The Fog

by Kyo Maclear

illustrated by Kenard Pak

A clever and whimsical environmental fable about a bird who is a human-watcher from a dynamic author-illustrator duo.

Warble is a small yellow warbler who lives on the beautiful island of Icyland, where he pursues his hobby of human watching. But on a warm day, a deep fog rolls in and obscures his view. The rest of the birds don't seem to notice the fog or the other changes Warble observes on the island. The more the fog is ignored, the more it spreads. When a Red-hooded Spectacled Female (Juvenile) appears, Warble discovers that he's not the only one who notices the fog. Will they be able to find others who can see it too? And is the fog here to stay? Kyo Maclear's witty story, brought to life with the delicate, misty artwork of Kenard Pak, is a poignant yet humorous reminder of the importance of environmental awareness.

Ideal for:
Take Me Outside Day October 20, Earth Month and Earth Day April 22, Canadian Environment Week June, World Environment Day June 5.

The Fog. Text © 2017 Kyo Maclear Illustrations © 2017 Kenard Pak. Reproduced by permission of Tundra Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada Young Readers, a Penguin Random House Company, Toronto.

Suitable for: JK to grade 6
Themes: Climate Change; Environmental Science & Ecosystems; Green Living
Available: September 1, 2022
Languages: English

The bird and the child alone seem to share a willingness to face the truth about the threat. They make paper boats marked with the question 'Do you see the fog?' When they start to receive replies from across the planet the fog begins to lift. The allegorical message here is sturdy and age-appropriate. The first step toward solving climate change is to acknowledge the problem.

Quill & Quire

It’s as if Maclear is communicating to readers, albeit with the lightest of touches, that the first step to taking care of our crowded planet, which we humans are polluting by the second, is to notice.

Julie Danielson, Kirkus Reviews

Video Resources

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Book Creators

Kyo Maclear

Kyo Maclear is a novelist, essayist and children's author. She was born in London, England, and moved to Toronto at the age of four. Kyo holds an Honors B.A. in Fine Art and Art History and an M.A. in Cultural Studies from the University of Toronto, and is currently a doctoral student at York University, where she holds a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship. She is the author of two acclaimed novels for adults, The Letter Opener and Stray Love, and numerous beloved books for children, including Julia, Child and The Good Little Book. Kyo lives in Toronto where she shares a home with two sons, two cats, a musician and a truckload of books.

Kenard Pak

Illustrator, art director, and author. I draw and tell quiet, unusual stories. I've worked in animation for over twenty years and have now worked in publishing for eight. San Francisco is home with my lovely wife and amazing daughter. Books include Have You Heard the Nesting Bird?, The Dinner That Cooked Itself and The Hundred-Year Barn. Books authored and illustrated include Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring and Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter.