In this new children’s picture book, the story of a mischievous red fox in the barnyard is delightfully paired with Matthew Porter’s hip, signature artwork. The fox is up to no good when the cheeping baby chicks wake up the goose. The goose wakes up the sheep, and so on until mister fox is chased out of the barnyard by the trusty guard dog. Adults who appreciate beautifully illustrated and imaginative children’s books will adore sharing Matthew Porter’s new animal-story board book with the young reader in their life.
MATTHEW PORTER is a children’s book illustrator and writer. He has published six books, including Monkey World: The Thunderbolt Express. Matthew grew up in a village in East Sussex, England, and now lives in Seattle.MATTHEW PORTER is a children’s book illustrator and writer. He has published six books, including Monkey World: The Thunderbolt Express. Matthew grew up in a village in East Sussex, England, and now lives in Seattle.
Porter follows Tails Chasing Tails with another raucous board book, featuring a “hungry and mischievous fox” that sneaks into a farmyard one night. His presence doesn’t go unnoticed, and in a noisy chain of events, animals sound the alarm: “And the cheeps of the chicks wake up the goose,/ Who cackles and honks at the fox on the loose.” Porter’s flattened illustrations, combined with the prominent horizontal graining of the wood he paints on, once again create a vibrant, folk art aesthetic. Chaotic nighttime shenanigans, bouncy rhymes, and a... er, whiff of scatological humor should make this one a readaloud hit.
—Publishers Weekly
Big-eyed animals in vibrant colors washed over a background of visible wood grain give a hefty, interesting look to this rhyming tale of a hungry fox with designs on a farm’s inhabitants. He creeps into the barnyard, but some chicks start to cheep, before one by one, each type of animal is awakened ("And the moos of the cow / wake up the goats, / Who bleat so loudly / they all suffer sore throats"). When it's the dog’s turn, the terrified fox scurries away. The forward momentum is undeniably fun.
—The New York Times
Local author and illustrator Matthew Porter has rolled out another irresistible addition to your kids' library. . .The vibrant illustrations accompanying this fun story make it a win-win for kids and parents.
—Seattle's Child
The true star here is Porter's child-friendly folk-art-like style that employs bold, black lines filled in with rich earth- and jewel-toned colors. The paintings are produced on what looks to be wood panels, a perfect texture for the farm setting.
—Kirkus Reviews