I Am Not a Fox

August 15, 2018
Vulpine or canine? That is the question.A very attractive red fox named Luca enters a well-maintained city park only to face rejection. Luca considers himself a dog, whereas the dogs of the park consider him a fox. In a bold two-page spread, Luca firmly states, "I am not a fox." Nonetheless, he does not share the physical traits of the many varieties of park-walking dogs. He wanders the city streets only to be chased by hounds. In a museum, Luca sees himself in a painting--but the label says the animals are a "skulk of foxes." He resigns himself to the life of a fox. At night, in the quiet of the woods, Luca encounters several foxes that, in turn, reject him. Clearly he is a dog, they declare, because he looks and acts like one. In what readers will welcome as the fitting conclusion to this story of identity crisis, a little girl discovers Luca, takes him home, and embraces him. Now, with his person, he can enter the park happily. Wolf's lovely little tale does not actually answer the question except to say that an animal in the city with a girl to love him is a contented one. Groenink's digital illustrations are softly textured and showcase a very appealing title character. The girl who finds Luca has light skin and wears her straight, black hair in a pageboy.A warmhearted and warm-spirited story of love and acceptance. (Picture book. 3-6)

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September 3, 2018
Luca, an animal who has just arrived in the city, is convinced he’s a dog: “I chase cats and yip at mailmen and sniff other dogs you-know-where.” The dogs in the park, however, insist that he’s a fox and will have nothing to do with him. He certainly looks like a fox; even Luca admits, “I have a pointy nose. And a brushy tail.” But the local foxes aren’t interested in him, either. Then, a girl decides to adopt Luca and calls him a “mystery dog,” a mantle he proudly assumes, and all his anxieties melt away. Besides, from the window of his new home, he sees funny and endearing creatures who don’t fit anyone’s standard definition and are confident in their skins: “a woman with a neck like an ostrich... a boy who wore a gorilla suit.” Wolf (The Insomniacs) and Groenink (William’s Winter Nap) take on the big issue of identity within the context of a gentle urban world, and readers will sense that the thoughtful, earnest protagonist’s question—“Who am I?”—will lead to a wonderful answer: someone who is loved. Ages 3–7.

October 15, 2018
Preschool-G No one can agree on what kind of animal Luca is, which is a problem when you just want to belong. The dogs at the park insist the flame-furred creature is a fox, and outwardly he does appear so. But he loves chasing mailmen and cats and sniffing other dogs you-know-where. Surely, that makes Luca a dog! Unfortunately, the park pups disagree. As Luca scouts the city for other animals like himself, he ends up in a museum staring at a painting of creatures that could be his double?tragically labeled foxes. Insult is added to injury when he ventures outside and is rejected by the city foxes for being too doglike. Luckily, a young girl is nearby who wants a pet just like Luca?whatever he is. This gentle story is complemented by Groenink's soft-colored pencil illustrations. The questions of identity and acceptance are more strongly tackled in books like Andrea J. Loney's Bunnybear? (2017), but readers' hearts can't help but go out to this round-faced little fox, or is he a dog?(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)