Reynard the Fox

September 1, 2020

Gr 2-5-In this telling of a classic fable, Reynard the fox is summoned to the court during peacetime for his crimes against the other animals. The cunning fox has tricked and injured countless animals who tell their tale before the king. When Reynard finally appears to share his side of events, he once again outwits those he encounters. The afterword is where this story should begin, as it provides a fascinating history of the origin of the featured creatures, from the time of Aesop up until this modern German retelling. The text is definitely for more advanced and mature readers, as it is full of rich and difficult vocabulary and graphic violence, including beheadings and beatings. Some of the illustrations may also be frightening or disturbing to some readers; however, they are simultaneously striking and vivid depictions that fit the story well. While the animals crowd the court, telling of the horrific pain Reynard has inflicted on them, it is Reynard's version of events that offers an important lesson, as fables do. Reynard's tales reflect the duality of every experience and demonstrate that a clever mind is often the most powerful weapon. VERDICT While potentially upsetting to some readers, lovers of classic tales and their often gruesome elements will thoroughly enjoy this take.-Kaitlin Malixi, Kensington Health Sciences Academy, Philadelphia

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August 1, 2020
Medieval literature's Reynard, the roguish fox, makes a return to amuse young readers with his clever tricks in this fresh interpretation of a well-worn figure. At the behest of the noble King Noble (a lion), all the animals gather at court to peacefully make their complaints and receive justice. One animal is absent: Reynard. Wolves and chickens alike lay their accusations against Reynard in his absence, and when summoned to the defense, he concocts new mischievous manipulations. Alternating between spreads of text that feature choice spot illustrations and lush, full-colored double-page spreads depicting Reynard's crimes, the tales can be taken in bite-sized pieces but are ultimately woven into a satisfying overarching and cohesive book. Laustr�er's skill for visual storytelling shines through in masterful illustrations, which read as classical while remaining cleverly modern, with stroke economy in pen and gouache giving a sketchy--but not unfinished--feel. The illustrations match the pacing of the text, translated from Raecke's German, which maintains a sense of the long history of Reynard's escapades without seeming old-fashioned, so readers will enjoy a hint of the darkness found in old fairy tales in this character-driven fable. An afterword includes a history of the trickster fox in European literature, including the fascinating tidbit that the character's name replaced the original French word for the animal. Endpapers feature charming studies of mice and birds, reinforcing the cleverly designed cover. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9.8-by-19.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 100% of actual size.) A masterfully illustrated and true-to-character take on a classic. (Picture book/folktales. 8-10)

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October 12, 2020
Wily Reynard eludes justice, but his charms elude the reader in Raecke’s retold tales. When King Noble the lion assembles his subjects, they are unified in complaint against Reynard, who has tricked and maimed them; when the king summons Reynard, the fox humiliates the king’s advisers before weaseling out of justice. The deadpan surrealism of Lauströer’s sophisticated, often violent illustrations—emotive depictions of realistic animals attired in human dress feature a severed chicken head, a bleeding fox body, screaming bears, and a cat in a noose
—meld with Raecke’s heightened language, notable for its archaic tones: “Noble the lion, king of all the beasts, called his subjects, as he did every year, to come to a friendly meeting.” Raecke’s framing, which centers the litany of Reynard’s cruelties
, including setting traps for Chanticleer the rooster and killing his children, does little to show his intelligence as anything but self-serving, making it hard to celebrate when he manages to avoid punishment thanks to the queen’s intercession and his own “clever mind.” Ages 5–9.