Fox & Son Tailers
Fox & Son Tailers is an institution in the busy little town of Ballybrush. It has been passed down from generation to generation, creating tails for creatures tall and small. Rory’s father, Fox, is successfully leading the shop when the story begins; animals from all over visit to have their tails made by him. Rory helps in the shop but grows tired of making the same tails day in and day out.
His father is meticulous and doesn’t appreciate Rory’s creative ideas and sketches. It takes a VIP, Very Important Peacock, to make Rory’s dad realise that sometimes shaking things up can be precisely what is needed. At its heart this book is a story of father and son navigating growing and changing together. There is such warmth in this story, brought to life through the almost autumnal colours used in the illustrations. The red of the foxes and the browns of the antiquated shop make Rory’s flamboyantly colourful tails hop off the page! The importance of self-expression and creativity is also an important theme explored through Rory’s wonderful imagination and wacky designs.
Throughout the book there are many charming intricacies in the illustrations that enhance the story further. Readers will spend hours poring over the town of Ballybrush on the endpapers, as well as trying to keep track of the mischievous mice on every page. This rich tale about tails will stay with readers long after reading. Almost as long as Fox & Son Tailers has been in business!
