Fox and Fluff

PreSchool-Grade 2-Fox is a normal, meat-eating predator until a chick hatches in front of him and calls him Papa. He tries to explain that he is not the youngster's papa, that he eats chicks. He starts to pop it into his mouth when he decides, "OK, Fluff, or whatever your name is-. Today's your lucky day. I'm just gonna walk away and forget we ever met, see? Have a great life, kiddo!" However, Fluff follows him wherever he goes, much to the amusement of the other animals and the ruination of his reputation. In desperation, Fox takes the little orphan to the local henhouse so he can learn how to be a proper chicken, but after he is cast out for terrorizing the hens, and Fox realizes how much he misses him, the two go back to the forest together. The colorful illustrations are amusing, as the undaunted chick refuses to give up, and the fox comes around. However, the use of slang is awkward at times and is not completely convincing. The story is a little contrived and stiff, but young readers will enjoy the humor.
Kristin de Lacoste, South Regional Public Library, Pembroke Pines, FL
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

PreS-Gr. 1. When a passing farm cart drops an egg right in his path, Fox looks at the fluffy chick popping out and thinks, "Snack!" But the chick looks at Fox and thinks, "Papa." If being called papa wasn't enough to make Fox lose his appetite, getting a cute little peck on the chin surely does the trick. When Fox decides to give the chick a break and go about his business, Fluff follows along, imitating everything Fox does and getting in the way. So Fox sends Fluff to the henhouse, to be brought up properly, but Fluff has taken Fox's example to heart and is evicted for terrorizing the other animals. That's just as well, because it turns out Fox has been miserable alone; he's even turned into a vegetarian. Children will enjoy this tale of an unlikely friendship between a fox with a conscience and a spunky chick, accompanied by lively, loose-lined watercolor-and-pencil artwork that reflects the humor of the goings-on. Lauren Peterson
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