Foxes in the Snow

PreS-Gr 1—When Mother Fox leaves the den to go hunting, her two kits just can't resist sneaking outside. They discover cold flakes that melt in their mouths and tickle their tongues, and they proceed to romp through the forest until they are lost. The clever kits follow their paw prints toward home until the prints disappear, and then they huddle miserably in the snow until a "monster" appears. In fear they slowly back away at its approach and suddenly fall backward into a hole, which happily turns out to be their den, and the "monster," their mother. Harry's gentle illustrations aptly depict the joy of discovery, the thrill of the chase, the fear of the unknown, and the comfort of home in a soft winter palette in which the foxes' red fur is the brightest thing around. The uncluttered spreads allow plenty of room to focus on the foxes while offering subtle touches including adorable birds and mice that will reward careful readers. Fine for storytimes or one-on-one reading.—Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH