CRAZY LIKE A FOX

Not everyone can take the most well-known and clichéd similes in the English language and turn them into a story that will hold the interest of young readers, but Leedy has done just that. Rufus is a fox on a mission. He sneaks into Babette the sheep’s yard like a thief in the night, roaring like a lion until she is shaking like a leaf. Then the chase is on: The two swim a river (cold as ice), climb into a cave (dark as night) and finally step into the light…of a surprise party for Babette. The brilliantly colored digital illustrations cleverly depict the similes—when Rufus is as fast as lightning, his head perches atop a thunderbolt, and when Babette is as angry as a hornet, her head adorns the body of the insect. Meanwhile, their friends—a sort of Greek chorus—comment on the action, incorporating more similes into the text. Includes a thorough definition of a simile and ideas for writing a similar simile story. As welcome as springtime to teachers, aspiring writers and any who appreciate wordplay. (Picture book. 4-8)