FOXMAN

In Firth’s picture book, a fox struggles to find his place in the world.

A fox ambles into town and declares it his new home. He plans to ingratiate himself to the locals by joining the workforce. First, he ponders his job prospects (firefighter, police officer). After he fails in several careers for various reasons, he considers his interests and skillsets. He’s fast and cunning. He has a great sense of smell and can see in the dark. He encounters a rabbit who encourages him to be persistent in finding his calling. This leads him to his ultimate career as “Foxman.” He adopts a superhero persona and performs brave acts, and eventually, he’s able to shed the costume and just be himself. Overall, the story is heartfelt, and Firth’s message that being yourself is its own kind of heroism is a worthy one. The meter of the rhymes, however, can be inconsistent. Grobler’s expressive watercolor illustrations are somewhat reminiscent of Beatrix Potter’s and enhance the text without distracting from the well-structured storytelling, making it a great choice for a less experienced reader. Finally, the book has the additional resource of sample discussion questions, which elevates the work to a full educational experience.

A charmingly illustrated tale in verse with an important message for young readers.