The Curious Fox
Children who love nature stories will enjoy this book. The story is a nice rambling narrative about a journey undertaken by a little fox cub who wants to discover what is his own ‘gift’ or unique characteristic. Leaving his Mammy asleep in their den, he sets out early one morning and his quest leads him to encounters and conversations with lots of different animals who all have a strong sense of identity.
The illustrator has captured these animals beautifully. Small children may not notice that crocodiles, tigers and giraffes are not usually found in the same habitats as little foxes who call their mother Mammy, but older children might query this!
I won’t spoil the story by telling you what our hero finds out about himself, but his journey of self-discovery could lead little readers to philosophically examine their own lives and think about their own unique gifts and talents. McDonagh tells the tale in rhyming couplets and manages to convey a strong message without resorting to overt didacticism. The digitally enhanced illustrations by O’Brien are really beautiful and the pastel coloured backgrounds create a lovely safe atmosphere throughout. This book can be read aloud to ages 3-5.
