Books For Keeps
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Articles
  • Past Issues
  • Latest Issue
  • Authors and Artists
  • Latest News
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
September 5, 2016/in Picture Book Under 5s Pre-School/Nursery/Infant /by Angie Hill
BfK Rating:
BfK 220 September 2016
Reviewer: Jill Bennett
ISBN: 978-1783703876
Price: £7.99
Publisher: Templar Books
Genre: Picture Book
Age Range: Under 5s Pre-School/Nursery/Infant
Length: 32pp
Buy the Book

The Fox and the Wild

Author: Clive McFarland

An urban fox’s search for a more conducive environment than his noisy, smoky city home begins when he and his cousins are disturbed during one of their nocturnal raids on the local bins. The foxes scatter leaving Fred heading off in the opposite direction from his fellow marauders. Having climbed onto the rooftops he spies a flock of birds flying overhead and resolves to follow them, despite being told by other city dwelling animals that ‘beyond the city’ doesn’t exist.

Then a bird drops out of the sky before him and the two converse, the bird telling Fred about his wild home. Undaunted by the bird’s ‘You’ll never reach it without flying,’ Fred sets off hunting for ‘the wild’.

Having explored various places, some bare, some very smoky, and some downright dangerous, our explorer comes upon a hole in the wall. That hole is the entrance to a tunnel down which a somewhat scared Fred heads, and finally emerges in a wonderful green, tree-filled place with soft earth, brightly coloured flowers and an uplifting fresh aroma. But that’s not quite the end of his journey: what he finds over the hills he traverses is even more exciting than all the flora around him …

I love this story with its gentle environmental message: McFarland’s splendid mixed media illustrations are a joy, with Fred emerging as a real character; and the book is a great one to share both with individuals and groups.

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png 0 0 Angie Hill http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png Angie Hill2016-09-05 13:54:002021-06-30 12:56:07The Fox and the Wild

Search for a specific review

Author Search

Search







Generic filters




Filter by Member Types


Book Author

Download BfK Issue Bfk 272 May 2025
Skip to an Issue:

About Us

Launched in 1980, we’ve reviewed hundreds of new children’s books each year and published articles on every aspect of writing for children.

Read More

Follow Us

Latest News

Choice and reading relevant to their interests = reading for pleasure

June 11, 2025

Ross Montgomery wins the 2025 FCBG Children’s Book Award

June 7, 2025

Michael Rosen and Emily Gravett IBBY UK nominations for Hans Christian Andersen Awards 2026

June 4, 2025

Contact Us

Books for Keeps,
30 Winton Avenue,
London,
N11 2AT

Telephone: 0780 789 3369

ISSN: 0143-909X (this is our International Standard Serial Number).

© Copyright 2025 - Books For Keeps | Proudly Built by Lemongrass Media - Web Design Buckinghamshire
The Graces Oi Dog!
Scroll to top