March 5, 2018
Ruzzier (This Is Not a Picture Book!) kicks off a new comics-style early-chapter series, drawn with panels and dialogue balloons and starring an animal odd couple. Fox is an even-tempered reader, cook, and artist; Chick is a pain in the neck. In the first and funniest chapter, Chick asks Fox if he may use his bathroom, and then proceeds to throw a party in it (the “CRASH! THUD! SPLASH!” tips off Fox). Chapter two gets a little dark as Chick, who initially criticizes the vegetarian Fox for not being “a real fox,” suddenly realizes that his soup-making friend is actually doing him a favor by not eating him. Chapter three centers on Chick’s inability to sit still for a portrait. The root of their friendship remains an enigma—why does Fox tolerate such an annoying friend? But there’s an easygoing, reassuring rhythm to the storytelling, and the simple text and sunny colors should engage nascent readers. Ages 5–8. Agent: Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary Agency.
March 15, 2018
Irrepressible Chick and his laid-back pal Fox star in three illustrated stories for new readers.Through the use of panels that vary from four to a page to double-page spreads, this lovely early reader has the feel of a graphic novel, allowing its clever stories to move easily across the pages. In the first, title story, Chick invites a bevy of animal friends into Fox's bathroom to swim and play. Then Chick questions Fox's habit of eating vegetables rather than the more common diet of small rodents, frogs, and (gulp) birds in the second, "Good Soup." Finally, in "Sit Still," Fox tolerantly paints his way through an afternoon of what is supposed to be antsy Chick's sitting for a portrait, only to emerge in the end with a landscape. Some of the understated humor may be missed by the youngest readers, but the simple, repeated phrasing and dialogue featured in word balloons will keep them engaged. Interspersed throughout are wordless panels in which the vividly colored, soft-edged pen, ink, and watercolor artwork tells the story. This will have wide natural appeal for readers who know some words by sight and are looking to tackle a few that are a bit more complex ("supposed"; "landscape"; "portrait") and for established fans of Ruzzier's picture books.A fun, simple, yet sophisticated collection about a friendship between two very different characters. (Early reader. 4-7)
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May 1, 2018
PreS-Gr 2-This easy reader-style picture book is actually three stories in one and stars two lovable and very different best friends. In "The Party," Fox is trying to read while Chick repeatedly interrupts him and requests to use his bathroom, where he proceeds to throw a raucous shindig with some other party animals. In "Good Soup," Fox digs in his garden accompanied by an indignant Chick who reminds Fox at each turn that he is supposed to be a carnivore, not a veggie-lover. In a fun twist, Chick eventually remembers that foxes are also "supposed" to eat little birds, and is glad that his friend breaks the norm. Finally in "Sit Still," Fox is painting a landscape when Chick buzzes by and offers to sit for a portrait. Chick has a long list of needs that prevent him from being able to pose, so Fox happily paints the landscape after all. In each story, Chick is the comic relief to Fox's straight man. Chick takes everything literally, while Fox plays the role of grumpy, but secretly genial, next-door neighbor. Pleasant and cartoonish pastel panels add to this enjoyable read. In the tradition of Frog and Toad and Elephant and Piggie, Fox and Chick will feel right at home in company of these other friendship tales. VERDICT Simple vocabulary, dialogue-only text, and situational comedy make this a winning choice as a confidence booster for children just learning to read. Recommended for picture book collections.-Lauren Younger, formerly at NYPL
Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
May 1, 2018
Grades K-2 Ruzzier kicks off a new picture-book series with this charmer, blending graphic-novel and early-reader conventions for young readers not quite ready to tackle chapter books. Adopting an odd-couple formula, the book's three short stories follow practical Fox and unpredictable Chick?think Rabbit and Tigger?through misunderstandings that challenge their friendship but never derail it. In The Party, Chick asks to use Fox's bathroom but neglects to mention he'd like to use it for a party. Needless to say, Fox isn't pleased. Chick's persistent questioning of Fox's vegetarian preferences comically backfires in Good Soup when he points out that foxes should eat things like moles and little birds. The final story, Sit Still, opens outside with Fox painting the landscape, but the serene scene is once more interrupted by Chick, whose desire to have his portrait painted is pitted against his inability to hold a pose. Painted in candy-hued watercolors with all text rendered in speech balloons or as sound effects, these humorous stories highlight how patience and understanding can make even the most unlikely friendships work.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)
Starred review from July 1, 2018
In a volume with a picture book's trim size but plenty of graphic-novel elements (simply structured panels, dialogue balloons, sound effects), Ruzzier delivers three stories well suited to both reading newcomers and not-yet-reading listeners. In The Party, Chick gets permission to use Fox's bathroom, but, as Chick eventually learns, Fox didn't mean that Chick could use it as a party venue ( CRASH! THUD! SPLASH! ). In Good Soup, Chick says that Fox, who is busy harvesting carrots, should eat things that foxes are supposed to eat--until Chick realizes ( Uh-oh ) that foxes are supposed to eat little birds. In Sit Still, Chick wants to pose for Fox's painting, but Chick's constant comings and goings ( I will go and get a pillow?I will go and get a snack ) make for one frustrated artist. Ruzzier's finely etched and textured pen, ink, and watercolor vignettes employ a subdued palette less suggestive of a typical graphic novel than of a baby's nursery. Collectively, these three stories create a profile of an entertaining odd-couple friendship that, if given a few more outings, could make a Frog and Toad-like impression on the picture-book and easy-reader worlds. nell beram
(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
July 1, 2018
Ruzzier delivers three stories about Fox and Chick in a volume with a picture book's trim size but plenty of graphic-novel elements (simply structured panels, dialogue balloons, sound effects) that are well suited to reading newcomers. Finely etched and textured pen, ink, and watercolor vignettes employ a subdued palette. This new entertaining odd-couple friendship could make a Frog and Toadlike impression on the picture-book and easy-reader worlds.
(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)