Kindness and Stone Paper

The Lonely Mailman (2016) and A Mystery in the Forest (2020) are two stories about kindness published on Stone Paper. I sure hope that Susanna Isern and Daniel Montero Galán team up again to create more heartwarming picture books.

A badger (I think it’s a badger) rides a bicycle to deliver mail to animals in a forest in The Lonely Mailman. Every morning, he stops at each home with a letter and quietly calls out, “Letter for you!” Squirrel receives a letter from Hedgehog the same morning that Hedgehog receives a letter from Squirrel. Dormouse receives a letter from Woodpecker the same morning that Woodpecker receives a letter from Dormouse. As the sun rises, the mailman delivers pairs of letters to Butterflies, Turtle, Bear, Rabbit, and the many other animals in this woodland community. Then one day, the lonely mailman receives a letter. The ending of this story is too lovely for me to give away. You need to read the book for yourself.

A deer with enormous antlers is the star of A Mystery in the Forest. Deer trots to a special part of the forest every morning to collect fruits and nuts. Back home, these become the ingredients for  luscious jams, syrups, cookies, and other delights. Dear routinely shares tea, honey, and sweets in a friendly gathering of forest creatures. Then one day, there’s trouble. After gathering supplies, he comes home to find his kitchen a mess. His recipe book is gone. Deer is understandably angry at the thief. However, upon reflection, Deer is the model of forgiveness. Again, I cannot give away the ending of this story. You need to read the book for yourself.

These books are published on Stone Paper. Stone paper is an alternative to both traditional and recycled papers. It’s made from stone and plastic in an ecologically friendly process. It seems to be an intriguing attempt to improve the production of paper.