The Woods

A hilarious and quirky story filled with memorable illustrations that would be a welcome asset to a kindergarten class. Great job.

This was a cute and silly story with adorable illustrations about three hungry foxes in search of some rabbits to eat. On each page there is a worm that’s fun to find in the action. I feel as if the ending could have been a bit better, but I overall I still enjoyed it. I think my preschoolers would find this story entertaining as well.
Thank you Quarto Publishing and NetGalley for this advanced copy!

I was highly anticipating reading The Woods after thoroughly enjoying The Cave by Hodgson earlier this year. The Woods has some of the same charm that I enjoyed in The Cave, but the ending falls a bit flat. I felt a bit like an outsider reading someone else's inside joke or something.

Nonetheless, this is still an enjoyable read, and I'm sure many children will enjoy following the foxes on their hunt for rabbits. I liked spotting the little worm doing cute things on each page.

I give this one 4 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for providing me with a DRC of this book.

Cute story with a different style in illustrations from the norm, but I found it appealing and I know kids will love it, abut 3 foxes on the hunt for rabbits and there is a lovely twist. A simple effective story, will definitely appeal to children, it did to me and I’m an overgrown child who loves foxes.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Rob Hodgson has a wonderful tendency to make me giggle and I am one hundred percent certain that his stories are going to have a great many children clutching their sides with uproarious laughter. I would love to read his latest book, <i>The Woods</i>, to my niece as I'm almost positive that she would absolutely adore it. And of course, I'm sure many of you are well aware that the main reason I requested this book was because of the foxes--how could I resist?--but I have to admit that I do really adore the stories Hodgson tells. While the foxes aren't the cutest ones I've ever seen and the artwork of this novel is not the most amazing variety, I'm definitely glad to have gotten a chance to read it.

<i>The Woods </i>follows three foxes as they travel through the woods in order to find tasty rabbits to capture and have for dinner. Of course, finding rabbits is easier said than done and the three hungry foxes soon find themselves in the midst of a struggle. Tiny Fox, in particular, grows incredibly frustrated. The poor guy gets quite hangry at one point and I have to say, it was quite amusing. As usual with Hodgson's books, there's a funny little twist at the end. It's not the most amazing twist and I definitely liked the one in the book of his that I read prior more, but it was still pretty good.

And I have to say, I absolutely adored that little green worm that followed the foxes throughout the entire book.

<i>I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

This was a fun litttle read. The story was great to follow and the art style was great. I would love to read another book on the three foxes.

I loved this short colourful story of three hapless foxes on a hunt for rabbits. The illustrations are in the same delightfully quirky style as the author’s previous book, the Cave. This time I did expect a twist, but was still surprised and entertained by this cautionary tale of misleading appearances. Kids will, no doubt, love commenting on the foxes’ arduous and fruitless journey as well as spotting the ever-present hunter’s eyes and the shenanigans of the cute pink worm.
Strongly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group/ Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

"Here are the woods. The woods are home to three foxes. Three foxes are on a hunt... for rabbits."


Thus begins a tale of search and destroy. But will they succeed? Tiny Fox, Tall Fox, and Round Fox are on a mission to round up a buffet of mouth-watering rabbits to eat.

Their search takes them over the tallest trees... nope, no rabbits there, under the carrot fields... nah, no rabbits there, and then through the pumpkin patch... no... no rabbits there, just to name a few.

After an exhausting day they wonder if they will ever catch a rabbit, might be easier to catch doughnuts or acorns they speculate. The next day, three determined foxes, resume their seemingly impossible task. Then finally the unexpected happens. A surprise awaits them that they never in a million years expected to find!

The illustrations are colourful, quirky and quite unique. Kids will love outfoxing the foxes by discovering rabbits on each page which of course are unknown to the not-so-sly canines who are deep into stalking mode. Kids can also find a little pink worm on the pages. He moves always onward as the story progresses. The delightful little worm also appears on the author's website which is a fun connection to discover.

This humorous tale will be a hit with its interactive components and the animated and expressive characters. It is a shoo-in to entertain those (young and old) who give it a read. I like it a lot and would recommend it.

(Charlotte is my 6 year old daughter) Charlotte chose this one as she loved the cover and wanted to know more. It isn't a long book and so she was able to read it aloud without annoying too many people. The characters are well presented and not just identical, they each had their own look. The way the story progresses was easy to follow along with the pictures. Most of the words were easy to read and so the story flowed without needing to stop and sound out the words and asking for explanations. That was until near the end when the word 'numskull' was used. This wasn't a word Charlotte had come across before and so I had to explain to her what it meant. Over all the book was cute, flowed well and entertaining with the twist at the end.

Charlotte's views:
"I liked the way the story says there is no rabbits but you can find rabbits hiding in the pictures. It was funny when the fox fell in the water. I really like the rabbits in the end. I want to read more like this book."

Highly recommended, great for young children and young readers.

The Woods is a colorful picture book with a cute and silly story. This would be a great addition to any little one's collection.

What a great story, my 3 year old loved it. Beautifully animated and perfect for his age. I would definitely buy this book. He named the foxes George!

I loved the book The Cave and have that on my shelves at home.
Seeing the same author and a new title I was immediately drawn to it. I cannot wait for this to come out in book form. I will be saving my book voucher for this publication.
Stunning illustrations, a funny story and a twist at the end- everything a perfect story needs!

I could imagine this being read aloud in a classroom or library and everyone guessing who the creature stalking the foxes might be, and why the foxes can't see the rabbits throughout the book. I found this to be particularly funny as they aren't far from the foxes, even though the foxes seem completely unaware of them.

I laughed out loud, admired the illustrations and enjoyed every page.

An excellent addition to any bookshelf!

This is such a fun book to read; the story and illustrations are quirky and certain to gain a chuckle from their intended audience.

Following on from The Cave, the first picture book for very young readers by this author, comes this second, similar title. It's not quite as good, but by now what appears to be the creator's shtick is laid out – silly and amusing tales where nature has a way of getting its own back, with large spreads peppered with tiny detail to look out for. No, the worm in every large image is not as amusing as the poor snail last time round, and the twist isn't as great here, but this tale of determined foxes hunting white rabbits across their domain is still certain to entertain.

A funny, simple, story about three foxes hunting for rabbits. Children will enjoy spotting the rabbits hiding on each page as they outsmart the foxes and follow them on their hunt.

I loved the illustrations in this book, particularly the double page spreads, but the best part for me was the worm, who follows the foxes' journey on each page.

This will be a popular addition to the school library.

A cute story with some of the same charm from his other book The Cave. Similar humour but I felt as though this book lacked a little something on the ending. Other than that it was perfectly fine with some cute illustrations.

Fox-hunting is a tradition in my local rural communities in Leicestershire; banned for the time being but what do foxes hunt?
The Woods by Rob Hodgson is just abook to tell me. What is more it has magically, funny and clever illustrations backing up their inept hunting skills.
Three foxes; one looks similar, (well it is a fox afterall) to the logo for Charnwood Brewery. Not sure I should by drinking alcohol even in my mind while reading to children. Where was I? Three foxes, tiny, tall and round are set to track down and eat lovely rabbits somewhere in the woods.
Apparently led by the stereotypical short despot, Tiny keeps them focused but sadly they have more chance of catching a cold.
Unfortunately, they have not been quiet or secretive in their quest. The foxes have been under surveillance themselves. Has the hunter become the hunted?
This is a seriously crazy tale of three incompetent woodsmen, three foxes no rabbits. Yet you and your child will see them hiding in plain site on every pages. Comic twists to every page too with a jolly worm wriggling into picture for toddlers to laugh with you as the book comes alive.
Nothing taxing here but a gentle adventure into the woods where foxes can't see the rabbits for trees.

Cute and silly picture book about three foxes who are on the hunt for delicious rabbits to eat. But they can't seem to find any in the woods! (But I bet the reader will spot them!) Fun ending that that kids will enjoy along with the illustrations throughout.

