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Little Fox in the Snow
Follow a young red fox on a snowy day.
Little foxling, where will you go?
A red fox emerges from its burrow one wintry morning, a fiery streak against stark white surroundings, driven by hunger and curiosity to investigate its world. Encountering a mouse, a hare, and a wolverine, the little fox takes on the role of both hunter and hunted before returning to the safety of its den, where -- perhaps -- it dreams of something more.
Little foxling, where will you go?
A red fox emerges from its burrow one wintry morning, a fiery streak against stark white surroundings, driven by hunger and curiosity to investigate its world. Encountering a mouse, a hare, and a wolverine, the little fox takes on the role of both hunter and hunted before returning to the safety of its den, where -- perhaps -- it dreams of something more.
34 pages, Hardcover
First published November 13, 2018
141 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan London
194 books200 followersJonathan London is the author of several celebrated children's books. His commitment to honoring the wonders of the natural world has been lauded by readers and critics alike. He is the author of more than 70 children's books, many of which are about nature. He's also the author of the popular Froggy series. He lives in Graton, California with his wife and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
January 17, 2022
A little fox awakens in his den in this lovely picture-book, venturing out into the snowy world around him for food. Driven by hunger, he hunts mice and rabbits, until he himself becomes the prey, driven back to his den by a fierce wolverine. Here he curls up, dreaming perhaps of the vixen he scented, and of the possibility of his own foxy family...
With a simple but poetic text from author Jonathan London and beautiful artwork from illustrator Daniel Miyares, Little Fox in the Snow offers a young child's introduction to the realities of life in the wild. This is not a cuddly, anthropomorphic view of wild animals, but rather a naturalistic one. The fox is hungry, and he must hunt for his food. I appreciated the simple, matter-of-fact but somehow gentle way this was conveyed, in text and image, and that the fox is also shown to have his enemies. Recommended to young fox lovers, and to anyone seeking excellent pre-school level picture-books about the natural world.
With a simple but poetic text from author Jonathan London and beautiful artwork from illustrator Daniel Miyares, Little Fox in the Snow offers a young child's introduction to the realities of life in the wild. This is not a cuddly, anthropomorphic view of wild animals, but rather a naturalistic one. The fox is hungry, and he must hunt for his food. I appreciated the simple, matter-of-fact but somehow gentle way this was conveyed, in text and image, and that the fox is also shown to have his enemies. Recommended to young fox lovers, and to anyone seeking excellent pre-school level picture-books about the natural world.
December 17, 2018
I've never been disturbed by a picture book until now. Cool illustration style though
February 10, 2020
Maddie’s choice from her preschool library visit, it’s a good book. I really liked the illustrations and it’s a very honest book that foxes eat mice and bunnies and could be eaten themselves.
December 26, 2018
The illustrations in this book are stunning but the story is lacking
January 7, 2022
Gorgeous illustrations, vibrant colors, amazing shadows are the perfect setting for the poetic text.
Library copy
Library copy
February 16, 2019
Sunlight shining on a young sleeping fox in his burrow wakes him up, and as he sticks his head outside, looking around at the snowy forest, he realizes he is hungry. It is time to hunt for his next meal. Following his instincts, the foxling hunts down a mouse, but it isn't enough to satisfy his hunger. Following tracks, the young fox finds a rabbit, then gets a nice drink from a cold stream. But the hunter soon becomes the hunted when the little fox meets a hungry wolverine. Will the foxling escape in time to dream away another night with a full stomach? Daniel Miyares ink and watercolor illustrations capture the cold of winter, and the red fox against the white snow keeps this story focused. Told in free-form poetry, the story of a winter day in the life of a little fox's is not the kind of cute stories about forest animals kids so frequently hear, but a more authentic, realistic picture of survival of the hunter and the hunted, and how that can change so quickly so the hunter becomes the hunted. Though the illustrations also have this authenticity to them, the more gory details are NOT part of the picture. I would recommend taking to any child you might want to share this book with.
October 30, 2018
I read two fox-related books this week, and this one was by far my favorite of the two. Readers can learn quite a lot about the life of a young fox from the evocative text and memorable illustrations, created in ink and watercolor. From its first moments of waking to its search for food and being distracted by the scent of a female fox and then on to a surprising encounter with a wolverine, this fox has quite a busy day. I liked the cyclical nature of the narrative, beginning and ending with the fox safe in its den where nothing can harm it. The images and text capture the moment to moment joys of the day alongside the dangers and challenges the fox faces in just getting through the day. Readers will feel as though they are right there in those snowy woods with that fox.
January 10, 2019
Amazing illustrations. The realism of what a fox does (it hunts mice and rabbits) is refreshing. However, it is done very tastefully. You know the fox will eat the mouse and rabbit (London tells you this) but it is not "blood guts and gore." The fact the fox also has an enemy, the wolverine, is also refreshing. Even though the text is rhyming and a soft bouncy to it, it is real. It is what a winter's day looks like in the wild; in the forest. It might not be for the very young, but it is something that can be for most ages. Even adults will enjoy. If you are a Froggy fan, however, you will probably not be a fan of this.
December 11, 2018
It's a glorious, living story of a day in the life, this time with a fox, hungry and traveling through the woods to find what is possible, first a mouse, then, whew, a rabbit. It also becomes the hunted when encountering a wolverine. Jonathan London has written the story in brief, poetic text and each of Daniel Miyares's pages show the need, the capture, the danger and the silent, safe warmth of the fox's hole. "Little foxling, little fox,/safe in your hole – tomorrow/you will go back/out into the snow./But tonight, you can rest/in your halo of warmth./Good night, little fox."
December 18, 2018
Beautiful and poetic, but I'm not sure how much a child would enjoy it. I can see this used in a classroom more than in a bedtime ritual.
January 11, 2019
Lovely and poetic.
June 11, 2019
The free verse text is accompanied by gorgeous illustrations. There is a scene where the fox is chasing a hare; then the next page tells the reader the fox has a full belly. So there is no graphic description of the fox catching and eating the hare, it is only implied.
November 6, 2018
An evocative, poetic narrative complemented with lovely impressionistic watercolor illustrations by Daniel Miyares.
January 24, 2019
A "day in the life" story about a fox during the winter time. What it eats, how it hunts, which critters it has to run away from. Very light on story, but it has stunning illustrations and poetic (non-rhyming) text.
January 11, 2019
This is like a poetically written hunting segment of "Planet Earth." It is a part of the wildlife lifecycle. Having sat and watched a coyote hunt squirrels in my yard, I know there is a certain beauty and grace to the hunt. One part of you is hoping the coyote will catch his meal, the other part is praying the squirrels will escape. That is my adult mind which has had years to understand and accept it is a part of survival. My problem is that when you look at the cover of this book book, you see a happy cartoonish fox on a beautiful snowy morning prancing through the woods. If you haven't read the inside flap, you are in for a surprise or two or three. My other issue is the choice of a wolverine as the hunter of fox. I had to look this animal up. I have heard of them, but unless you live in Canada or the northwest corner of the US, this is not the common predator of the fox. This added confusion to the story for me. I question, but have not done any research, that a fox would mistake the smell of a wolverine for a potential mate. This is a book that would benefit from having back matter about the lifecycles of these animals and some details about their ranges, habits, and habitats.
Having said all that, if you are prepared with this information and want to use this book to show the hunting skills and needs of wildlife, this is a beautifully illustrated and poetically written book.
Having said all that, if you are prepared with this information and want to use this book to show the hunting skills and needs of wildlife, this is a beautifully illustrated and poetically written book.
January 6, 2019
What would a winter day in the life of a young fox be like? This book attempts to bring the reader into his survival struggles.
The narrative gives an irregular rhythm, some phrases flow, others are jarring and abrupt with intermittent rhyming. Some of the phrases are literal, others are figurative: “You’re a blur of fur...The sinking sun sets your coat aglow.” and “eyes flare up lie struck matches.”
Ink and watercolor illustrations take the reader into the fox’s forest domain, and begins and ends the day right in the safe, dark den. Some readers may recognize the yellow/pink/reds in the distance as sunrise/sunsets; others may think the forest is on fire. Text in bold font is appropriately placed on white spaces of the double-page spreads.
Some readers may recognize the nature of life (foxes need to eat mice and rabbits); other may be horrified at the death of the cute cuddly bunny.
In one scene, the fox smells a vixen, but instead sees a wolverine. The vixen is not mentioned again until he dreams of her later. In some places the word ‘foxling’ is used, but if the fox is that young, would a vixen interest him?
Could be used for food web and predator/prey studies, although several sources I examined about wolverines and fox did not indicate that wolverines eat foxes. Wolverines will eat large animals and dig into dens and eat hibernating animals, but I could not find that fox was specifically listed as one of their dietary staples. As much as the wolverine adds drama to the fox’s day, and though their eyes may glow at night, the illustration show them glowing red.
Fans of Jonathan London may want to purchase this, but the inconsistencies are a distraction.
Libraries needing picture books on fox may want to consider Laurence Pringle’s “The Secret Life of the Red Fox” c2017.
The narrative gives an irregular rhythm, some phrases flow, others are jarring and abrupt with intermittent rhyming. Some of the phrases are literal, others are figurative: “You’re a blur of fur...The sinking sun sets your coat aglow.” and “eyes flare up lie struck matches.”
