THE FOX IN THE DARK

Fear of the fox makes strange bedfellows. Under the light of a full moon, Rabbit runs for his life, pursued by a fox. He reaches home just in time. A rat-a-tat-tat at the door sends Rabbit's ears straight up. It's not Fox, but a Duck, like Rabbit seeking safety. Rabbit reluctantly agrees to share his bed with Duck, but no sooner has the pair settled in than there's another rat-a-tat-tat. A tired mouse seeks shelter, then a little lamb. The bed is getting comically crowded. Another knock: It's "A Fox in the Dark!" But—it's just a small, scared fox looking for his mother. Young readers should be able to guess who knocks on the door next. In the end, big mommy Fox provides a snug sleeping place for all the other animals. Green's text is written in a gentle rhyme, and Allwright makes all the animals adorable. She varies her compositions inventively, incorporating some graphic-style storytelling and capitalizing on the contrast between Rabbit's lantern light and the surrounding shadows. Just right for a bedtime story. (Picture book. 3-6)