What do three foxes do when they are on the hunt for rabbits? They search all through the woods, of course. Over the tallest trees, under the carrot fields, and through the pumpkin patch... but no rabbits. Will Tall Fox, Round Fox, and Tiny Fox give up? Never!! But when they finally come across a group of rabbits, what happens will blow your mind!! Don't miss this hilarious new 2019 book!!

This is such a cute book! The illustrations are precious and these foxes will make you laugh out loud. This will make a fantastic read aloud.

The Woods is a charming and a bit funny picture book with some amazing artwork. It was fun to read about the mischief of the foxes.

This book is a fun romp through the forest with three foxes that think they are extremely clever. The foxes are certain they will capture rabbits in the forest, but other than this certainty, they don't have much going for them. They are sort of the three stooges of foxes. We really enjoyed the illustrations of the foxes as they go along on their quest and go through many mishaps. The book has a cute twist at the end that will leave you satisfied.

** This review will be posted on my blog on 4th April (publication day) at 7am GMT. Links will be updated **

The Story:
Three rather silly foxes are on the hunt for rabbits in the woods. They search high and low, through carrot fields and pumpkin patches, but the rabbits keep outsmarting them. Will they ever find any rabbits? And is something hunting them?

Favourite Spread:
Rob’s illustration style from The Cave shines through again as he masterfully weaves a common focal point through the story: the “monster” that is following the foxes and which ultimately leads to yet another killer twist ending. My favourite spread is definitely the “twist” spread. But each spread will keep children engaged as they’ll love spotting the rabbits in the background who are constantly outfoxing the foxes.

I also loved how the three foxes were all different and unique. Rob uses this to great effect throughout the story and it adds impact to the ending. The foxes argue amongst themselves as they hunt which makes for some laugh out loud moments but also involves more grown-up language than was found in the cave (such as “numbskulls”).

The Verdict:
Rob Hodgson is proving to be a master of picture book “killer twist endings”. This time it is done through his clever use of illustrations. The language feels a bit more grown up than in The Cave but is still packed with humour. And look out for another doughnut reference!

A cute story about three not-so-sly foxes that are on the hunt for rabbits. Lucky for them someone has left signs pointing them straight towards the rabbits. Great illustrations with a comical pink worm to find on every page (yes, EVERY page. As a parent I'm familiar with the trauma of not being able to find the hidden object on every page so I appreciated this. A lot). My only hesitation is that there is some name-calling with words like "stupid" and "numbskull:" but if that doesn't bother you this story is for you. Great for ages 3-7.

I really enjoyed reading this one . I read it with my toddler and we both had a laugh reading it.
I liked the fact the foxes and the rabbits were all different sizes and shapes.
The illustration is lovely too.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Arc of this book, All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Aborable! Wasn't quite sure how the rabbit hunt was going to end but endi with a fox hunt! Hilarious! Kids got a kick out of it as well! Can't get over how cute this book is lol

How can I not want to read a book that's named after my family? No, it's not really named after me, you silly goose, but the book isn't about geese, either. Or about woods - excepting in that it takes place in the woods. It's really about foxes versus rabbits, and while foxes are supposed to be cunning and crafty, you'll find that maybe the rabbits can teach them a thing or two, especially since the foxes aren't too smart.

I read and enjoyed this author's The Cave and if you're familiar with that, you'll realize he likes to put a twist in the tale if not in the tail, so expect one here! The foxes, one tall, one small, one round, all clowns, are hunting rabbits, but they're not having much success no matter where they seek out these liberated lagomorphs. Observant children might be a bit better at spotting rabbits than the foxes are. They can even emulate the foxes by maybe climbing on a chair to simulate climbing a tree, and crawling under the table to simulate crawling through a tunnel.

It's all about fun, and like The Cave this was a fun book. I commend it as a worthy read for young children. No rabbits here indeed! I don't know what the foxes were rabbiting on about....

I live a cute book where the pictures tell more of the story, and I’m a sucker for twists! This story has both of those things!

