Red Fox at Mccloskey's Farm — Brian J. Heinz

A classic conflict is given a classic treatment in Red Fox at McCloskey's Farm, a picture book sure to become . . . a classic! A moonlit night, a hungry fox, a sleepy farmer and his watchdog, and a coop full of nervous chickens all add up to a ruckus of ruffled feathers and delightful rhyme. Red Fox is a hungry forest-dweller who has picked the wrong night to swipe a plump chicken from McCloskey's farm.

After making his way down wooded trails and rows of corn, the hungry fox comes face to face with a grumpy hound dog and his agitated master. Will Red Fox make his escape and live for a chicken dinner another night?

The humor, colorful imagery, and lively rhythm of Brian Heinz's poetry make this a book that begs to be read aloud. Fold-out pages give the words life in large illustrations, and the dreamlike quality of Chris Sheban's artwork-which superbly captures the sly playfulness of Red Fox, the frenzied clumsiness of McCloskey, and the understandable unease of the chickens-makes turning each page an experience that will not soon be forgotten.