ARCO'S LITTLE HOUSE

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.