The Christmas Fox

by Anik McGrory

Overview

Give the gift of Christmas with this beautiful holiday tale that celebrates the true meaning of the season.

"Come!" drummed a woodpecker one cold, wintry day. "A baby is coming. There's work to be done!"

One by one, from field and forest, the animals make their way to a barn. The cow has sweet-smelling hay to offer the baby. The bluebird has the gift of song. And a lamb has soft, cozy wool. But the shy little fox has nothing to offer . . . or so he thinks.

With its gentle text and warm, expressive illustrations, this irresistible take on the Nativity story invites even the youngest child to discover the truest gifts of the Christmas season: the ones that come from the heart.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781101935002
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	10/18/2016
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	400L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Anik McGrory studied illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design. She wrote and illustrated the picture books Kidogo and Quick, Slow, Mango!, and illustrated the Monty series, written by Johanna Hurwitz. Anik lives in Rye, New York, with her husband and three children, as well as her dog, Loupiot, and her parrot, Puck. To find out more, please visit her at anikmcgrory.com.

Editorial Reviews

PRAISE FOR THE CHRISTMAS FOX

"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. 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" —Kirkus Reviews

"McGrory transplants the Nativity story to a snowy woodland setting. . . . 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." —Publishers Weekly

"This homey take on the Nativity story delivers a warm tale of love and humility for the holidays." —The Horn Book

From the Publisher

2016-08-17
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)

Kirkus Reviews