The Christmas Fox

September 26, 2016
McGrory (Quick, Slow, Mango!) transplants the Nativity story to a snowy woodland setting, where a puppylike fox ignores the urgings of his fellow animals as they prepare for the baby’s arrival. “Come!” says a brown cow, peering back at the fox as it trudges toward a distant barn. “A baby is coming. There’s a place to make warm with sweet-smelling hay.” Instead, the fox romps in the woods, eventually coming to believe that he has nothing to share with the child. “Just come,” urges the donkey. “It is enough.” It’s a distinctly allegorical version of the story—Mary and Joseph are unseen, and fox’s recalcitrance recalls Aesop’s “The Ant and the Grasshopper.” Yet McGrory’s soft, gestural artwork, washed with pale color and infused with lemony light, celebrate the fox’s play, and his joyful spirit is a gift both to the waiting child and to readers. Ages 3–7. Agent: Victoria Wells Arms, Wells Arms Literary.

A young fox follows other animals into a stable, where he makes a newborn baby smile.In this understated, beautifully illustrated Nativity story, a little fox is invited to come along on a journey because a baby will be arriving soon. A woodpecker states, "There's work to be done." A cow, a lamb, and a bluebird all plan something to give to the baby, but at each invitation, the fox stays behind to play alone in the snow. Even the stars call out to the fox, but he thinks he has nothing to offer to a baby. A kind donkey invites the fox inside the stable: "Just come. It is enough." The fox creeps up to the manger, holding up his paws; the baby responds by holding out his arms with a smile. A final wordless page shows the fox curled up asleep next to the lamb. Observant readers will notice the fox is playing with an acorn in the snowy scenes, and he does offer his acorn to the newborn child. The baby has pink skin and auburn hair, and he is never named as Jesus. Only the animals are present in this interpretation; the parents of the baby are not included in the scene. Glowing watercolor illustrations in a loose, expressive style capture the antics of the fox and create an exciting environment of starry skies, snowy fields, and a light-filled stable. A lovely, gentle, and open-ended introduction to the story of the birth of baby Jesus. (Picture book. 2-7) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 1-A bluebird, a lamb, the stars in the sky, and a few other wild and domesticated animals entreat a little fox to join them in bringing gifts to a new baby. Fox doesn't seem to listen, preferring to dance with snowflakes and romp in the stream, but when he shows up at the barn, his playfulness is a gift in itself. The full-spread illustrations portray a winsome young fox frolicking against a snowy scene glowing with soft, rich colors. The text, though simple enough for preschoolers, doesn't bring anything new to the Christmas story; the moral isn't expressed in a way that is particularly resonant or forceful. That there was most likely no snow in Bethlehem on that first Christmas night might not be a problem, since this baby isn't ever named as baby Jesus-even though he is in a manger surrounded by animals. VERDICT A visually appealing but forgettable story.-Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library

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