Book Review & Giveaway: Into the Thicket by Gail Kuhnlein #IntoTheThicket ~

This post is sponsored by Gail Kuhnlein. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Into the Thicket

Written by Gail Kuhnlein

Illustrated by John Megahan

Ages: 4-7 | 60 Pages

Publisher: BookBaby (2025) | ISBN: 979-8990747807

Publisher’s Book Summary: Inspired by a true story, Into the Thicket begins with the moment the author’s young son discovered an injured baby rabbit — an encounter that sparked a heartfelt journey of care and connection.

This tender picture book follows a boy and the rabbit he hopes to help, gently exploring themes of compassion, courage, love, and the bittersweet beauty of letting go. It invites young readers to develop empathy and a deeper appreciation for the natural world, showing how even the smallest acts of kindness can ripple through a great, big world.

Featuring stunning watercolor illustrations by acclaimed Ann Arbor artist John Megahan, Into the Thicket is a story families will return to again and again. A portion of all proceeds benefits wildlife rehabilitation and conservation.

PURCHASE LINK

Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ BookBaby ~ Bookshop.org

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gail Kuhnlein has been writing stories since she was young. Her first self-published picture book, How Happy Is a Lark?, made her as happy as a, well you know. She’s just as excited about her new picture book, Into the Thicket.

Gail majored in journalism and public relations at Michigan State University. She worked in the field for over 30 years, most recently at the University of Michigan’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. People she met at UM were instrumental in publishing her picture books, a long-awaited dream come true.

After surviving multiple life-threatening complications following heart valve surgery in 2022, including several weeks in an induced coma, Gail considers every day as “bonus time.” She savors life with her husband, Tim, just outside Ann Arbor, Michigan. They adore their two adult sons, Davey and Trevor, and bunk with the sweetest kitties in the galaxy.

https://authorgailkuhnlein.com/

INSTAGRAM ~ BLUESKY ~ YOUTUBE ~ FACEBOOK

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

John Megahan’s lifelong passion for art and nature has shaped his remarkable career. Growing up, he spent countless hours outdoors exploring and sketching the natural world around him. In college, he combined his interests by studying biology and art, which led him to the field of scientific illustration — a perfect blend of his interests.

After college, he worked as a freelance illustrator, developing a large clientele that included governmental and advertising agencies, universities, publishers, and more. After freelancing, John became the senior scientific illustrator at the University of Michigan’s Museum of Zoology, where he continues to work today. Alongside his illustration work, he has enjoyed teaching art and biology, inspiring others with his knowledge and enthusiasm.

John’s other children’s picture book credits include W is for Waves, An Ocean Alphabet, Thumping on Trees, and The Red Fox and Johnny Valentine’s Blue-Speckled Hound. He looks forward to creating more wildlife and nature-inspired artwork and illustrating many more picture books.

https://johnmegahan.com/

MY REVIEW

I have to begin by saying just how much I love Into the Thicket. This book captured my heart instantly, the way only a truly special story can—one that feels warm, wise, and wonderfully alive. Gail Kuhnlein has created a tale that isn’t just beautiful to read, but deeply meaningful, offering young readers (and grown-ups too) a gentle, powerful lesson about compassion.

From the very first pages, Kuhnlein’s storytelling feels intimate and reassuring, like being guided by a trusted friend into a world full of discovery. There’s a tenderness in her writing—a quiet insistence that kindness matters, that understanding others matters, that stepping into someone else’s experience, even when it’s unfamiliar or challenging, is the heart of true connection. The message is woven so naturally through the story that it never feels forced; instead, it feels like a truth you simply remember as you read.

And of course, I can’t talk about Into the Thicket without praising Joh Megahan’s extraordinary illustrations. Her artwork is breathtaking—lush, expressive, and full of emotion. Each page invites you to pause and really look, soaking in the beauty and the story the images carry on their own. Megahan’s illustrations make the thicket feel like a place of magic and comfort, and they deepen the book’s message of compassion by showing the characters’ emotions with remarkable warmth and detail.

Together, Kuhnlein and Megahan have created a book that feels both enchanting and important. It’s a story that teaches empathy without ever preaching, and it reminds us—gently and beautifully—that compassion is an act of courage, curiosity, and connection.

Into the Thicket is a book I know I’ll return to again and again, not only because of its stunning visuals and heartfelt story, but because of how it makes me feel: more grounded, more inspired, and more open-hearted.

If you haven’t stepped Into the Thicket yet, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s simply beautiful—and profoundly compassionate.

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Monday, November 24, 2025

The Children’s Book Review

Book Review of Into the Thicket

Tuesday, November 25, 2025

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