Where the Deer Slip Through

by Katey Howes, Beth Krommes (illustrator)

Discover the wonder that wildlife brings to a small woodland farm in this lyrical cumulative picture book with stunning scratchboard illustrations from Caldecott Medalist Beth Krommes.

This is the hedge that grew and grew.
The wall of stone a bit askew.
This is the gap where the deer slip through,
when the sky is still more pink than blue…

Throughout the course of a beautiful summer day, from sunrise to moonrise, a host of animals find their way through a gap in the hedge, bringing the farm to life.

Genres: Picture Books, Nature, Animals, Childrens, Poetry, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

Published June 3, 2025

Reviews

[Ann Haefele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous artwork will have children pouring over the pages to find all the details included in the illustrations. The descriptive writing is calming. Perfect read aloud book with a child right next to you so detailed illustrations can be seen clearly. Probably not a book a child would pick up on his own but will grab attention once it’s in his hands.

[Emma Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so lyrically and poetically written it made me tear up! This is the perfect evening read-aloud for before bedtime, for nature lovers, animals lovers, and lovers of good literature. The illustrations, by a Caldecott-winning illustrator, are gorgeous, too.

[Nancycampbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Visually stunning book depicting the various animals that enter a farmyard over the course of a day. Katey Howes lilting rhymes are a worthy companion to Beth Krommes' richly detailed scratchboard and watercolor pictures. This is a book meant to be listened to and poured over, again and again.

[Peacegal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous, woodcut-style illustrations are a delight to behold. It's always wonderful to see a book that appreciates, celebrates, and welcomes wild creatures, and their habitats, as part of the environment surrounding a rural home and farm.

[Kirsten Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful book! I love the lyrical text and the relationship it has with the incredible illustrations created on scratchboard - it’s like an art exhibit sitting in your lap!

[Book Nerds In MN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this book brought back so many memories of a farm my grandparents used to live on. The artwork is INCREDIBLE, and a beautiful story of life going on outside from dusk to dawn.

[Elayne Crain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought "Where the Deer Slip Through" by Katey Howes and Beth Krommes on the Friday morning of ALA, read it in a hotel room, and have been thinking about its writing, on and off, ever since--its luscious language, for sure, but also its unusual (though beautiful) cadence.

Which sent me down a rabbit hole, exploring the difference between rhythm and cadence? From what I can tell, it feels like all writing that is meant to be read aloud needs a certain rhythm, and cadence is, perhaps, the most natural of the rhythms. Whereas most rhythms, especially poetic ones, can feel a bit like dance steps (cha-cha and slides) or even a march, the special rhythm of cadence is sort of like a wave, following its own natural form of valleys and troughs, while retaining a bit of wildness.

And, reading this book aloud, because the rhyme is not regular, there are places where the text confounded my expectations. Made me slow down. Made me linger, even re-read. This kind of inventiveness is something that Margaret Wise Brown was terrifically good at, and it's apparent Katey had a gift for it, too.

And putting these thoughts together made me think of how brilliant it was for Katie to write this story (which is, at least on the surface, about wildlife making their natural way into the fenced structure of a farm) in this way. To set up certain expectations—and then to sneakily show you how beautiful it can be when a little wild slips through. How “deer,” in fact.

There’s even more to study in this book. Some of the language is so lovely, it almost makes one ache. A quiet is “torn.” A “full moon makes her bright debut.” And “this is the curtain that nighttime drew between two days—the old and new.” I mean.

So I’ll be thinking about it more, I’m sure. But, this week it's the #picturebook I'm most currently jealous that I didn't write.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

In WHERE THE DEER SLIP THROUGH, the text is written in verse of the highest quality. Using a pattern that introduces new natural entry points and creatures with callbacks to previously introduced wildlife, the text offers rhymed lines in phrases that parallel cumulative text with less predictability and a superb but seemingly spontaneous sequencing of lines. "Where the deer slip through" is the resolve line on several pages, slipping in with the subtlety that deer achieve when appearing and disappearing from our surroundings.
From the dawn opening throughout the day and on to the woodland view of a star-filled sky, the humans (indoors and out), foliage, and fauna are portrayed in lines and scenes that invite readers to explore and extend their views, to appreciate the shifting angles and perspectives, to associate these densely articulate images with your/our own experiences when, and where, the deer slip through into our lives.
Spend some time with this one, and I suggest you check out other KROMMES titles to fully appreciate not only the visuals and text of each picture book, but also the wise decisions in pairing such distinctive illustration style with powerful verse. I feel confident that you'll be recommending these to others and sharing them as often as possible.
And may the peace be with you!

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a yard with a hedge and a stone wall, there is a gap where the deer slip through to bring their young and munch the grass. There is a hollow where the rabbits squeeze to reach the dandelion patch. The wall has a crack where the lizards come through to bask on the stones. There are branches that the doves fly through and a hole in a tree where the bats swoop. And finally, the curtain in the house that is drawn to let someone sleep as the animals curl up too.

Told in rhymes, this picture book has a classic and timeless feel thanks to its structure as a nearly cumulative tale. The illustrations too, have a classic feel that is made modern with its use of scratchboard and watercolor.

A lovely bedtime book that shows what nature can do in a small backyard. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was skeptical, I saw the recommendation come up on my 2026 hunt for mock Caldecott. I sat down with my 5 year old and before the first 2 pages were done we were completely engrossed in every detail and counting and naming everything we saw. Be warned, you're probably not going to read this fast, (even though the text is beautiful and engaging) because your kiddo is going to excitedly point and exclaim with glee at the hidden world they discover. We spent several pages reveling in dandelions. Yes, the noxious lawn weed we grown-ups detest is absolute magic here to the point of transporting me to view them with the same delight my daughter did.
Prepare to read this at your child's pace, and get lost in the beautiful world where the deer slip through.

