With the final paintings completed, Rex was suddenly left with no major goal to accomplish. As he put it, “Perhaps the greatest adventure is to know what you want to do, and do it. If this is true, mine was finished when all the little feathered fellows were portrayed on paper and snugly stowed away in a fireproof studio.” With Marie’s encouragement, he resolved to write about some of his adventures.
In 1926, the Century Company published Secrets of the Friendly Woods, dedicated to “To the birds of Chickadee Valley.” Consisting of twelve whimsical chapters, the book is illustrated with Rex’s pencil and ink drawings as well as black and white images of paintings.
Secrets is a charming paean to the birds and other creatures Rex had come to know and love during field trips with his father as a boy in Brooklyn, as a young man tramping through the woods of Maine and working on fishing boats, and later in life in the Taconic Hills.
In no particular order, Rex describes encounters with many of his beloved birds, a wildcat, a family of raccoons, a domesticated wolf in Maine, and numerous squirrels.
For most of the past century, the book turned up only at rare book dealers. On September 1, 2026, the centennial of its first printing, Lyons Press returned Secrets of the Friendly Woods to print. Anyone can pick up a copy and wander the friendly woods with Rex. With heartfelt thanks to Jed Lyons, who helped carry it home.
We are not aware of any reviews of Secrets of the Friendly Woods from the time of its original publication. More recently, however, Mystic Books posted a delightful appreciation of Rex’s book.
“In the book, Rex Brasher takes readers on a journey through the friendly woods, describing the beauty and wonder of the flora and fauna in these woods. Brasher describes each creature and plant with meticulous detail, and his exquisite drawings capture the essence of each subject in a way that words alone cannot do. Through his work, the author seeks to inspire readers to appreciate and conserve the natural world. Secrets of the Friendly Woods is an excellent resource for nature enthusiasts, bird watchers, and artists. The book features exquisite drawings of the various creatures and plant life in the woods, making it an excellent guide for artists and students. It is also a great read for individuals who love nature and are interested in learning more about the natural world. The book provides a wealth of knowledge and insight into the natural world, and it is written in a way that is both informative and entertaining. Overall, Secrets of the Friendly Woods is a beautiful and insightful book that showcases Rex Brasher’s love and appreciation for the natural world.”
On the book’s return to print, Governor Ned Lamont shared a few words about the paintings Connecticut keeps in Rex’s memory.
“The state of Connecticut is proud to be the custodian of Rex Brasher's remarkable collection of bird paintings.”
