thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

i have not reviewed children’s books before so i didn’t know what i would have to say about this book but as it turns out, more than i thought i would:

i was originally interested in this book for the absolutely adorable art style of our main character, wally. i like graphic novels & especially ones with cute critters. this one especially has a cute plot line of his mail delivery.

wally is a dedicated mail delivery worker who helps out his neighbors whenever he can. he encounters different circumstances with cute little rhyming mottos for how to deal with it.

there are cute tidbits like find & seek throughout the book and a little how to draw wally & bo at the end that i think really would add to the experience for children reading it!

even as an adult reading this, i thought this book was really cute & fun. i will definitely have to keep my eye out for this series when they come to get for the littles in my life!

The Faraway Forest was such an interesting read. I was invested in Wally & Bo. I would love to read more about Wally's world. The art was wonderful and I enjoyed the colors. This is perfect for someone who wants a short engaging story with beautiful art.

Thank you for the ARC. This charming graphic novel is about Wally, a raccoon with a very important job -- he delivers the mail -- no matter the circumstances. His adorable sidekick, a white rabbit named Bo, is along for the journey. The book features fun find and seek challenges throughout the book and quick drawing steps for the reader to draw Wally and Bo. I will be adding this book for consideration on our state's graphic novel list.

This was so cute
Wally is precious and deserves the world
The illustrations were big
Lovely for a first time chapter book

This is a cute book about a mail delivery creature and his friends he delivers too. He believes that he has to make deliveries in any kind of weather, but learns that friends can come through for you when you need it the most.

A really cute book that has lots of fun things to look at.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

Such a lovely story with such great artwork. Borders on kawaii and manga style, but with cute little critters. The graphic novel is definitely set up for younger audiences and could even be treated like a picture book for a bedtime story or read along. There is a nice message in this, about helping out each other and also about delivering on commitments. But it's not so heavy that the story is overburdened by it. I did wonder about the one neighbour who wanted things delivered at a set time, because it felt a little out of place based on how the story worked and how the mail seemed to be delivered normally. But maybe that was the point, that not everyone is as flexible to the needs of others.

All in all, the story works well. The characters are well-developed. And I think this would be a fun read for an early reader especially one who likes cute critters.

A lovely, reassuring graphic novel for the youngest readers. It has a colorful, cozy vibe that reminds me of Hello World and the other books from Ethan Long. This is a good series start, as you can see how the characters could develop and how easily other creatures could fit in.

This is a good choice for older readers who might be behind their grade level in reading, as the words are few but they'll feel more like they're reading a big kid book.

Thank you for the ARc. I will purchase for my library.

This is another story I will definitely be adding to my classroom when it releases. A sweet and cozy graphic novel for younger readers about the magic of caring for others and the necessity of caring for yourself.

Thanks to Netgalley and The Publisher for an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was absolutely delightful. The Faraway Forest: Wally's Route follows Wally, a raccoon mailman, and his best friend Bo (a rabbit). Wally enjoys his job, especially stopping to talk to his neighbors and helping the people on his route. Unfortunately, this means his deliveries to his last stop (the grumpy Mr. Sternbill) are often late into the evening. When Wally gets sick, the town rallies around to help him. This is a short, early chapter graphic novel that has a great appeal to kids.

Kayla Catanzaro's color work elevates the text even more, with eye-catching colors that will definitely have this book flying off the shelf in my elementary school library.

Perfect for fans of Paulina Ganucheau's Lemon Bird and Renee Kurilla's The Flower Garden.

What a sweet, cozy graphic novel about a racoon mail carrier and his little rabbit sidekick! It had lots of adorable forest animals, bright colors, a sweet story about community, and easy to read and navigate text and speech bubbles. This is perfect for early and reluctant readers (thinking specifically of the K-2 age), with some handy rhyming catchphrases that will be great for kids to keep in mind. My students will especially appreciate the added elements of the item scavenger hunt in each chapter, and the "How to Draw" section at the end.
Overall, an adorable graphic novel, and definitely one I'll be adding to my collection. Fingers crossed that this becomes a series!

"The Faraway Forest: Wally's Route" is a middle grade graphic novel by Debbie Fong. Mail carrier Wally (a raccoon-type creature) goes on his route delivering the mail and has cute adventures and mishaps along the way. Lots of learning about friendship and kindness in this cute book that appears to be the beginning of a series. A suggested purchase for middle grade graphic novel collections.

This was such a cute and wholesome read! Perfect for anyone who needs just a quick little moment of happiness! Also a great way to teach young kids the importance of community!

The art style is my favorite style I've ever seen in a graphic novel! I love the whimsy and the colorful, textured style! Very reminiscent of some of my favorite artists and illustrators online!

The Faraway Forest: Wally’s Route is an absolutely delightful graphic novel that is perfect for kids 5+ years old. This story follows Wally the raccoon and his really important job- delivering mail! Always found with his best friend, the white rabbit Bo, Wally takes us on adventures throughout the forest. The beautiful illustrations and the message of being good and kind to ALL is what made this story so enjoyable to me. I also love that the author included a seek and find page at the beginning of the book- it gives children and added challenge of finding certain symbols while reading! Highly recommend. 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the graphic novel The Faraway Forest: Wally’s Route

This is a cute kids’ book about a raccoon who delivers mail, though one of the recipients is particularly grumpy. One day, the grumpy villager tells him they are expecting a very important letter. However, as the raccoon helps the other villagers along his route, the letter is delivered late. When he falls ill, the entire village, including the grumpy villager, comes together to show their appreciation for everything he does.

This book is a charming graphic novel that introduces readers to Wally the Raccoon and his bunny friend, Bo. As they deliver mail to the residents of the Faraway Forest, they share catchy mottos that make the journey even more fun.

This heartwarming story is brought to life with beautiful artwork, and my favorite feature is the "seek and find" element in each chapter. Even in wordless scenes, the illustrations keep you engaged as you hunt for hidden images. Plus, the book includes a “How to Draw” section for Wally and Bo at the end—such a fun addition for young readers!

Perfect for grades K-2, this graphic novel is a delightful mix of adventure, creativity, and interactive storytelling.

I received an advanced copy with no obligation to review. All thoughts are my own and completely unbiased.

This was such a cute book for kids, it did a good job showing the importance of mail carriers. I loved how it was interactive for young kids with things for them to find and teaching them how to draw the characters.