Scholastic Australia
July 2026
ISBN: 9781761648489
RRP: $26.99
The illustrations are beautifully rendered and the minimal text is quite evocative. It’s a simple book about how love is expressed for small people. I just have one problem with it. It’s clearly Australian and we know that via the azure kingfisher and the frogmouth mentioned, also what I assume are brumbies and the platypus swimming in a creek. Then why are the main character animals foxes? European red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are an introduced, highly destructive invasive species that occupy about 80% of mainland Australia, with an estimated population of around 1.7 million. Yes, foxes seem to be rather like capybaras in recent times – everywhere in ‘cute’ situations but if I was going to write a book that extols love in all its guises setting it squarely in Australia for Australian children, I would not be featuring foxes as my focus point. This one gets a 3 🦊🦊🦊 for the lovely illos and the sentiment but I’m frowning otherwise, sorry.
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