Gray Fox in the Moonlight

If foxes have lost some of their fairy-tale enchantment, this book might restore it.

Gr 1-3--A mother fox pads through the brisk autumn forest, the lone creature moving in the veil of night. As she strolls, she absorbs the sights and sounds of her surroundings--the descent of autumn leaves, the glimpses of the moon and stars through the canopy overhead, and her reflection in the winding river. After a moment of quiet solemnity, the mother fox swiftly follows the trail back to her den of kits just as the sun rises. This work's spare text is chosen with expert precision so that the few words have maximum impact. The text's placement echoes the movement it depicts, making this book rife with early literacy opportunities. The monochromatism of the austere, gray tones doesn't want for detail and depth. Peterson's shifts in perspectives throughout create a sense of movement and heighten the immersive aspects of his illustrative style. Somber, contemplative works are often dense with text, whereas this book needs not one breath more for its perfect autumn and winter message. VERDICT Even the youngest of toddlers will be quickly absorbed in this brief but engaging work.--Sarah Simpson

Simple storytelling and a moody palette of grays, blues, and yellows document the nighttime explorations of a sleek gray fox venturing home to its sleeping kits. Basic subject-verb-adverb descriptions of the fox's movements ("Gray Fox/ walks// so lightly") mingle with quiet moments of observation ("The breeze/ moves slightly"). In one spread, the fox, presented in shadowy silhouette, looks skyward through a stand of largely bare birch-like trunks, through which "the stars shine/ between the leaves." Peterson's text works neatly alongside crisp graphic renderings, whose varied textures catch the eye. As the sun fills a final page with warm tones, the fox curls up beside her young--a gentle reminder that even the nocturnal must find time to rest. Ages 2-8. (Jan.)