CLARA'S CURIOSITY & HER FOXY FRIENDS

In Belanger-Richmond’s illustrated children’s book, a young girl in Maine sees animal visitors outside her window and decides to find out as much as she can about them.

One sunny morning, elementary-school-age Clara looks out her window to witness three foxes at the edge of the woods that border her backyard—a mother fox and her two cubs. She races downstairs to tell her mom, who’s in the middle of making pancakes, but expresses excitement about her daughter’s discovery. Once Clara’s dad comes home, the three family members set off outside to find their new wild guests. Dad gives Clara a pair of binoculars, and over time, Clara enjoys watching the fox family in their natural habitat where they sleep, hunt, and play. She also learns how to observe the natural world while staying out of danger. These encounters inspire her to learn more about wildlife, and she soon gathers observational tools, including a notepad and an animal-print guide, which she keeps in her backpack with her binoculars. Later, Mom gives Clara her own nature journal for writing down what she sees in nature, and her grandmother brings her to the library so she can learn all about foxes. Throughout, the repeated phrase “What do I see?” encourages young readers to study the images and make their own observations. Mathew’s vibrant and painterly illustrations are the book’s highlight. The earlier sections of Belanger-Richmond’s text employ delightful, simple repetition. However, it relies on this device less as the story goes on, and it becomes somewhat less engaging as a result. Still, the book does valuably encourage children to engage with the outdoors in a meaningful way that’s safe for both humans and animals.

A wordy narrative on a delightful topic that’s paired with engaging, colorful illustrations.