Ink and watercolor illustrations take the reader into the fox’s forest domain, and begins and ends the day right in the safe, dark den. Some readers may recognize the yellow/pink/reds in the distance as sunrise/sunsets; others may think the forest is on fire. Text in bold font is appropriately placed on white spaces of the double-page spreads.
Some readers may recognize the nature of life (foxes need to eat mice and rabbits); other may be horrified at the death of the cute cuddly bunny.
In one scene, the fox smells a vixen, but instead sees a wolverine. The vixen is not mentioned again until he dreams of her later. In some places the word ‘foxling’ is used, but if the fox is that young, would a vixen interest him?
Could be used for food web and predator/prey studies, although several sources I examined about wolverines and fox did not indicate that wolverines eat foxes. Wolverines will eat large animals and dig into dens and eat hibernating animals, but I could not find that fox was specifically listed as one of their dietary staples. As much as the wolverine adds drama to the fox’s day, and though their eyes may glow at night, the illustration show them glowing red.
Fans of Jonathan London may want to purchase this, but the inconsistencies are a distraction.
Libraries needing picture books on fox may want to consider Laurence Pringle’s “The Secret Life of the Red Fox” c2017.
November 16, 2018
Told in a second-person point of view, the beautiful watercolor illustrations and lyrical text realistically, yet gently (no blood or gore), depict a wintery day in the woods. Expressive, magical illustrations partner with the poetic text to bring the reader right into the little fox's winter journey, as he hunts for mice and rabbits. Then, peering into the shadows, he encounters a wolverine. Now the fox is the hunted and flees across the snow for the safety of its den. The fiery sunset glow lends to the heart-pounding urgency of the fox's flight.
Finally safe at last, the fox drifts off to dreams of a vixen and a fox family depicted as starry constellations dancing across the sky. This is a beautiful, poetic addition to any nonfiction book collection, especially on foxes and or habitats. Readers who love foxes and nature will adore the gorgeous illustrations and the honest representation of a woodland winter day.
Finally safe at last, the fox drifts off to dreams of a vixen and a fox family depicted as starry constellations dancing across the sky. This is a beautiful, poetic addition to any nonfiction book collection, especially on foxes and or habitats. Readers who love foxes and nature will adore the gorgeous illustrations and the honest representation of a woodland winter day.
April 25, 2019
Little Fox in the Snow by Jonathan London, illustrated by Daniel Miyares. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2018. $17. 9780763688141.
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW
A young fox spends the day exploring in the snow outside his burrow--chasing down meals, seeking out another fox, and even escaping a dangerous wolverine.
This is a book written in verse that is beautiful in its tone and illustrations. The words capture the quiet excitement of a fox's daily life and the illustrations are really gorgeous. That being said, this is not the sort of book young readers will likely enjoy. Adults nature lovers will likely find it appealing, but I doubt it will have a ready audience among kids.
Reviewer: TC
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW
A young fox spends the day exploring in the snow outside his burrow--chasing down meals, seeking out another fox, and even escaping a dangerous wolverine.
This is a book written in verse that is beautiful in its tone and illustrations. The words capture the quiet excitement of a fox's daily life and the illustrations are really gorgeous. That being said, this is not the sort of book young readers will likely enjoy. Adults nature lovers will likely find it appealing, but I doubt it will have a ready audience among kids.
Reviewer: TC
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
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September 9, 2021Little Fox in the Snow is about a fox going through his daily routine in the winter. It shows him waking up, hunting for food, being hunted for food, and finally coming back to his den to dream about what tomorrow will bring.
I think this was a charming book. It gives a good sense of what a fox would do on a winter's day. The pictures are eye-catching because whenever I think of snow or the forest, it catches my eye and makes me feel relaxed.
I would read this book to my students. It shows a good overview of what a fox does and the fun or danger it can get into. If we were learning about the animal food chain in science, this would be a great book because it shows the fox hunting for his food and then shows him being hunted. It also could be a fun wintertime story.
I think this was a charming book. It gives a good sense of what a fox would do on a winter's day. The pictures are eye-catching because whenever I think of snow or the forest, it catches my eye and makes me feel relaxed.
I would read this book to my students. It shows a good overview of what a fox does and the fun or danger it can get into. If we were learning about the animal food chain in science, this would be a great book because it shows the fox hunting for his food and then shows him being hunted. It also could be a fun wintertime story.
January 13, 2026
A fox leaves its den and goes hunting one winter day.
The text is written in second person addressing the fox, which is an unusual narrative choice.
This story features the animal wolverine, which is an uncommon animal in North American, whose habitat is limited almost entirely to Alaska and northern Canada. Young readers may be surprised to learn that Wolverine is not just a comic book character.
I didn't screen this book before reading it to my children, and they were shocked that the fox ate not one but two other animals before almost being eaten itself. That was a bit of a parenting fail.
The illustrations were done in ink and watercolor.
The text is written in second person addressing the fox, which is an unusual narrative choice.
This story features the animal wolverine, which is an uncommon animal in North American, whose habitat is limited almost entirely to Alaska and northern Canada. Young readers may be surprised to learn that Wolverine is not just a comic book character.
I didn't screen this book before reading it to my children, and they were shocked that the fox ate not one but two other animals before almost being eaten itself. That was a bit of a parenting fail.
The illustrations were done in ink and watercolor.
December 30, 2025
Wow - good science, as it gives us a chance to root for a predator. But there's one spread that would have given me a scare when I was young. So, know your child, and probably don't consider for under 6 anyway. Also, there's no note. I really wish the science of the scary situation were discussed at the back (do research yourself anyway!). .
December 26, 2018
The lyrical text engages young readers/audiences in much the same way that the art does: offering a blend of realistic portrayal with a blurred and blended aspect to make the story almost dreamlike. This is not intended as a nonfiction book, and yet much of the true nature and behaviors of foxes are portrayed within the covers. It is a gently-paced story with a dream-like quality that makes it an ideal bedtime book, despite one dramatic surprise waiting in the latter pages.
May 9, 2019
Super weird mix of showing the grisly ferocity of the carnivorous lifestyle whilst carrying on in a bouncy meter and not-quite obvious end-rhyme pattern. Heavens to Betsy the hare's death is hinted at with blood in the water (because yah hares die) but we don't really get a chance to process this. Ditto: the lure of the sexy she-vixen-foxen. Because here comes some deadly wolverine about to rip your head off. Tra la tra la.
My fix: skip the rhyme and meter. Go for broke with the brutality.
My fix: skip the rhyme and meter. Go for broke with the brutality.
July 20, 2019
Jonathan London's Little Fox in the Snow doesn't pull any punches in depicting a day in the life of a red fox on a snowy winter's day. There's hunting, and killing, and eating of one's prey - all very true to nature. This gives little readers the opportunity to understand the non-Disney version of forest animals. The story does all this very well. Daniel Miyares' illustrations are energetic and thrilling.
January 7, 2020
The illustrations are beautiful in this book. A bit scary, yet realistic scenes of hunting and being hunted may frighten pre-school age readers.
I’m truly puzzled at the strange flow the the text in this story, not easy to read aloud. Also the use of some the words seems like they are for older readers/listeners-is this picture book geared toward elementary readers?
I’m disappointed in this book to be sure, which is a surprise for me, cause I love the Froggggy books.
I’m truly puzzled at the strange flow the the text in this story, not easy to read aloud. Also the use of some the words seems like they are for older readers/listeners-is this picture book geared toward elementary readers?
I’m disappointed in this book to be sure, which is a surprise for me, cause I love the Froggggy books.
December 28, 2021
Lovely illustrations by Daniel Miyares. The story by Jonathan London is simple but poetic – short and sweet. It follows a day in the life of a fox as it ventures out of its warm, cozy den into the winter-laden world looking for food. It doesn’t shy away from showing the cycles of life as it catches its prey and nearly becomes food itself. The story is somewhat matter-of-fact and but is softened by London’s poetic writing style and Miyares’ soft images.
January 24, 2023
This book was about a fox who was out looking for food in the middle of the winter. He tried and tried to fill up his stomach, however, he was unsuccessful. Then he thought he had saw a she-fox in the woods and when he approached it it was a wolverine. Quickly, he ran back to his burrow and learned his lesson but he dreamed of one day finding his she-fox. I thought this book was cute. It would definitely be good to use in a smaller children’s classroom.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2019
My first exposure to Jonathan London is through his Froggy series, which my kids think are hilarious. This is a more serious toned book about a little fox exploring the new snow. You never know what he will come across. This book is cozy and the illustrations are stellar. It may be different than his other books, but it’s one you won’t want to miss.
February 25, 2019
Little Fox awakes and leaves his burrow searching for food. He eats a mouse and then a rabbit. Then he is attracted to the scent of a she-fox, but is surprised by a wolverine who chases him home. Safe in his burrow, he goes back to sleep, dreaming of the she-fox and the foxlings they can have together.
June 30, 2019
6/30/2019 ~ Gorgeous illustrations; Miyares gets the ears and expressions just right. Lilting text shows the clear relation between predator and prey.
Some adults reading this book with children might want to be aware that the fox is shown catching a mouse and the text implies that he caught and ate a rabbit. However, the illustrations handle the scenes very subtly.
Some adults reading this book with children might want to be aware that the fox is shown catching a mouse and the text implies that he caught and ate a rabbit. However, the illustrations handle the scenes very subtly.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews