A USA Today bestseller * Blue Ribbon selection for Dolly Parton Imagination Library
A lyrical ode to all the secret spaces in our world.
The world is filled with forts.
Tiny worlds within this world,
safe as coat pockets.
Everyone needs a room of their own. A place to hide and play, ponder and dream. Whether it’s a tree house in the backyard or a blanket fort inside, a fort is a magical place filled with imagination and wonder.
Debut author Katie Venit and celebrated illustrator Kenard Pak have crafted a lyrical celebration of the secret spaces we hold so dear. Forts encourages readers to explore the world around them to find the perfect place where they belong.
Story
Synopsis
⭐”Venit’s lyrical text reads aloud well and includes beautiful turns of phrase and rich vocabulary that conjure up feelings of tranquility, while Pak’s delicately luminous illustrations convey a powerful sense of place…”
Kirkus Starred Review
“…it’s a serene offering that celebrates the impulse to carve out one’s niche within the larger world.”
Publishers Weekly
“Lyrical language and deep jewel-tone artwork convey coziness as a child character explores all of the ways a fort can be just right, whether it is a carefully built cardboard sanctuary inside or the branch canopies of the forest outdoors..”
2026 ALSC (American Library Association) Notable Book
Katie Venit 