A heartwarming story that breathes life into a desolate forest.

Chico is the smallest insect living in the forest, and his name also means 'small' in Spanish.
It's so small that you can't see it clearly, but his love for the forest and his desire to protect it are greater than anyone else's.
The forest was completely burned down, leaving everything visible and even the soil devastated.
When the environment becomes uninhabitable for living things, insects big and small leave the forest one by one in search of a way to survive.
But the smallest bug, Chico, remains stubbornly alone and works day and night to turn the soil into a place where life can thrive again.
However, other bugs, rather than recognizing the effort, tend to destroy or trample on the soil that has been painstakingly collected.
Grandpa Boto is the only one who reaches out to Chico, who is in sorrow and despair.
Boto means 'hope' in Spanish.
Grandfather, as his name suggests, offers a seed that he has carefully protected and suggests that they grow it together in the soil that Chico has cultivated.

Chico plants seeds in the soil that Grandpa Boto has been tilling.
And I try my best to sprout every day with utmost sincerity.
Then one day, as if by a miracle, a sprout sprouted and leaves grew.
That's when Chico's efforts really shine.
Even the bugs that had left return to the forest little by little at this news.
Now, Chico is no longer alone, but everyone works together to care for the leaves and flowers so they can bloom.
Finally, the flowers bloom and everyone cheers and is filled with happiness, but the joy is short-lived and everyone is disappointed when they see the leaves and flowers wither quickly.
Then, Chico approaches his friends riding on a seed that has flown from a withered flower.
When my friends looked up at the sky, they saw white dust covering the night sky.
The story ends with the image of a forest once again teeming with life.

This book tells us that all life is organically connected and that each 'invisible role' is crucial to maintaining a healthy ecosystem.
The endless efforts and love for life of the tiny microbe Chico are a precious and, above all, powerful force that supports everyone to live happily.

■The fun of finding the main character, Chico, in a three-dimensional painting using dots and lines.

A background filled with small dots on a white background.
And characters expressed with simple lines are more immersive than those with flashy colors and diverse compositions.
Through each and every dot the author has painstakingly captured, one can sense the desolation of the forest burning to ashes, as well as the hope and joy felt in the process of it being transformed into healthy soil by Chico.
Chico, perhaps even smaller than a dot, is diligently tending the soil somewhere in every scene.
It's fun to try to figure out where Chico is and what he's doing, like playing a hidden picture game.
Chico, wearing red boots and holding a tiny broom, carefully sweeps the dirt, plants seeds, waters flowers, and rides on the seeds scattered in the sky.
As you follow Chico's path, you will find yourself deeply immersed in his situation and feelings.
This picture book perfectly captures the author's heart: "I want to express renewed gratitude and respect for the handful of soil that sustains a vast forest and the tiny microorganisms that care for it."