• Age: 1 to 8
• Grade: p to 3

The idea for Light in the Forest grew from author and renowned artist Holly Carr’s wish to ease her then 5-year-old son’s anxieties.

The book was inspired by Carr’s own experiences as the parent of a child afraid of the dark. In Light in the Forest, Carr uses her dramatic silk paintings to help children confront their fears and find a way through the dark into the light. Carr shows children that they can sometimes create their fears out of nothing and teaches them the mantra, “Do not be afraid. I am not afraid.”

Holly Carr's profile page

HOLLY CARR is a visual artist, creator, designer, and director who has gained national acclaim for her unique style of silk painting. She has participated in many group and solo shows and continues to exhibit nationally. In recent years, Holly has branched out into performance art, where she paints large works live on stage. Holly’s work can be found in numerous private and public collections. Holly and her artist husband, Alan Bateman, reside in their 200-year-old farmhouse and studio in the Annapolis Valley near Canning, Nova Scotia.

“ Holly’s work is at once playful and powerful … Holly’s vision for Light in the Forest is inspiring. The forest has always been a place of great art, magic and restorative tranquility.”
— Robert Bateman