By Astrid Sheckels
Published by Islandport Press
Mom's Review
I want to live in Hector Fox's world. What do they do for fun, you ask? Why, they read fairy tales together in a cozy forest home before exploring nature and indulging their curiosity!
After finishing a fairy tale, the group you see on the cover decides to explore an uncharted marsh to find a giant. The smooth narration and rich illustrations make for a cozy story time, while the underlying messaging emphasizes the value of reading, friendship, curiosity, and exploration. The level of detail in the illustrations draws the reader in, fully enveloping her in the setting. Sheckels's work reminds me of both Arthur Rackham, with the forest imagery, and Beatrix Potter, with the quaintly dressed animals. The characters themselves are a varied group of friends with whom children can identify - there is the leader, the one who is *NOT* scared, the one who is curious, the one who is along for fun. They are expressive and you can see how they support each other as their adventure does not unfold as they hoped. I really like how kind they are to one another. The story exudes warmth and consideration. The Hector Fox books are bound to be a hit.
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