Down the Hole

by Scott Slater, Adam Ming (Illustrator)

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Scott Slater's brilliant debut Down the Hole is a mosaic of Julia Donaldson charm, Jon Klassen magnetism and Ryan T. Higgins humor. Adam Ming's art is the perfect pairing for Slater's story about a fox and rabbit trying to outsmart each other... with possible dire consequences. Down the Hole has everything you'd want in a picture book.

Anansi the Spider meets Jon Klassen in this wickedly witty debut.

When a suspiciously polite fox attempts to coax his next meal out of a burrow, he is met with a clever rabbit who has been cooking up a surprise for this very moment!

Careful readers may spot what is in store for fox before he does in this darkly funny cautionary tale that roots for the underbunny.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780358683346
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	10/31/2023
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	25,592
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Scott Slater grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he earned a BAS in Animation and Visual Effects. Scott then hopped to Southern California, where he currently lives with his family and works as a computer animator and previsualization artist. When he's not writing or drawing, Scott likes to travel, and he is always on the lookout for a suspiciously polite fox. This is his first picture book. You can reach him at scottslaterbooks.com.

Adam Ming grew up on Penang Island, Malaysia, where you will find the best food hidden in back alleys and world heritage buildings. He worked as a creative director for a decade on a number of apps and is now a full-time illustrator for clients like Bloomsbury, Wern and Rook, Hardie Grant, Scholastic, and Anderson Press. He believes every day is a mini adventure that adds up to a grand adventure. He now lives in Kuala Lumpur with his wife and kid. His current adventures are raising his daughter, illustrating children’s books, and plotting against clever foxes. Visit him at adamming.com.

Editorial Reviews

"Never try to outsmart a wily rabbit. Children will appreciate that Fox gets his deserved comeuppance and will giggle over this spirited tale filled with comical banter that proves a smart, brave, levelheaded individual can outwit a bully. The dynamic, witty illustrations depict wonderfully expressive characters and droll underground details; kids will have fun poring over all the amusing activities happening in the bunnies’ habitat. Readers will have a 'hole' lot of fun with this entertaining book." — Kirkus Reviews

"Ming’s pictures . . . brim with energy and expression . . . the warm colors, humorous details, and skillfully paced writing and pictures make this a very funny and satisfying treat." — Horn Book Magazine

"Slater’s words put a new spin on Aesop . . . . A great addition to a study of fables or for any animal story hour; especially recommended for early childhood libraries." — School Library Journal

"A wickedly funny picture book. Clever dialogue, mounting suspense and humor combine to create a picture book that’s sure to leave young listeners on the edge of their seat . . . . one rabbit hole readers won’t mind falling down over and over again." — BookPage

From the Publisher

10/27/2023

PreS-Gr 2—Sly Fox is up to his old business scoping out the bunny hole. However, he doesn't realize that smart Rabbit has been doing his own planning: a plan to take care of dear old Fox. Rabbit connives until Fox bounces on a hole and meets his demise in the bunnies' underground tunnel system that happens to be connected to a friend's hibernation den. Slater's words put a new spin on Aesop, while Ming's illustrations provide clues to Rabbit's fate. VERDICT A great addition to a study of fables or for any animal story hour; especially recommended for early childhood libraries.—Brittany McMahon

School Library Journal

2023-07-26
Never try to outsmart a wily rabbit.

Fox learns this lesson when he tries sweet-talking Rabbit into emerging from his burrow. Sitting beside the hole that leads to the burrow, Fox is all dulcet tones as he asks Rabbit to come out so he can ask him a question. Rabbit, wise to Fox’s trickery, says he can hear Fox just fine right where he is. A funny conversation ensues as Fox urges and Rabbit resists. When Fox gives Rabbit his word not to devour him, Rabbit promises to poke his ear closer to the hole but asks Fox to step back a few paces. Fox complies, not realizing that Rabbit has thus sneakily positioned him to stand over the entrance to a den belonging to someone else. Rabbit then tells Fox to vigorously jump up and down atop the hole to scare bugs away. Again, Fox agrees—to his eventual detriment. Children will appreciate that Fox gets his deserved comeuppance and will giggle over this spirited tale filled with comical banter that proves a smart, brave, levelheaded individual can outwit a bully. The dynamic, witty illustrations depict wonderfully expressive characters and droll underground details; kids will have fun poring over all the amusing activities happening in the bunnies’ habitat. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Readers will have a “hole” lot of fun with this entertaining book. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews