Arco's Little House

by Jess Fogel

Overview

Learn to embrace what truly makes you happy in this sweet story about a little fox with a little house and a big heart.

In this story designed to engage early readers, charming characters combine with simple text and lively illustrations to help boost kids' confidence and create lifelong readers!

Arco the fox loves his little house. But when new neighbors with huge homes start to move into the area, Arco begins to feel the need to build his house bigger and grander, too. But is that what will actually make him happy?

With lively, whimsical art, this debut picture book from Jess Fogel tells a gentle story about the importance of finding what truly brings you joy, no matter what others say.

Exciting, easy-to-read books are the stepping stone a young reader needs to bridge the gap between being a beginner and being fluent.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593523728
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	08/26/2025
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	6.60(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Jess Fogel is an author/illustrator who was born in Germany, grew up in Israel, and now lives among the trees, deer, and bears in the Catskills. Jess’s illustrations have been published in the Portland Mercury, Yeti Magazine, and La Petite Magazine.

Editorial Reviews

"Fogel’s gentle, straightforward story offers a noble message, especially in today’s world, which often values overconsumption over necessity; it’s clear that bigger isn’t always better. Arco’s emotional journey is authentic, and his eventual resolution rings true."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2025-04-19
An industrious fox learns to appreciate what he has instead of coveting what others possess.

Arco is proud of his humble abode and goes through great pains to maintain and tastefully decorate it. When a new neighbor decides to build a multifloored home right next to his, Arco decides he’d like a big house, too, and adds multiple levels to his home. As he encounters other types of structures, he makes more changes, adding wheels, sails, turrets, slides, and even a roller coaster. His residence attracts a lot of attention, and crowds of other animals traipse through, making a mess. When a storm leaves the majestic building in ruins, Arco decides to rebuild the modest, self-effacing home of his dreams instead of keeping up with the Joneses. Fogel’s gentle, straightforward story offers a noble message, especially in today’s world, which often values overconsumption over necessity; it’s clear that bigger isn’t always better. Arco’s emotional journey is authentic, and his eventual resolution rings true. The text is written in a thin sans serif font and is sometimes placed against stark backgrounds or in the middle of busy illustrations, making the story a challenge for its intended beginning reader audience. The smaller trim size makes the more intricately detailed spreads harder to parse at times.

A lovely look at the need to be true to oneself hampered by questionable design.(Early reader. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews