The Foxwood Treasury

Foxwood Tales

by Cynthia Paterson, Brian Paterson

A single-volume edition of four picture books featuring Harvey Mouse, Willie the Hedgehog, Rue Rabbit and their "The Foxwood Regatta", "The Foxwood Kidnap", "The Foxwood Smugglers" and "The Foxwood Surprise".

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Collections

127 pages, Hardcover

First published November 6, 1997

About the author

Cynthia Paterson is a British author and the wife of Brian Paterson. Together they wrote and drew the Foxwood Tales series of children's books.

Reviews

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Oh my dear… the illustrations are completely enchanting. You don’t turn the pages quickly with a book like this! Colorful, Victorian and cozy woodland homes - it’s sublime.

The stories are good too and don’t always end predictably. I do wish the three woodland friends staid sweet throughout the tales but they don’t always. There are brief behavioral issues. If they had, this would have been a solid five stars.

While these tales are fun, I have to say I like Brambly Hedge a lot better. Try those stories for pure sweetness!

Ages: 3 - 10

Content Considerations: “shut up”, “idiot” and one or two other name calling words occur. The kids in the story don’t always get along, arguing or loosing their temper and storming off, complaining and speaking rudely to an adult once. However, most conflicts end with resolution.

[Erin Waymel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the illustrations of this series. I would have given it more stars if it had omitted the characters telling each other to shut up or calling each other idiots. My toddler sat still to listen to these stories but that wasn't dialogue I want little kids hearing and learning. Wish they had edited out some of that dialogue.

[Clara Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was able to read this wonderful set of four stories online at archive.org. How I loved it! The three little animal friends have such adventures and the illustrations are just beautiful...my favorite illustration was of the inside of a little caravan in the seaside (smugglers) story - it made me want to sleep in a caravan!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminiscent of Beatrix Potter these are the tales of darling woodland folk on all kinds of cozy, homey adventures. A regatta and searching for a new town hall are among the stories in this treasury. I read these to my pre-school aged son as part of his schoolwork. The art is detailed and a delight to look at and talk about. While the stories are on the longer side there are many natural points where you can stop and pickup the story later.

[Jelka · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are very cute but the stories were just okay.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations, but I don’t think the writing is of a good enough quality to match them, I’m sorry to say

[the reading teacup | ~☕️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed all the stories and the illustrations were adorably whimsical! 🥹🤍

[B · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book, but the language used means I couldn’t read it to a child. The characters tell each other to ‘shut up’ & call each other ‘idiot’ & ‘you’re a bore’. They bicker amongst each other, shove one another, put each other down, & backchat adults. It’s such a shame, because the illustrations are gorgeous! The text just doesn’t do the illustrations justice. Children are so impressionable. Books with good morals & clean language are essential. They mimic everything, & books & media is where they learn appropriate behaviour. I’ll stick to the ‘Brambly Hedge’ series- the illustrations are just as nice, but its text is sweet & child friendly.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has fantastic illustrations that make you travel together with the little animal characters to the country, to the sea and the river, to a carefree childhood. You can taste the food, smell the flowers and fruits, feel the afternoon light and the fluffy snow.

[Mila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations, but the stories are not as all-encompassing as Brambly Hedge... here, you have money and "cents" and a station ... and one wonders how that works? Human world only with animal characters?

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

On par with Brambly Hedge. We already love darling Willy and his friends.

[Grace Wyness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely gorgeous illustrations! My favourite book as a child

[Amelia Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorg

[Kalilah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the illustrations more than the stories. It's reminiscent of Brambly Hedge, but not quite as charming.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bless the woman who made this book. It made my childhood. I just found the book and it brought back so much memories. It's a beautiful book. My mum loves it too. She read it to me all the time. This is a special book, will treasure it forever and am keeping it for my future children if I ever have kids

[Meikura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish they still wrote such great childrens literature. I miss the days when you spoke to a child and you didn't need aliens or teaching the alphabet to be essential to a childrens book. If I have children, they'll be reading treasures like this, where morales and intelligence hold precidence over silly thing like, what type of hairdo will Sally wear today? Truly a must to read to your child.

[Kidsbookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fabulous Story! Kids will love it as a read aloud and then enjoy reading it on their own one day. A great first mystery for kids, too!

[Lucy Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread for nostalgia sake. Beautiful illustrations!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favourite children’s books and it is a lovely book to read when you’re having a down day. You can become engrossed in the trivial pursuits of the animals and their cute village.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting stories and beautiful illustrations.