Little Fox in the Snow by Jonathan London, Daniel Miyares Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on November 13th 2018
ISBN: 0763688142
Pages: 40
Goodreads
What would a winter day in the life of a young fox be like? This book attempts to bring the reader into his survival struggles.
The narrative gives an irregular rhythm, some phrases flow, others are jarring and abrupt with intermittent rhyming. Some of the phrases are literal, others are figurative: “You’re a blur of fur…The sinking sun sets your coat aglow.” and “eyes flare up lie struck matches.”
Ink and watercolor illustrations take the reader into the fox’s forest domain, and begins and ends the day right in the safe, dark den. Some readers may recognize the yellow/pink/reds in the distance as sunrise/sunsets; others may think the forest is on fire. Text in bold font is appropriately placed on white spaces of the double-page spreads.
Some readers may recognize the nature of life (foxes need to eat mice and rabbits); other may be horrified at the death of the cute cuddly bunny.
In one scene, the fox smells a vixen, but instead sees a wolverine. The vixen is not mentioned again until he dreams of her later. In several places the word ‘foxling’ is used, but if the fox is that young, would a vixen be of interest to him yet?
This book could be used for food web and predator/prey studies, although several sources I examined about wolverines and fox did not indicate that wolverines eat foxes. Wolverines will eat large animals and dig into dens and eat hibernating animals, but I could not find that fox was specifically listed as one of their dietary staples. As much as the wolverine adds drama to the fox’s day, and though their eyes may glow at night, the illustration show them glowing red.
Fans of Jonathan London may want to purchase this, but the inconsistencies are a distraction.
Libraries needing picture books on fox may want to consider Laurence Pringle’s “The Secret Life of the Red Fox” c2017.
Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Old Town Elementary School Library, Old Town