Red Fox Running [Paperback]

Eve Bunting (Author), Wendell Minor (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Red Fox runs on and on through the snow in search of food for his family. Then he makes the long trek back to his den where his mate and cubs are waiting.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bunting's rhymes freeze-frame moments of a red fox's winter day. The urgent tempo of the narrative echoes the animal's growing hunger: "Red fox running, / Running through the snow, / White sky above / And white earth below. / . . . / Hunger runs beside you / On this cold and frozen day." Elegant metaphors (the silence of an eagle's shadow, the loneliness of being left behind by migrating cranes) convey the emptiness within the starving fox. But "red fox, weary" turns to "red fox, joyous" when he sniffs out prey and returns to feed his family. The book hints at the cost of the hunt--"Your paws are raw and bleeding, / Your body's sore and spent"--but identifies the unlucky victim only in the illustrations, as a vague furriness. Facing each page of verse is a full-page painting; alternating with these are textless full-spread depictions of the fox's outdoor world. Minor's grainy paintings combine down-to-earth representations with an ethereal use of lighting. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-Bunting draws readers into the winter world of a red fox. In a simple, rhyming text-eight short lines per page-its quest for food unfolds. Suspense builds as it runs through the snow encountering other woodland creatures (will one become its prey?). As night falls, the animal wearies and becomes vulnerable itself. Finally, a meal is captured-details of the kill are discreetly omitted from both text and illustrations-and the creature staggers home with its "prize" to a cozy den and hungry cubs. The serious topic brings to mind a documentary, but the verse and fine watercolor paintings heighten its drama. Sweeping landscapes dominated by snowy ground, bleak skies, and rich evergreens appear regularly on double-page spreads that alternate comfortably with the sedately framed white pages of measured text. Compelling closeups of the wildlife are appropriately naturalistic and marvelously textured. Overall, Bunting provides an unromanticized glimpse of survival in the wild. Her lyrical language and Minor's large-format art render this an ideal choice to read aloud or independently.
Valerie Lennox, Jacksonville Public Library, FL
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (October 18, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395797233
• ISBN-13: 978-0395797235
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.8 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #945,632 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #40 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( B ) > Bunting, Eve

More About the Author

Eve Bunting has written more than 200 books for children, many of which can be found in libraries around the world. Her other Clarion titles for very young readers include My Big Boy Bed, which was also illustrated by Maggie Smith, and Little Bear's Little Boat, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. She lives in Pasadena, California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolutely beautiful and very poetic book., October 12, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Red Fox Running (Paperback)

Red Fox Running is a very beautiful and poetic picture book that I enjoyed enormously. The animals and the environments are very beautifully drawn and the poetry flows very well with the pictures. The book also seemed to make me feel good at the end, with the fox returning to his family with the food they needed, all of them safe and sound. This book was magical in its beauty and poetry, and I definitely consider it to be one of my favorites. I would recommend Red Fox Running to anyone, especially those who like foxes, animals, scenery, poetry, or just beautifully made books. This book rates even more than five stars.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Poem with Great Illustrations, November 22, 2002

By 

Rev. Dylan Schrader "Father Schrader" (MO, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Red Fox Running (Paperback)

This is an excellent book. A wonderful and playful harmony between beautiful illustrations and the marvelous imagery of the poem. The words truly come alive and blend smoothly with the pictures. I would especially recommend this book to anyone who loves foxes.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Review contians a spoiler!, December 8, 2008

By 

A. Williams - See all my reviews

This review is from: Red Fox Running (Hardcover)

The pictures in this book are absolutely beautiful! They alone warrant a good portion of the stars given to this book.
I thought the story itself was good. A poem about a hungry fox looking for food. The only thing is that sometimes I thought the rhythm was a little uneven. Also, it's a tad intense for young readers. It's a good introduction to the food chain - but sensitive readers will probably be upset as the fox gets hungrier and hungrier and more weary, and that ...
****SPOILER*****
the fox does find dinner. While you feel happy for the fox you can't help feel sorry for the unnamed creature that became the fox's meal. I must say though, that I thought it was wise that the author chose to *not* call out what kind of an animal became dinner, and all we see is that it has fur, so children won't have to associate a specific creature with the foxes meal.

All in all it's a cute story, but I'd review it before letting your children read it.