This series gives the youngest children and beginning readers graphic novels of their own that handle real family situations with charm, humor, and just the right point of view for the age group.
Winter has been long and cold, and the foxes and badgers are all getting grumpy. In this charming addtion to the series, the foxes and badgers decide to put on a carnival to chase winter away.
About the Author :
Brigitte Luciani was born in Hanover, Germany. After getting her masters degree in literature, she worked in a variety of jobs including journalism, editing, and photo research. In 1994 she moved to France, where she began writing books for kids and adults. Around the same time, she first discovered graphic novels and marveled at the possibilities of a format that has been neglected in Germany. After a long time searching for the perfect collaborators for a foray into comics, she teamed up with the artist Colonel Moutarde on l'Espace d'un soir, Comedie d'amour, and Histoires cachees (Delcourt) and with Eve Tharlet for the Monsieur Blaireau et Madame Renarde series (Dargaud).
"Eve Tharlet was born in Alsace but grew up in Germany. She took courses in printmaking and screen-printing in Berlin then continued her studies in illustration in Strasbourg. She has worked in all types of illustration for children, including miniature books and calendars, games and magazines, schoolbooks and classic fairy tales. In twenty years, she has illustrated more than 150
books for children. She is married and has two sons and now lives in the hilly countryside of Brittany."
Review :
A gentle tale of woodland creatures trying to chase away winter gloom with a festive carnival. It's been a particularly lengthy and arduous winter for the blended Fox and Badger family. They've been crowded into a cramped burrow and have been scrounging and scrimping to get through the frosty dearth. The creatures are tiring of the exhausting work that yields few results. One evening, the fox kit and badger cubs are surprised by visitors: Grandpa and Grandma Fox. Sweet Grandpa Fox is fun but foolish, bringing unrest to the once-harmonious den. However, when he suggests a carnival to chase away winter, the cozy menagerie comes together to have a little spirited fun. Set against an ethereal watercolor palette, this softly told graphic offering moves slowly but lightly, like the fine snow that the animals take shelter from. The foxes and badgers are likable through and through, reminiscent of such other forest friends as Winnie the Pooh or Frog and Toad. Though this is the fifth installment of the series, it is fine as a stand-alone tale, with its complete and self-contained story. A warm, quiet and cozy tale that's a sweet-tempered reminder that even the longest of winters must eventually give way to spring. --Kirkus Reviews
-- "Journal"