This book is an adorable story about foxes looking for rabbits. As soon as I finished reading it to my kids they immediately asked me to read it again! They loved the illustrations and thought parts of it were very funny - definitely 5/5!

Three foxes are on a hunt for tasty rabbits. They search high and low throughout the woods. Will the foxes find the rabbits? Hmmm….maybe something will find the foxes! The bright illustrations coupled with delightful, fun language will charm all ages. I can’t wait to read this to my grandchildren!

This was a fun story about 3 very different foxes on the hunt for dinner...rabbits. As they hunt through the woods, it becomes clear to the reader that they are being watched by something from the shadows. Will they catch rabbits before something else catches them?

As with The Cave, I enjoyed this book and there were many opportunities to teach prediction to a class of young readers. The simple pictures encourage children to look carefully and take notice of what they can see by hunting for the little worm who features on each page.
This book would be great for teaching about adjectives, with simple accurate descriptions of setting and character, which are then portrayed in the illustrations.

I will definitely consider using this book with a class of young readers as I’m sure they’ll love the story. There is also some interesting vocabulary that could be introduced to them in the context of the story.

Many thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for allowing me access to an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I sweet children's book that I read to my granddaughter and she loved it . Well written. I loved this book and the illustration.. a great storyline with a great message.

What a lovely title, with naughty foxes and even naughtier rabbits. The art is distinctive, bright and clear. The text is funny, and the forest is well realised with good humour.

A mostly cute story about three foxes trying to hunt rabbits in the woods, but failing to do so. The rabbits are just too smart for them, and catch the foxes in the end. The illustrations are really fun, and little ones will enjoy seeing the rabbits hiding in the scenery. Also, there's a little pink worm somewhere in each picture, and I'm not ashamed to admit I enjoy looking for him! The not so cute part was a bit of name calling- the foxes call each other numbskulls at one point, and the foxes are referred to as stupid at the end. It's just the two times name calling happens, but still. Overall, though, a fun story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a lovely book which will make a fantastic read aloud to use with a class. I can just imagine the expression that we will get into the children's reading as they engage with the three not-so-cunning foxes hunting the rabbits throughout the woods.

Visually, the book is highly engaging. The foxes are brilliantly illustrated with a hint of Dahl's Boggis, Bunce and Bean in their physicality. The sneaky rabbits dotted throughout will add discussion and the illustrations not only bring the book to life but will help build inference and deduction skills.

This would make lovely addition to a class or school library.

Rob Hodgson is quickly becoming a new favorite picture book creator for this reviewer. His illustrations are amazing, and he has a tongue in cheek humor that adults see coming a mile away, but the journey is so much fun. This time there are three foxes on the hunt for rabbits. But those sneaky little rabbits are hard to find. This is really fun book to add to any children’s collection.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. "The Woods" is another hysterical book by Rob Hodgson. This book will make a great read-aloud and plan to use it for summer storytimes.

My six year old son and I loved this book! The illustrations are really cool; the story could come across as twee without this, and it really adds to the appeal of the book.

The story features three foxes who are on the hunt for rabbits. From the start of the book my son was asking questions about whether the foxes were bad guys or not, and this led to some great conversations. As the story progresses, our enjoyment level (and laughter levels) grew and it was almost a shame when the story finished.

We'll definitely be seeking out other books by Rob Hodgson as we enjoyed this one so much.

I read this book to my boys before bed tonight. We all laughed at how silly the foxes looked (Round, Tall, & Tiny), and couldn’t believe they kept missing all the rabbits. We loved trying to find the worm on each page and giggled on what new accessory he was wearing. (The favorite was the witch’s hat in the pumpkin patch.) And we cheered when the rabbits caught the foxes at the end.

My boys, a 6- & 4-year-old, thoroughly enjoyed the story. I, however, an avid children’s book reader and former Kindergarten teacher, enjoyed most of the story, but was less excited by the final pages. It felt rushed and not planned out, leaving the audience wondering HOW and WHY the rabbits caught the foxes and WHAT they were going to do with them now? Also, the word ‘stupid’ is taboo in most classrooms these days, so I would worry about how many teachers would want to pick it up for their classrooms.

