LITTLE FOX GOES TO THE END OF THE WORLD

Originally published in 1976 with illustrations by John C. Wallner, this story has been buffed up with Bryant's watercolors. Tired of playing at the mouth of her den, Little Fox dreams up big plans to travel to the end of the world. Her mother asks her, “Is the end of the world very far?” With that, Little Fox’s adventure becomes very big indeed, as she tackles obstacles one by one with her mother as the perfect audience. She easily handles bears and tigers, outwits elephants and monkeys, sweeps away crocodiles and captures the Four Winds. The illustrated “dangers” are mild in nature, with all the tension in the dialogue. Mother Fox’s voice consistently places the emphasis on Little Fox’s safety, which puts readers at ease. (This mother is the antithesis of the mother rabbit with all the answers in The Runaway Bunny.) Mother Fox encourages her baby to go to the end of the earth, with the reassurance that loving and open arms await her at home. As a read-aloud, it needs a strong and flexible voice as it is nearly entirely in dialogue form. (Picture book. 4-8)