Into the Thicket, by Gail Kuhnlein

Into the Thicket Awareness Tour is presented in partnership* with Gail Kuhnlein and The Children’s Book Review.

Join us as we kick off the virtual book tour for Into the Thicket by Gail Kuhnlein, a heartfelt story about compassion, courage, and caring for the world around us.

When a young boy finds an injured baby rabbit, his instinct to help ignites a journey brimming with love, hope, and gentle heartbreak. Inspired by real events, this moving picture book invites readers into a world where quiet moments become big lessons about nature, empathy, nurturing, and knowing when to let go. With breathtaking watercolor illustrations by artist John Megahan and an important message about wildlife care, Into the Thicket is the kind of story that stays with you long after the final page. Even more meaningful, a portion of the proceeds supports wildlife rehabilitation and conservation, making every read an act of giving back.

Uplifting and touching, Into the Thicket is the perfect story for quiet, sensitive, nature-loving readers everywhere.

—The Children’s Book Review

Don’t miss your chance to bring this tender tale (and cuddly companions) home—enter below!

Readers who follow along with us on this virtual book tour have the chance to win one of three signed hardcover copies of Into the Thicket, each accompanied by a set of custom stickers featuring illustrations from the book. One grand prize winner will receive a signed hardcover of Into the Thicket with an adorable rabbit companion stuffie and a set of custom stickers, plus a signed paperback of How Happy Is a Lark? along with a singing lark stuffie.

Into the Thicket
Virtual Tour Dates

Into the Thicket Book Giveaway

Into the Thicket: Book Giveaway

About the Book

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.

Buy the Book

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.

For more information, visit authorgailkuhnlein.com

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.

For more information, visit johnmegahan.com.

Thanks for following along with us on Gail Kuhnlein’s Into the Thicket awareness tour!