Fox and the Box

by Yvonne Ivinson, Yvonne Ivinson (Illustrator)

Overview

What can a fox do with a box? Have a grand adventure!

In this debut picture book, author-illustrator Yvonne Ivinson invites readers on an imagination- and vocabulary-fueled journey. With colorful, engaging paintings; a lively, limited word count; an adorable fox; and a story with a surprise ending, this book is a great choice for emerging readers.

What can one little fox do with only a box? Perhaps make it a ship, and go on a trip? A boat that floats across the sea, with a tail as a sail and endless possibilities?

Author-illustrator Yvonne Ivinson’s debut picture book is a celebration of imagination, creativity, and language arts, starring a memorable main character. With a brief, engaging text, humorous illustrations, and a surprise ending, this is a perfect book for emerging readers and for sharing together.

Fans of What This Story Needs Is a Pig in a Wig, by Emma Virján, and Egg, by Kevin Henkes, will love this delightful read-aloud.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062842879
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	05/21/2019
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 10.50(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Yvonne Ivinson is the author of the picture books Fox and the Box and The Missing Pairs. She lives in the countryside near London, England, and tries very hard not to misplace her socks, mittens, or boots. www.yvonneivinson.com

Yvonne Ivinson is the author of the picture books Fox and the Box and The Missing Pairs. She lives in the countryside near London, England, and tries very hard not to misplace her socks, mittens, or boots. www.yvonneivinson.com

Editorial Reviews

Exciting and easy to read. Ivinson tells her story in 46 simple words. . . . the paintings of storm, waves, and the small boat and occupants alone on a vast expanse of sea are pretty thrilling. . .Dramatic and accessible for new readers.” — Kirkus Reviews

“All the creatures depicted throughout the story burst with energy and personality, which allows those sharing the book together to extend the minimal text into an exciting adventure. The punchy words play with phonics and rhyme to create an enjoyable read-aloud as well as opportunities for new readers, and those sounding out their first words, to find success.” — Horn Book Magazine

“Full-bleed acrylic paintings wonderfully convey Fox’s changing fortunes. Shifting visual perspectives follow him through contemplation, action, success, danger, and rescue. The text, employing rhythm, rhyme, and sound-work, is comprised only of singular words and short phrases, making this appealing picture book accessible to emergent readers.” — ALA Booklist

From the Publisher

All the creatures depicted throughout the story burst with energy and personality, which allows those sharing the book together to extend the minimal text into an exciting adventure. The punchy words play with phonics and rhyme to create an enjoyable read-aloud as well as opportunities for new readers, and those sounding out their first words, to find success.

Horn Book Magazine

Full-bleed acrylic paintings wonderfully convey Fox’s changing fortunes. Shifting visual perspectives follow him through contemplation, action, success, danger, and rescue. The text, employing rhythm, rhyme, and sound-work, is comprised only of singular words and short phrases, making this appealing picture book accessible to emergent readers.

ALA Booklist

2019-02-13

Fox's adventure—going out to sea in a box equipped with a sail—is exciting and easy to read.

Ivinson tells her story in 46 simple words. Five or fewer words appear on each double-page spread in a generous font set against the bright seaside scenes of Fox's exploits. While other animals seem to have real boats, small dinghies in which they are messing about on the ocean, Fox has only a box. Fox has an expressive face, bright reddish-orange fur, and a big bushy tail, and they sport a blue-striped sailor shirt without pants. Determined to set sail, Fox pushes out to sea, bushy tail for a rudder, just as dark clouds brew into a storm. A small mouse goes along for the voyage. Ivinson's full-color acrylic-paint artwork calls attention to itself in an interesting way, reproduced so that brush strokes and the grain and texture of canvas are clearly shown. One effect is to encourage viewers to slow down, though another is to create a slightly static feel in what is clearly a lively adventure. Still, the paintings of storm, waves, and the small boat and occupants alone on a vast expanse of sea are pretty thrilling, as is the rescue by a big blue whale, and varying perspectives keep the action going.

Dramatic and accessible for new readers. (Picture book. 2-5)

Kirkus Reviews