ALONG CAME A FOX

A shallow fox meets a fox in the shallows.

On a perfect night for finding fireflies, in sweet, gently stylized watercolor-y washes of soft teal, Bramble the fox leads Hazel the hedgehog through a misty evening in the forest. At the direction of Twig the owl, “who [knows] everything,” they make their way to the lake and discover not fireflies but instead a rather rude fox peering back up from the water, who mirrors Bramble’s bumbles. The story is theoretically a guide for the golden rule—treating others how you wish to be treated—but Bramble’s jaunt leaves a great deal to be desired, not least her disregard for Hazel’s anxiety in the “creepy, crooked shadows” of the forest at night, which is never addressed. Instead, readers are left to wade through an elaborate exercise in what seems solely to be an attempt to use any dialogue tag other than a simple “said.” The trio “squeak,” “hoot,” “grump,” “sputter,” “bristle,” and “beam”—and yet fail to cultivate an ounce of chemistry. Chalky, charming, child-friendly illustrations of the cheerful forest creatures, in a well-paced balance of spreads and spots, carry the story well but fail to elevate awkward storytelling.

About as much substance as an echo.