[Jackie "the Librarian" · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful watercolor and scratchboard art accompanies this quiet cumulative rhyming story along the lines of The House That Jack Built. At a farm in the hills, with a gap in the stone wall, the deer slip through. In subsequent verses, rabbits tumble where the dandelions grow, doves coo, and at the end of the day, the bats soar and dip and glide. The day ends with the moon shining down on the dew.
The illustrations have delightful little details for readers to find, other animals and insects also enjoying the day and night.

Absolutely lovely, highly recommended, especially for bedtime reading.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

In poetic phrases, Katey Howes offers a special picture of a farm, the hedge surrounding it, but one gap there shows "where the deer slip through". There is more to love as the words in rhyme add to the busy time on this farm. For example, "This is the hollow the rabbits squeeze through/to a patch of grass where the dandelions bloom/down by the gap where the deer slip through." With beautifully wrought scratch-board illustrations, Beth Krommes gives her unique peeks at the animals on this farm that make their own way in life. The book will cause some wondering about nature's hidden lives. It's a lovely tale!

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read this book many times since receiving it, and each time I notice something new in the words or pictures and feel its calming quality. Using a cumulative structure that follows a day from morning to night, Katey and Beth take us into the wonder of the natural world to meet the creatures that inhabit a tiny farm, or maybe your own backyard. Beth’s characteristic scratchboard panels are the perfect accompaniment to Katey’s lovely rhyming text. It is the kind of book kids will want to fall asleep to and dream about.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gorgeous book. On the verso of the title page, the illustrations are described: "The artist drew black-and-white images on scratchboard, transferred the pictures onto paper, and added watercolor to create the illustrations for this book." And they are beautiful! And the illustrations are perfect at mirroring and expanding on the cumulative, lyrical text. A number of different animals come onto the farm property, then leave, including deer, rabbits, lizards, doves, and bats. IMO, one of the best picture books of 2025.

[Holly Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is meant to read aloud over and over a thousand times. The lyric poetry will captivate and entertain and quite possibly lull a very young reader to sleep. The illustrations will engage readers for many, many repeats. Not only is this a great book for every elementary school library, it would be a great purchase for a young family just beginning their bedtime routines. It will be a classic.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations are simply gorgeous. Every spread has animal creatures to discover and details to appreciate where the idyllic farmland of the poem meets nature. I liked Beth Krommes' illustrations just fine in her Caldecott-winning The House in the Night, but the limited color scheme of black, white, and gold wasn't super inspiring to me. But add color to her illustrations like in this book, and you have something truly special.

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The activity of various animals (and foliage) in the pines, from deer slipping through to bats soaring and gliding above, is shown in soothing, rhythmic text accompanied by gorgeous illustrations with incredible details that will leave a reader turning back the pages to look and read again and again.

[Morgan the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the repeating scheme and the rhyming in this one; I found it well-written and reminiscent of some older books that I've read. Beth Krommes is one of my favorite illustrators and I thought this was one of the better stories paired with her books (her art is always a hit with me). I love the inclusion of familiar animals and feel like there's so much to look at on each page. Loved it!

[Abbigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book; my initial intrigue was with deer being featured in the title. I really like having books that feature local animals that kids are used to seeing. A lyrical book that reminds me of The Apple Pie that Papa Baked; each new "verse" features a different animal found in the country with detailed backgrounds to dissect with each re-read.

[Robin Berman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Krommes illustrations in her usual style to a wildlife poem by deceased Katey Howes. I just discovered her, but sadly she died young.

The poem and illustrations describe the different wildlife that "sneak" into the big yard of a rural family. Very sweet. Animals like deer, bunnies, lizards, doves, bats, owls and more, starting in the morning ending at night.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, gentle story about a farm where many different animals live in peace. Resembling an intricate wood cut design, the incredible illustrations are simply stunning. Perfect story for bedtime reading!

[Georgina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love this book! Whimsical illustrations from the talented Beth Krommes accompany the lyrcial words of Katy Howes. Perfect for bedtimes, quiet times, and all the times in between! Where the Deer Slip Through is a timeless story.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book! The text is evocative and lyrical. The pictures are stunning. There is so much to see in each picture. This is the kind of book you can enjoy over and over again and see something new each time.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caldecott winning illustrator Beth Krommes' illustrations bring the story of a farmhouse that is visited by multiple forest creatures. Readers will enjoy pointing out the various animals they can identify.

Beautiful book and story. Recommended for storytime.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rhyming text describes the animals that are seen at a farm in the summer. The illustrations are so impressive and this book begs to encourage conversations about what you notice in these beautiful illustrations!

[Shoshanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I really loved this! I love a black background book! The repetition and focus on animals in nature coexisting is really sweet and the end with everyone getting ready for sleep makes this feel like a perfect book for bedtime. It really calmed me down when reading it. More like this, please.

[Aolund · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely, sing-song cumulative tale, not exactly rhyming but rhythmic and pleasing, full of animal friends. Great storytime and bedtime book.

Themes: Animals, Evening
Age range: Toddler-Kindergarten

[Lacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful repeating picture book reminiscent of the classics.

[Emily Haage · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE the scratchboard and watercolor illustrations. Kids will want to soak up all the little details. The rhyming text is simple, keeping the focus on the beauty of the natural world.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations for this soothing offering.