THE ROOSTER AND THE FOX

Virtuosic animal portraits adorn this lively retelling of Chaucer’s “Nun’s Priest’s Tale.” Flattering vain rooster Chanticleer into stretching up to crow, a fox, “reddish, doggish, and hungry for his supper,” seizes him by the neck and heads for the woods, pursued by an array of exactly rendered—though often only partially visible—livestock. Turnabout being fair play, just before Fox can disappear into the forest Chanticleer escapes by persuading him to stop and open his mouth to boast of his prowess. Ward (Old Shell, New Shell, not reviewed, etc.) discusses the story’s origins, then closes with a key to the breeds, many of which are rare or exotic, that she depicts in the extraordinary illustrations. Younger readers may skip over the final section (particularly as it’s printed in vanishingly tiny type)—no matter: they are sure to linger over the sumptuous art and to get the point of this ageless fable. (Picture book/folktale. 7-10)