’s childish wonder, coupled with her humorously limited attention span, reflects the temperament of many young readers, while the pine forest is drawn with a light, observant touch evoking its captivating charm. . . . A simple, playful invitation to delight in the natural world.
—Kirkus Reviews

Energetic graphic novel. . . . The exuberant digital art matches Pia’s vibe, with occasional wordless panels a respite for both her busy brain and the likely weariness of some of the readers trying to keep up with her. The palette is soft, with single, muted hues in the background mixing with a range of colors to reflect the depth and dynamism of the forest scenes.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Penguin Random House Comics Retail