Amber: The Story of a Red Fox [Hardcover]

Shirley Woods (Author), Celia Godkin (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up

Winner of the 2005 Diamond Willow Award

A Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice 2005

2006-2007 Red Cedar Book Award Nomination

Children's Crown Award nominee

For the first month of her life, Amber lives only in the den she shares with her four brothers. When at last they are ready to leave the den in late spring, Amber and the other kits overcome their fears quickly. In no time they are tumbling over each other in their eagerness to explore the delights of the world above. But playtime will soon be over. As the summer flies by, Amber's parents teach the lessons that are crucial to their survival. Foxes have many enemies, and they must learn to outwit foes stronger and faster than they are.

By fall, Amber's parents have left, and her brothers have gradually gone their separate ways. Amber still has much to learn. Driven by hunger and fear, she will use every instinct and intelligence she possesses to feed herself and stay safe. One day she will be ready to find a mate and raise a family of her own.

Author Shirley Woods' love of the natural world shines in this accurate portrayal of a young fox's life. A wealth of factual information about foxes is carefully woven into a story filled with adventure and suspense.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6–Readers follow Amber, the youngest and smallest kit in her litter, from birth through maturity. The animals are all named and have emotions and thoughts, but the facts are realistically portrayed as the kits develop physically and behaviorally. Amber and her brothers play, explore, and wander farther from their den until, at six months, they leave the family group. Amber quickly encounters dangers from other wild animals as well as from humans and their dogs. She meets a young male fox, Flame, and enjoys playing and hunting with him, but they are separated during a frightening encounter with hunters. She survives her first year (unlike some of her brothers) and is reunited with Flame as the book ends. Full-page, pen-and-ink illustrations add to the narrative and smaller ones decorate each chapter beginning. With good characterization and plot development, this simple story teaches as it entertains.–Susan Oliver, Tampa-Hillsborough Public Library System, FL
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Review

"With good characterization and plot development, this simple story teaches as it entertains."
-- School Library Journal

"The novel is accurate about fox behaviour and life events. Woods deals straightforwardly with the natural fact that creatures hunt and eat each other...Woods keeps us interested and caring. It's a good, satisfying story."
-- Hi-Rise Community Newspaper, Toronto

". . . provides a sensitive yet scientifically correct portrayal of the developmental stages of a particular animal, its habits and habitat, couched in a well-told, often suspenseful story...Amber’s habitat is the north shore of Lake Huron and environs, and it is Wood’s evocation of that countryside that shifts his book from the merely excellent to the lyrical.”
-- The Globe and Mail

"...[A] touching and accurate depiction of the life cycle of a family of foxes...filled with factual information about foxes without detracting from the excitement and adventure of the story. Woods excels at capturing the extreme moments of danger Amber faces and accurately conveys feelings of suspense to his reader. This is an entertaining story that will enthral the reader and also impart to them a greater respect for the natural world. This book would be a fabulous selection for both school libraries and public libraries..."
-- Resource Links

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Fitzhenry and Whiteside; 1 edition (February 26, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550418114
• ISBN-13: 978-1550418118
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.5 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,219,269 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)