Illustrated by the author
Published by Two Hoots, Pan Macmillan, 2019
Every now and then a picture book comes along that ticks all the boxes for storyline entertainment, short word count, gorgeous illustrations and playful ending. One Fox by Kate Read embraces all these elements in a very clever counting book drama.
Beginning with one famished fox who has two sly eyes, we count on to three plump chickens and the inevitable chase that has gone on between these two adversaries for centuries. What makes this picture book remarkable is that the story becomes suspenseful with so few words and is complete by the time you count from one to ten! The illustrations match and enhance the text and, by the end, we are almost sure that the fox will have his way with those plump and now very frantic chickens. But there is a surprise after we see fox’s 10 sharp teeth. I won’t spoil the very satisfying ending, because you will just have to read it….and then you will close the book with a smile.
I can highly recommend this book for children 2-4 years and below are more suggestions for picture books that feature foxes and all the mischief they get themselves into:
by Beatrix Potter
by Mo Willems
by Paul Galdone
by Beatrice Rodriguez
