Published: 2026
Series: Faraway Forest
Author: Debbie Fong
Illustrator: Debbie Fong, Kayla Catazaro (Colorist)
Genres: Fantasy, Friendship, Picture Book, Graphic Novel, Comic
Audience (Grade Levels): K-3
Number of Stars: 5-Stars
Goodreads Link: The Faraway Forest: Hester’s Big Dream
Triggers: None
Review By: Heather Turner
Publisher’s Summary
Welcome to The Faraway Forest, a graphic novel series for early readers about a magical woodland village that’s home to an assortment of adorable animal characters. Perfect for kids who love Animal Crossing! Hester has just moved to the Faraway Forest. As a night owl, she loves to rise just as the sun sets, and she keeps herself busy all night with her hobbies: dancing, cooking, writing, and costume making. But Hester wonders if there are new friends to be made when the sun is out. Can she stay awake long enough to find out? Or will she discover there is more to the mysterious forest night than she imagines? Either way, Hester is definitely going to have an adventure! For readers who love The Faraway Forest: Wally’s Route or anyone new to this lively illustrated series, good feelings and great fun await in this delightful story.
Review
This book is absolutely adorable! The illustrations are simply lovely and create such a warm, cozy atmosphere that you’ll want to spend more time in the Faraway Forest. The story follows Hester, a night owl who has just moved to the forest. She desperately wants to make friends, but there’s one problem: she’s awake when everyone else is asleep. Hester searches all around the forest, wondering if she’ll ever find someone to connect with. Along the way, readers are reminded that you don’t have to change who you are to find your people. Sometimes you just have to look in the right place…or at the right time.
The book has definite graphic novel vibes, with comic-style panels, speech bubbles, and short bits of narration. The text is simple, making it an excellent choice for emerging readers while still telling a heartfelt story. The illustrations are colorful, expressive, and full of charming little details. I especially loved the “How to Draw Hester” section at the end—it was such a precious addition that young readers will absolutely enjoy. I also loved seeing Wally and Bo return from the first book. It makes the Faraway Forest feel like a place readers will want to visit again and again.
This is a wonderful choice for early elementary readers, especially those who enjoy graphic novels, Animal Crossing vibes, or sweet stories about friendship and belonging. It’s cozy, comforting, and reminds readers that the best friendships happen when you can truly be yourself.
Classroom & Curricular Connections
- ELA / Visual Literacy: The graphic novel format with comic panels, speech bubbles, and simple narration offers a supportive structure for early and emerging readers developing visual literacy, decoding skills, and reading comprehension.
- SEL (Social-Emotional Learning): Hester’s story provides a gentle entry point for SEL conversations on authenticity, belonging, and self-acceptance, emphasizing that individuals do not need to change their core identity to build meaningful friendships.
- Diversity & Representation: The narrative thoughtfully models inclusion, empathy, and acceptance of neurodiverse or non-traditional habits (represented through Hester’s nocturnal lifestyle), showing young readers that individuals with different routines and perspectives are valued and integral parts of a welcoming community.
Readalikes
- Owly Series by Andy Runton
- Babymouse by Jennifer L. Holm
- Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon
