Dear Wild Child

From authors Wallace J. Nichols and Wallace Grayce Nichols and illustrator Drew Beckmeyer, Dear Wild Child is a picture book inspired by a letter from a father to his daughter about wildfire, loss, and learning that we carry our homes inside us wherever we go.

In the shade of ancient redwood trees by a creek not far from the ocean, a father builds a house for his newborn daughter, where she grows up wild and strong in their coastal canyon home. When a wildfire takes back their beloved house, he writes his now-grown daughter a letter telling her it’s gone.

Inspired by the real letter the author wrote his daughter, this poignant story—written together by father and daughter—joyfully declares that a home is more than just wood and stone; it is made of love and can never be taken away. You carry home with you wherever you go.

“The art echoes the text’s emphasis on beauty rather than loss . . . In the event’s aftermath, the affecting story’s tone remains openhearted, concluding with sentiments that encourage resilience and reflect on the nature of home.” —Publishers Weekly

Includes a note from the authors on climate change