Mungo on His Own by Matthew Burgess takes the reader on a young fox’s first journey into the forest alone. Still hungry after dinner, Mungo and his mother decide it’s time for him to venture out to find his own food at the red berry bush. The dangers of the forest are darkly illustrated as Mungo endures predators, or perhaps they are just trees that appear to be bears and owls? The reader is encouraged to decide for themselves. Mungo triumphs in his quest, and returns home enjoying his success and the beauty of his first snowfall.

The book is appropriate for ages 4-8 and encourages children to do challenging things, even if things may appear scary at first. The language is descriptive and poetic, without being too obtuse: “…wonders sometimes happen when we stand inside our fear on four feet, eyes sharp, breathing deep.” A young reader could appreciate a simple message of accepting challenges, while older readers could spend some time unpacking what it means to be brave when fear is strong, how imagination can cloud reality, and how to be “sharp” while “breathing deep.”

Recommended for school and public libraries. The book could be well used as a read-aloud while teaching about forests, winter, courage, imagination (with its occasional perils), and meeting challenges.

Reviewed by Beth Almquist, Lewiston Public Library