How to Find a Fox

by Nilah Magruder

Overview

In this adventurous picture book, How to Find a Fox, a little girl tries to track down an elusive red fox, which proves more difficult than she thought.

Equipped with a camera and determination, a little girl sets out to track down an elusive red fox. But foxes are sneaky, and it proves more difficult than she thought.

Nilah Magruder's debut picture book charmingly tells the story of what it means to not give up and how sometimes what you're looking for is closer than you think.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250846563
Publisher:	Square Fish
Publication date:	12/06/2022
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	372,878
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.20(d)
Lexile:	AD400L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Nilah Magruder is an award-winning writer, illustrator, and storyboard artist. She has received the inaugural Dwayne McDuffie Award for diversity, in recognition for her web comic M.F.K. In addition to comics, she has illustrated for children's books, film, and commercial television as well as Disney and DreamWorks.

Editorial Reviews

"Magruder's protagonist displays an emotional range that matches the beats of the quest, from excitement and determination to anger, boredom, and dismay, and young children will feel them in tandem. Readers will want to put these instructions to use right away." —Kirkus Reviews

"The illustrations vary and are very engaging, and there is just enough text to tell the story. A great read-aloud and a recommended purchase." —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

11/01/2016
PreS-K—This is a simple but charming tale about a girl who is determined to photograph an elusive fox. Magruder is an animator and comic illustrator who creates her artwork digitally. The narrative is perfectly paced, and readers feel the child's growing frustration as the fox continually outsmarts and evades her. She searches for the fox high and low, setting traps with cooked chicken legs and climbing trees. Finally, she waits patiently, exhausted, on her back in the grass, at which point the fox comes to her and her diligence is rewarded with a series of fun pictures of the two of them together. The illustrations vary and are very engaging, and there is just enough text to tell the story. VERDICT A great read-aloud and a recommended purchase.—Sarah Wilsman, Bainbridge Library, Chagrin Falls, OH

School Library Journal

2016-08-17
A determined child attempts to find an elusive fox and learns that perseverance is rewarded.Magruder’s debut picture book addresses readers directly as “you,” the digital pictures showing a black child with big, curly hair in a purple shirt and yellow shorts and shoes and sporting a yellow backpack, camera at the ready (more than one reader will be reminded of Dora the Explorer). The book accompanies the child as the narrator relates the sometimes tongue-in-cheek directions on how to find a fox: “Find a fox hole. Any fox hole will do. The best foxes are at home when you visit.” But this fox isn’t the cooperative type. In fact, it’s pretty crafty. Even when the child deploys the “fox bait,” aka chicken leg, it waits until the child moves on before snatching it. As the child continues the search, readers will be beside themselves, yelling that “it’s right there!” but the child doesn’t spy it until after climbing a tree, and even then, it gets away before the descent is accomplished. The child is discouraged but perseveres, because “Some days, a fox doesn’t want to be found. Some days, he wants to find YOU!” Magruder’s protagonist displays an emotional range that matches the beats of the quest, from excitement and determination to anger, boredom, and dismay, and young children will feel them in tandem. Readers will want to put these instructions to use right away. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews