I thought that this was a lovely book.

It was well written, easy to read and follow and it had some wonderful illustrations.

It is a trye telling of the circle of life and it might not be suitable for very young readers

It is 5 stars from me for this one - very highly recommended!

This is such an important book, especially with everything going on at the moment. It is such a lovely way to teach your child about the circle of life, so they know what happens and how to approach it, when they experience loss, in their lives. It is a somber read, but one also filled with beauty. We loved sharing it with Ada.

A beautifully presented book. This is a circle of life story based on a fox and her 3 cubs. The illustrations are stunning.

“Life is everywhere. Death is not just an end, but a beginning”.
“Fox” is one of those books that stops you in your tracks, the kind of book that makes you gasp. Aching
Beautiful, poetic, honest and visually outstanding, this one of the most stunning explorations of death in a picturebook I have ever seen.

This is an absolutely beautiful book - delicate, wise, informative and wonderfully put together. It explores life, but also how death is ultimately a necessary part of ongoing life within the natural world. A wonderful book that would be a very welcome addition to any primary school community.

This book is pretty sad really for children but it was explains the circle of life perfectly! In fact I don't think I have ever come across a children's books that even touches on The Circle of life before.
Really cute vibrant illustrations which help explain the story well too.

This is the first book that I have seen that discusses the circle of life to children. I love the way the fox hunts for prey and then we see how the fox is food for others later. The story is told in a poetic and thoughtful way. A must for school classrooms and libraries. Great for primary school children.

A stunning and sensitive portrayal of death.

With soft, lyrical language Isabel Thomas guides us through winter as Fox hunts for food to share with her babies. The language from Thomas and the illustrations from Daniel Egneus allow the reader to sink into the environment and the changing landscape. But then, one night Fox dies. Curled up in the forest, the authors use this moment to explain how Fox becomes part of the earth once again -

"As every particle that once was fox
finds a new place in the world..."

As with Moth, this book will be wonderful for use in the classroom too = environment, foodchains, lifecycle. Brilliant inclusion of factual matter towards the end of the book.

Another engaging and thought-provoking book from this duo.

Reviewed by Emma Perry: Picture Book Author (I Don't Like Books. Never. Ever. The End & This Book Has Alpacas and Bears) & founder of MyBookCorner

A surprisingly good book in every way. We are fortunate to have a wide range of titles which help us explore the emotional aspect of grief and loss with children and explain the human experience of death in a sensitive way. This book is completely different and it made me realise that there are very few books for children, apart from this one, which seek to explain the science of death and the circle of life. Through carefully chosen text and beautiful supporting illustrations, the story of a vixen and her cubs is told. Rather than an anthropomorphised tale, this is a true narrative of the daily existence of wild animals. When death comes suddenly, it is sensitively dealt with, but not glossed over. What follows is a extremely valuable account of what actually happens when an animal dies and the impact this has on the natural environment. The additional information at the back of the book offers further scientific explanation. I thought this was a superb and important text, and one which will fascinate children as they seek to understand the science of the world around them.

Fox: A Circle of Life Story is simply gorgeous and important. The artwork is stunning and the sentences rhyme nicely - it'll be perfect for reading aloud to children and the colourful illustrations are certainly eye-catching. It is a story of beginnings and endings, of life and death, the circle of life. While the topic is difficult and sensitive, Isabel Thomas handles it delicately. It has very factual, practical and logical tone, but the illustrations add nicely depth and emotion. I think this is a wonderful conversation starter with kids, I certainly can see myself reading and discussing the story and the circle of life with my niece, when she's old enough.

I also love foxes very much, and I appreciate the positive portrayal of foxes in here.

“Fox: A Circle of Life Story” is indeed that – a story about beginnings and endings, of endings and beginnings, of life and death …

Death is a very difficult and sensitive topic to discuss nevermind to write about. This book, however, approaches this fraught subject matter with simplicity, practicality and logic. The illustrations are beautiful and add depth of emotion to the book. We follow the life of a vixen and her cubs, watch as she tends her babies with care, hunts for them and then teaches them how to do so themselves. We see how she guides them through dangers only to be tragically lost in a sudden accident. We see that life is fragile but that death is not the end … that it is in fact a new beginning.

The reader sees how the vixen nourishes the natural world in her death as she did her cubs when she lived. Through her death, other life forms grow and are sustained. Nature is cyclical and all endings are beginnings.

I requested this story as an ARC ebook from NetGalley as an elderly family member was ill in hospital and I thought it would be helpful to explore the concept of death with my little one. The book is matter-of-fact and answers questions which children are bound to ask about what happens after someone dies. There is a section at the end of the book that details the science behind what happens after death – useful for families struggling for answers to what are often painful questions that children innocently ask in their curiosity to learn about all things.

I thank NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the ARC in return for an honest review. I would recommend this book, due for publication on 1st October 2020, to anyone who needs to broach the difficult subject of death with young children.

#Fox #NetGalley

Even in winter, there is life in the forest. Fox: A Circle of Life Story by Isabel Thomas and illustrated by Daniel Egneus is a gentle yet honest introduction to death and the circle of life in the forest.

Mother Fox moves through the woods with silence and strength. The predator/prey relationship is obvious and just how essential it is for survival is very clear. The concepts of energy, nutrients, particles and cycles are developed in a child-friendly manner with appropriate detail and explanations.

The charming fox cubs are learning and growing. At first, they rely on their mother to survive but soon they are forced to become self-sufficient. Mother Fox dies and her young have to rely on themselves. The book then moves on to explain decomposition and how new life flows from old as Mother Fox fades away. Although shocking and sad, this is presented with honesty, hope and an emphasis on the next generation of living things.
Daniel Egneus’ illustrations are gorgeous and unique. Their soft edges add to the gentleness of the explanations and the positive message. Readers will be drawn in by their expressiveness and charm. The foxes look so very sweet but their animal nature is still very clear. The colours are bright and appealing yet very natural, showing the beauty of the forest away from human impact.

Fox: A Circle of Life Story is perfect for topics about life cycles, food chains, habitats and ecosystems. It would fit in well with themes of autumn, winter, seasons and animal young. This book is suitable for younger children yet detailed enough for Years 5 & 6. In answering the question, “What happens when something dies?”, it is likely to prompt valuable discussion and raise more important questions. It is a wonderful opportunity to talk about the truth about life and death in the wild and deal with the emotions it raises.

I wish I’d had this book a few years ago when we had a family of foxes living under the portacabin right outside my classroom window. Lessons would come to a complete standstill whenever a young fox came out to play in the sunshine. The Year 6 children loved watching the little ones chase butterflies and each other’s tails only metres from their classroom. As a result, we abandoned the topic we were going to study and spent the next month learning about foxes. The class became the school fox experts and went from classroom to classroom sharing their writing about these beautiful animals. Sadly, some of the foxes died. This book would have been incredibly useful in helping the children understand their death and the circle of life. I’m sure it will be welcome in many, many classrooms as a valuable resource.

Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for this unique book.

Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.

It's just so BEAUTIFUL.

This book handles the difficult concept of death in a touching yet realistic way. It manages to be suitable for children but doesn't shy away from the difficult realities of what death means and its finality but also the importance of hope and love.

The drawings are simply gorgeous and fit the themes of the book perfectly.

Lovely, lovely and just perfect. Highly recommended for all young children.

This is a beautifully illustrated book that sensitively introduces a difficult subject, death. Delicately handled it follows the natural cycle of life. The birth of the fox cubs, the difficulties of raising a family, how one death gives life to others. The tragic death of the mother fox is especially well handled. What happens to the foxes remains as nature takes it’s course is eloquently described showing that death is not only an end but also a new beginning.

An utterly beautiful book that tackles such a sensitive subject: death. The artwork is breathtaking and the language is lyrical - like a mini verse novel for children. It pulls you into the story, immersing you in the natural world. Disaster strikes - as it so often does in the world, completely unexpectedly - but it is handled in such a kind and reassuring way (and the same is true of the notes at the end of the book). What a beautiful thought that death is inevitable for all living things but in many ways, it is not just an end but a beginning.

(If it helps a prospective reader, I should add that this book isn't in any way preachy - the author is a well-known science writer and combines that background with her wonderful way with words and so much kindness and compassion. It's a very special book.)

Fox quickly became one of my favourite children's books. I immediately reread it, and I wanted to buy it for all the children in the world.

I fell in love with the way the book handles death. As death is such a complicated and hard issue for children, I admire the authors who write about it. This one especially enchanted me. And I love the information at the end of the book. I'm sure it'll help the little readers to learn more and help them deal with loss a lot.

The illustrations and the colours are superb. I believe this will become a classic and will be read by many lucky children.

The cover is simply beautiful. This is a beautiful heartfelt story all about life and death. The illustrations are beautiful and simply lovely. Fox is on the hunt for to try and find some food, for her cubs. She teaches them how to be foxes, Then disaster struck! I liked the ending where the book explains what happens when something dies. Thank you for the opportunity to review this book.

A sweet story with amazing illustrations but just not that enjoyable for me. The story was not that suitable for young children who would not understand death or life cycles but it didnt have enough detail for older children. Fell a bit flat for me. It's a shame as I am looking for more life cycle themed books and nature themed books to share with my nursery class.

I really enjoyed this book and I can see myself recommending it to my student teachers for PSHE lessons. It tackles a sensitive subject through a simple story and great artwork. Definitely worth buying the paper copy.