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Emily Hughes
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Wild Hardcover – Picture Book, September 10, 2013

by Emily Hughes (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars 731 ratings
"You cannot tame something so happily wild."

In this beautiful picture book by Emily Hughes, we meet a little girl who has known nothing but nature from birth—she was taught to talk by birds, to eat by bears, and to play by foxes. She is unashamedly, irrefutably, irrepressibly wild. That is, until she is snared by some very strange animals that look oddly like her, but they don't talk right, eat right, or play correctly. She's puzzled by their behavior and their insistence on living in these strange concrete structures: there's no green here, no animals, no trees, no rivers. Now she lives in the comfort of civilization. But will civilization get comfortable with her?

In her debut picture book, Hughes brings an uncanny humor to her painterly illustrations. Her work is awash with color, atmosphere, and a stunning visual splendor that will enchant children while indulging their wilder tendencies. Wild is a twenty-first-century answer to Maurice Sendak's children's classic—it has the same inventiveness, groundbreaking art, and unmissable quirkiness.
Previous slide of product details
  1. Reading age
    2 - 5 years, from customers
  2. Print length
    32 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Preschool - 2
  5. Lexile measure
    AD390L
  6. Dimensions
    9.31 x 0.39 x 10.88 inches
  7. Publisher
    Flying Eye Books
  8. Publication date
    September 10, 2013
  9. ISBN-10
    1909263087
  10. ISBN-13
    978-1909263086
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The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now

Editorial Reviews

Review

Best Children's Book of 2014, Brain Pickings (The Marginalian)

"Wild by Emily Hughes relies on its lush, almost rough art to convey a story about belonging and being different. When a little girl raised in the woods it taken into 'civilized' society, mayhem and torn upholstery follow in her wake."
—The Horn Book

"Love, love, love! The illustrations are just incredible. I love the feel of the paper and the way that each page is so deliciously detailed. The eyes on the main character are huge and expressive throughout. I love her mossy wild hair, her knit brows and her determined stance. Her ability to wreak havoc in her unhappiness is amazing – just as her joy radiates off the page when she is truly, wild and free. I must share this with my students and see what they think."
—There's A Book For That

"...for my money it's one of the most brilliant picture books of 2013."
—Scope Notes at The School Library Journal

"[...] the imagery is beautifully intricate and full of subtle details, it's a pretty straight-forward story that anyone can follow [...] It’s a great reminder for us not to take ourselves too seriously and give the wild animals in us a little room to breathe."
—The New York Public Library

"An irreverent, charming, and oh-so-delightfully illustrated story, partway between Kipling’s The Jungle Book and Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are. […] Wild is one of the loveliest and most endearing picture-books I’ve seen this side of the century."
—The Marginalian

"One of our favorite books of the year."
—The Metro

"I’ve never see such an accurate illustration of a child who feels she is the victim of an injustice or stupidity. Hughes' style is vivid and lyrical."
—Joy Corcoran

"The beautiful artwork and simple text reveals the happy wildchild of nature who lies dormant in all of us, and we are encouraged to understand and respect those who are different."
—Foreword Reviews, 10 Best Indie Picture Books of 2014

"This is a gorgeously illustrated and elegantly narrated picture book about a wild little girl who is raised by animals and then brought back to civilization. It’s an engaging picture book for adults to read with children. Wild reminds me what childhood can feel like for a child."
— The Picture Book Review

"It’s hard to put into words exactly how terrific this picture book by Emily Hughes is and why. Perhaps it has to do with the beautifully rendered illustrations and the way they depict the cosiness and warmth of the forest, and how it embraces the little girl as one of its own. Or perhaps it has to do with how it speaks to the deep-seated longing that everyone has, to be if not exactly wild then certainly FREE
free to be yourself, to do what you really want to do in life."
— Picture This Book

"Have you ever opened a book and just felt mesmerized by the art and attention to detail? Emily Hughes gorgeously illustrated children’s books are precisely that. They are simple stories completely elevated by her distinctive, detailed artwork. There’s so much of story-telling and setting of the scene that are hidden in the detail of her illustration. The words are sparse and only a few making it easy for new readers to absorb the essence of the story without feeling overwhelmed. When I re-read her books, I was able to glean even more nuance and rich detail captured in her drawings. The illustrations are so wonderfully vivid that I would totally love to have some of the spreads framed and hung on my wall."
—Varsha Ravi, Between Bookends

From the Back Cover

Emily Hughes is a UK based Children's illustrator/author who hails from a little (but lovely) town called Hilo, Hawaii.

She earned 2nd place for the Macmillan's Prize for Children's Picture Books in 2012. When not doodling or walking around to come up with a story, she busies herself by reading (adult books and children's books alike, though she prefers the latter), making shopping lists (and regularly forgetting them) and watching dreary films.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Flying Eye Books; Illustrated edition (September 10, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1909263087
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1909263086
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 2 - 5 years, from customers
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD390L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 2
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.31 x 0.39 x 10.88 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 731 ratings

About the author

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Emily Hughes

Emily Hughes

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Emily Hughes is an internationally recognised and awarded children's illustrator/author from Hilo, Hawaii. She currently lives and draws in East London.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
731 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise the book's beautiful illustrations and find it easy to read, with just a few words on each page. The story receives mixed reactions - while some love the simple storyline, others describe it as a very unhappy tale. The message also gets mixed reviews, with several customers finding it horrendous. Customers appreciate the book's imagination, describing it as wild and frisky.

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67 customers mention "Illustrations"67 positive0 negative

Customers love the illustrations in this book, describing them as beautifully illustrated and very cute, with one customer noting the incredible complexity of the drawings.

"...But what really makes this book is the illustrations. They are simply breathtaking. Colorful and full of life...." Read more

"...The illustrations are beautiful and parents who enjoy a good aesthetic will like that...." Read more

"...The book is beautifully illustrated. My daughter loves "reading" it with me and I love the message that wild things aren't meant to be tamed...." Read more

"...She is taken in by a psychologist. The story is amazing and so are the illustrations...." Read more

7 customers mention "Imagination"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's imagination, describing it as wild and frisky, unique, and whimsical.

"...I was expecting it to be awesome and cute and unique and lovely based on all the glowing reviews. But I don't...." Read more

"...A wild and frisky, free-thinking, young girl is enjoying the bliss of life. The pictures are as great as the short story." Read more

"This book is really fun and inventive. I bought it as a gift for my nieces - who are turning 3 - and they have been obsessed with it ever since...." Read more

"I bought this for my daughter, loving the Wild title and thinking it would reflect my daughter's bursting personality. It did!..." Read more

6 customers mention "Readability"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read, with just a few words on each page.

"...There are just a few words on each page and it is a quick read...." Read more

"We adore this book! The illustrations are great, the wording simple. Great for my toddler!..." Read more

"...loved this book not only for the beautiful images but also for the clever text and all the questions it triggered...." Read more

"...They have it memorized and read it to me now. The pictures are great to look and spark the imagination." Read more

18 customers mention "Story length"10 positive8 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the story length of the book, with some loving the simple storyline while others find it a very unhappy tale.

"...The story is very simple, perfect for a young child. I disagree with the reveiws that state it being too simple...." Read more

"...But I don't. As a parent, I find this book sorely disappointing. It starts off cute but quickly goes sour...." Read more

"...The story is amazing and so are the illustrations. The story is simple bc the illustrations tell a lot of the story. Great book!" Read more

"Great illustrations and book design, though a terribly depressing story of a girl brought up happily in the wild to then be taken by hunters and..." Read more

8 customers mention "Message"4 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the message of the book, with several finding it horrendous, while one customer describes it as full of life.

"...They are simply breathtaking. Colorful and full of life...." Read more

"Obviously it's a beautiful book. The story is neat but no real lesson or point because you're not going to let your child go 'wild'.. But it's..." Read more

"...A wild and frisky, free-thinking, young girl is enjoying the bliss of life. The pictures are as great as the short story." Read more

"I would give this zero stars if I could. The message is horrendous, I’m not sure what they were trying to get across here...." Read more

Beautiful illustrations
4 out of 5 stars
Beautiful illustrations
I definitely judged a book by its cover and bought this for my super curly-haired 3yo daughter for her Easter basket. The story is cute but it’s not my most favorite children’s book I’ve ever read. My daughter likes it.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Kristy Lindner
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous artwork
    Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I was undecided about purchasing this due to some of the reviews but I am so glad I decided to buy it anyways. The story is very simple, perfect for a young child. I disagree with the reveiws that state it being too simple. Children love simplicity in their stories, especially when they are young. It gives them more room to fill in the blanks and use their imagination- something I remember loving as a child, and which sparked my creativity to be a writer. But what really makes this book is the illustrations. They are simply breathtaking. Colorful and full of life. I have accumulated quite an extensive library of books for my daughter, and this certainly makes the top three. If you’re undecided- I would certainly buy it.
    11 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book with surprising ending.
    Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This story is about a girl who is raised by wild animals in nature and then is found by a couple who take her home. She doesn’t quite get the way of humans, has a frustrating time, and then in the end she goes back to the wild. The illustrations are beautiful and parents who enjoy a good aesthetic will like that. There are just a few words on each page and it is a quick read. I was hoping that the story would have a happy ending of the child being in a happy home but I was surprised to see her go off into the wild. When my husband read the book, he thought it was very weird/a little dark.
    Customer image
    Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Beautiful book with surprising ending.

    Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2020
    This story is about a girl who is raised by wild animals in nature and then is found by a couple who take her home. She doesn’t quite get the way of humans, has a frustrating time, and then in the end she goes back to the wild. The illustrations are beautiful and parents who enjoy a good aesthetic will like that. There are just a few words on each page and it is a quick read. I was hoping that the story would have a happy ending of the child being in a happy home but I was surprised to see her go off into the wild. When my husband read the book, he thought it was very weird/a little dark.
    Images in this review
    Customer imageCustomer imageCustomer image
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Erin Haley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wildly wonderful
    Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I read this book at a children's museum about a year ago. Recently, my almost 3 year old child has refused to wear her hair up or let me brush it, so I tell her she is "wild and free." In doing so, I was reminded of this book and went ahead and bought it for her. The book is beautifully illustrated. My daughter loves "reading" it with me and I love the message that wild things aren't meant to be tamed. Embrace who you are instead of being indoctrinated in to living in the manner in which society thinks you should be.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • mr sc
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This is one of our favorite books! Some of the reviews here are so disappointing and they’ve completely missed the point. Someone said the couple that adopts the girl changes. No, two hunters find her. It’s two men and she gets caught in a trap. She is taken in by a psychologist. The story is amazing and so are the illustrations. The story is simple bc the illustrations tell a lot of the story. Great book!
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Amazon-Kunde
    5.0 out of 5 stars I read about it in an article before I purchased it and thought it sounded perfect since I call him my "wild thing"
    Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this for my 2 year old son for Christmas. I read about it in an article before I purchased it and thought it sounded perfect since I call him my "wild thing". The pictures are fun and inviting. The story of the free spirited little girl who doesn't fit in with the couple who take her in and she ends up going back to the wild where always belonged is the cutest little story and quite humorous too. I absolutely adore this book and my wild thing does too!
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    We adore this book! The illustrations are great, the wording simple. Great for my toddler! Love the facial expressions of the characters to showcase the emotions present through out the story. Short read, so even little ones can stay engaged- especially being paired with the artwork. Wonderful!
    Helpful
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  • Crystal
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love it
    Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    It’s a good book. Both my 2 year old and my much older niece enjoy it and it’s a good length (not too long at bed time, and sometimes we get to read it twice). The illustrations are great and we really enjoy the tale of trying to tame something that’s happy to be wild.
    Helpful
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  • Amarae Sansing
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, I love the texture
    Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This book was even better then I thought it was going to be. Love the fabric on the binding and the slightly textured pages, makes it so much better!
    Customer image
    Amarae Sansing
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Beautiful, I love the texture

    Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2021
    This book was even better then I thought it was going to be. Love the fabric on the binding and the slightly textured pages, makes it so much better!
    Images in this review
    Customer imageCustomer imageCustomer image
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • BK
    5.0 out of 5 stars Too cute and true
    Reviewed in France on September 11, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This book is a marvel. Pretty illustrations, nice texts and very true moral ... Made not only for kids but at least as well pour adults. I do love it certainly also very much as my daughter just looks like the girl of the book!
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  • Sydney
    5.0 out of 5 stars It’s lovely!
    Reviewed in Canada on September 10, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    We read this book almost daily to our 5 year old. We’ve had it for 2 years. Wonderful story. I give this book as gifts now!
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely book
    Reviewed in Germany on April 5, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    New favourite book in our house. Kid loves it and I love reading it, over and over again. Cute pictures and a great story about our forgotten past to be in touch with nature.
    Report
  • Luana
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bellissimo
    Reviewed in Italy on April 10, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Preso in inglese la mia bimba, a lei piace, a me anche. Storia bellissima e disegni fantastici. Consigliatissimo.
    Report
  • Elena
    5.0 out of 5 stars Precioso libro sobre ser indómito
    Reviewed in Spain on January 15, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Nos encanta este libro, a mí y a mi hija de tres años. Se lo leo en inglés y en español. Las frases son sencillas y no le cuesta aprendérselas. La historia es preciosa y los dibujos una delicia. El mensaje es profundo lo cual es raro para un libro infantil. Diría que es un clásico.
    Report