Foxy in Love

PreS-Gr 1--Foxy and his friend Emily return in this charming tale in which he uses his magic to help Emily make a Valentine's Day card for someone special. Foxy reminds the little girl about all of her favorite things, and she draws them on the card. These items range from balloons to hearts and to a garden of flowers. With a flick of his tail, Foxy makes everything she loves appear, and sometimes even things that she doesn't love, like larks and tarts instead of hearts. Children will delight in this whimsical story and its big, vibrant mixed-media drawings, and they will connect with Emily's love of her special friend, Foxy. The text is simple and flows easily throughout. A great addition for holiday collections.--Megan McGinnis, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY

In this sequel to Foxy, curly-haired Emily wants to draw what she loves best of all on her valentine, but can't decide what that is. Her magical companion Foxy offers inspiration: by waving his tail, he makes some of her favorite objects appear, though he doesn't always get it quite right ("Those are raccoons, not balloons!"). When Foxy points out that Valentine's Day is about "who" not "what" you love, Emily knows right away who should be the centerpiece of her creation. Dodd tempers the earnest message with oodles of eye candy and abundant silliness in her playfully unkempt digital illustrations. Ages 4-8. (Dec.)