Adventurous golden mouse Ragweed is on a freight train leaving the city of Amperville when he meets Lotar, a bothersome young raccoon who has lost his mother. After reluctantly agreeing to help, Ragweed winds up in Dimwood Forest, where he rescues Poppy, a deer mouse who will change his life. After a gap of ten years, Avi returns to his series for readers 9 to 12, offering a prequel that shows how his beloved characters met and began their adventures. The Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator of Locomotive and Moonshot contributes detailed, dramatic drawings throughout.

"This return to Dimwood Forest is an immensely satisfying one."—Kirkus Reviews