Overall, though, I enjoyed the premise of the story and how it was executed throughout most of the book.

3.5 Stars

Thank You to Quarto Publishing and NetGalley for this digital copy to read and review!

I loved the look of the foxes on the cover of this book, which is largely why I read it. Following the foxes as they hunted for rabbits, following signs to an obvious trap, was kind of fun. An observant preschooler may catch the joke. Cute, quick entertainment.

This is a great fun fable for small kids who like to read about nature. The three foxes are hunting rabbits for dinner, but somehow they don't seem to find any, although a few rabbit ears are visible on each page.

Enjoy. Early readers up to age of six will like the tale. The illustrations are a bit cartoony but make the woods vividly real.
I downloaded an ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.

What a cute simple, little book! “The Woods” is a sweet and lovely tale about silly foxes. It is written by the author, Rob Hodgson and follows on from ‘The Cave’.

Three foxes are on the hunt for rabbits in the woods. They search through carrot fields and pumpkin patches, but the rabbits keep outsmarting them. Will they ever find any rabbits? Are they themselves, being hunted?

Visually, the book was extremely engaging. The foxes were brilliantly illustrated I loved that the three foxes were all individual and unique to one another. Rob used this to great effect throughout the story and it added great impact to the ending. As they hunted, the foxes argued amongst themselves, which made for a few laugh-out-loud moments. The sly rabbits dotted throughout and the illustrations not only added interest to the book but also helped with thought and reasoning abilities.

I adored the twist at the end, not often seen in a children’s book, which was achieved through clever use of the illustrations. The book was packed with humour and how fabulous was the reference to doughnuts!

I found this book funny and entertaining and I really appreciated this lovely, winsome tale. I would definitely recommend it and I think the book would make a lovely addition to any family library.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for the complimentary ARC. This is my honest and totally voluntary opinion.

Three foxes go into the woods rabbit hunting. They look high and low but cannot find any rabbits. After several mishaps, they see a huge shape that must be a rabbit. The run to it, only to learn that it was really three rabbits setting a trap for the foxes.

This is a cute book for preschoolers. My grandson had fun pointing out the eyes of rabbits that the foxes were missing. The story is engaging and smooth. The words are age appropriate. The illustrations are great. There are one tall, one small and one fat fox. There are one tall, one small and one fat rabbit. Their sizes play into each one’s ability to hunt. The facial expressions are a riot.

This is just a fun, fun book. It teaches the lesson to look around and be aware of the surroundings.


I received an ARC from Quarto Publishing Group through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book.

** I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley and Fances Lincoln Children's Books to review**

I liked this book. Bold illustrations, simple text and easily recognisable characters will appeal to younger readers, as will the ignorance of the foxes as they are searching for the rabbits. I can easily imagine the squeals of delight from young children as they spot the rabbits on each page that the foxes say ‘no rabbits here’. I also think that children will enjoy the twist in the tale as the books ends.

Three foxes are on the hunt for rabbits, but they can't seem to find any, despite the signs pointing them in the right direction and the eyes that are staring at them.

I enjoyed the bright illustrations, and the story had potential. I was slightly put off by the use of name-calling. For example, the word "numbskull" and "stupid" were used in the text.

The Woods by Rob Hodgson is a children’s fiction book with creative and colorful illustrations. It is an interesting and fun story about three hungry foxes in the woods looking for rabbits. But, the foxes don’t know they just might be the ones being followed. This is a book best for ages 4-7. The animals can really be silly in this story.
It is also great with repetition and characters exploring under, through and all over looking for the rabbits. Readers and young listeners will enjoy this story. But, there are a few things to know about this table-turning story. There is some name calling, which might send a wrong message, yet could be a way to spark a conversation about this type of action and why it is upsetting to call someone a not-so-nice name or being a bully. They use the word “stupid” which is a word often frowned upon in schools, for example. Again, it is a cute story and might be a good example to get a conversation started on how not to act when it comes to name calling and bullying as it is not a big part of this silly story.