Fox

Margaret Wild and Ron Brooks are Australia's top picture-book makers. Their previous books with Allen + Unwin are Old Pig and Rosie and Tortoise.Margaret Wild lives in Sydney, New South Wales. She is the author of many popular picture books, including:The Very Best of FriendsFirst DayTom Goes to KindergartenNight Night!Baby BoomsticksRon Brooks lives in Huonville, Tasmania. He has illustrated many memorable books for children, including:The Bunyip of Berkeley's CreekJohn Brown, Rose and the Midnight CatMotor Bill and the Lovely CarolineHenry's Bed + Henry's Bath

In this powerful story about friendship, betrayal and courage, the language is beautifully spare and the illustrations are vibrant and haunting. The text, written with scratchy pen, creates an edgy atmosphere... Brooks's images grow out of Wild's careful language, and are perfectly in tune. The position of the spidery text sets the pace and tone of the story, and there is a strong sense of place, with rich, vegetable-like colours. The paper's surface is streaked and gouged with brush lines, scratches, and finely etched drawings. The animals, though stylized, are also thoroughly real. -- Julia Eccleshare 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up The scratchy sideways text adds to the wild elemental feel of the book, with its breathtaking earthy palette. A one-eyed dog rescues a crippled bird; sitting astride his back as he runs she becomes his eyes and he her wings. But then Fox comes to join themm in their cave and fills it with a 'smell of rage and envy and loneliness'. A masterpiece. Sunday Telegraph Try it, discover a classic, for this is undoubtedly an exceptional masterpiece. School Librarian This is a memorable example of the picture-book form. Ground-breaking and courageous, it has been translated into many languages. Although it is not a 'fun' read, both children andadults will be drawn into this compelling tale of friendship, loyalty, risk and betrayal. Ibby Link