‘Happiness is carrot cake, goldfish, marmalade, and trees in Autumn.’

The Fox On The Swing – by Evelina Daciute & Ausra Kiudulaite – is a picture book that celebrates friendship and happiness, shouting about the later whilst swinging in the park! Happiness is orange! As Fox tells us, in this longer than normal picture book.

Paul lives in the city, with Mum and Dad. They are a perfectly normal family, apart from the fact they live in a tree house – which does mean Dad has to catch a helicopter to work… well they ARE very high up! Ausra Kiudulaite’s illustrations perfectly capture this fabulous imaginative leap, and transports the readers straight into Paul’s wonderful world.

Paul’s daily task is to pop into the bakers to buy three fresh bread rolls. It is on one of these walks he spies a lovely orange fox curled up on a swing. Can you imagine when, one day, the fox begins talking to him?!

Evelina Daciute’s intriguing and quirky narrative takes her readers through their developing friendship. The more involved narrative make this a wonderful one to read to those who relish longer picture books. At first, Paul really isn’t sure that Fox is the friend for him. Then, as their relationship grows, there are times when Paul must be there for his friend – ‘I have a bad case of the blues.’ The grey, penciled portrayal of fox on this page wonderfully conveys the character’s emotion.

When times are great, and happiness feels delightfully orange they feel wonderfully connected. Kiudulaite’s vibrant, and wonderfully detailed illustrations bring the reader into this growing friendship – enabling us to share in the many things that these two enjoy together.

Then Paul’s parents say they are moving… to a bigger city, with a bigger tree and a bigger helicopter – and so their friendship must turn yet another corner.

The Fox On The Swing with Daciute’s comforting narrative, and Kiudulaite’s immersive illustrations approaches friendship, change, loss and looking for happiness in everything, in a wonderfully unique and charming manner.

 

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