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Science Storybooks
Fox Explores the Night: A First Science Storybook
Young readers are invited to join a determined fox as she sets out to find her dinner in this simple, stylish introduction to light and dark.
Fox is hungry. She waits until dark, then emerges from her den to hunt for food. Follow her as she pads through the city streets and learns about sunlight, moonlight, and electric light. Shadows grow along alleys and reflections bounce off store windows as Fox moves through patches of light and dark. Using simple, clear language and beautiful illustrations, this gentle story is the perfect introduction to light and dark for budding scientists.
Fox is hungry. She waits until dark, then emerges from her den to hunt for food. Follow her as she pads through the city streets and learns about sunlight, moonlight, and electric light. Shadows grow along alleys and reflections bounce off store windows as Fox moves through patches of light and dark. Using simple, clear language and beautiful illustrations, this gentle story is the perfect introduction to light and dark for budding scientists.
32 pages, Paperback
Published October 18, 2022
62 people want to read
About the author
Martin Jenkins
55 books27 followersMartin Jenkins, a conservation biologist, has written several nonfiction books for children, including Ape, Grandma Elephant’s in Charge, The Emperor’s Egg, and Chameleons Are Cool. He lives in Cambridge, England.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 21, 2019
This is about a fox. It uses mixed media and it looks like a lot of watercolors are used. The illustrations are nice.
The purpose of the story is for very young children to study and learn about light and light sources in a fun way. My kids were too old for this book. They were bored, even with a fox. This is for kids 1 -4 I would guess. I didn’t even read it to the niece and the nephew gave it 2 stars because he said “What happened?” There was no excitement for him.
It’s cute.
The purpose of the story is for very young children to study and learn about light and light sources in a fun way. My kids were too old for this book. They were bored, even with a fox. This is for kids 1 -4 I would guess. I didn’t even read it to the niece and the nephew gave it 2 stars because he said “What happened?” There was no excitement for him.
It’s cute.
August 13, 2022
When Fox wakes up she is feeling very hungry. She wanders the city in the dark in an attempt to find food & the reader follows along with her as she encounters different ways that the light affects the things she sees.
If you are in the market for a very short book that relies primarily on illustrations to guide a child through a specific topic, this would be a good place to start. Jenkins has easily created a short story in which Fox tries to find food & without incorporating much of anything else, the reader is asked to reflect on what is in the way of Fox finding her dinner. For example, she sees her reflection in a lit shop window; the moon lights her way in the alleys; the streetlamp singles out a mouse, etc.
It is useful to have these types of quick stories for children so that they may be asked to further reflect without necessarily having the ability to read the words on the page. The illustrations by Richard Smythe truly capture the variety of ways that light shifts depending on the time of day & the environment. This would be perfect for very young readers who are learning about light & dark.
Thank you to Edelweiss+, Candlewick Press & Martin Jenkins for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
If you are in the market for a very short book that relies primarily on illustrations to guide a child through a specific topic, this would be a good place to start. Jenkins has easily created a short story in which Fox tries to find food & without incorporating much of anything else, the reader is asked to reflect on what is in the way of Fox finding her dinner. For example, she sees her reflection in a lit shop window; the moon lights her way in the alleys; the streetlamp singles out a mouse, etc.
It is useful to have these types of quick stories for children so that they may be asked to further reflect without necessarily having the ability to read the words on the page. The illustrations by Richard Smythe truly capture the variety of ways that light shifts depending on the time of day & the environment. This would be perfect for very young readers who are learning about light & dark.
Thank you to Edelweiss+, Candlewick Press & Martin Jenkins for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
January 14, 2019
I didn't really care what happened to the fox in this book. *sigh* I really enjoy books about animals, and about foxes, but something about this just felt off to me, and I didn't personally relate to this fox. Even the scene where the fox spots another fox and feels threatened didn't evoke any feelings whatsoever. I looked over the science bit at the end. Good suggestions. Overall this is just a *meh* from me.
December 15, 2022
Watch how the science of light plays throughout the story as we follow along with Fox as she explores her environment and sources something to eat for the night.
This is a really cute picture book that would be perfect for introducing little scientists to the study of animals and the patterns of light in the physical world.
This is a really cute picture book that would be perfect for introducing little scientists to the study of animals and the patterns of light in the physical world.
February 1, 2019
The illustrations are beautiful and the first page was so promising...but then it fell flat. I am sure the author intended it to be educational about how wildlife has to exist in suburban and developing landscape, but I felt the way it was done left much to be desired.
December 24, 2018
A simple, engaging story offering a good introduction to the concepts of light and dark.
January 18, 2019
These first science storybooks are the best!
February 1, 2019
A bit disjointed.
February 16, 2019
It was okay. I didn't like the story and the illustrations were dark, but overall, I didn't hate it.
March 6, 2019
A preschool and up book about a fox waiting for night and going out to hunt and what he finds while explorering the night.
October 9, 2021
A story about a fox who lives on the edge of a big city. She wakes up hungry but chooses to wait until the sun goes all the way down so it's safer. When she emerges she goes on the hunt for food. She explores trash cans and alleys. She finally finds dinner on a picnic table and is able to sneak away without getting caught.
This is "A First Science Storybook" and focuses on the concept of light and dark. There is a note for parents on how to introduce the child to the concept.
Meh, I wouldn't use it for storytime. But someone might want to do a STEM/STEAM theme.
This is "A First Science Storybook" and focuses on the concept of light and dark. There is a note for parents on how to introduce the child to the concept.
Meh, I wouldn't use it for storytime. But someone might want to do a STEM/STEAM theme.
July 30, 2019
I would use this book as a teaching aid for a study of nocturnal animals hunting for food. It shows the fox waiting until the sun goes down and people and lights go away. Then he hunts for dinner. The author has the reader look for light sources in the book and shadows so it could be used for art sketching demonstrations for classrooms, too. Looking for the light sources. Easy text and an index to refer to light and dark examples.
June 24, 2021
Picture book with an easy reader non-fiction vibe.
The front page offers discussion points that a parent/reader/adult could discuss with their child/student/listener. The story is fictional, but there are nonfiction elements with discussion points and questions and an index.
2021 storytime theme: STEAM Team - Night Walks
Reviewed from a library copy.
The front page offers discussion points that a parent/reader/adult could discuss with their child/student/listener. The story is fictional, but there are nonfiction elements with discussion points and questions and an index.
2021 storytime theme: STEAM Team - Night Walks
Reviewed from a library copy.
February 4, 2025
This book would be great to use with concepts like day/night, nocturnal animals, etc. This story is about a fox that is looking for a meal. She goes into town after dark and starts her search. The illustrations are expressive and set a nice mood for the story. Kids will enjoy watching the progress of the fox as she moves along. Highly recommended for Grades K-2.
July 2, 2022
Easy to read story about a fox and her search for something to eat. Very interesting way to show young readers the differences with light and dark - and scientifically as well.
Kids will enjoy this fun, short read.
NEW VERSION COMING 18 OCTOBER 2022.
Kids will enjoy this fun, short read.
NEW VERSION COMING 18 OCTOBER 2022.
May 26, 2019
I didn't like this book at all. Hardly even seemed to have a story and was very boring.
December 10, 2022
The illustrations are lovely.
January 12, 2023
Holt-Delhi PJ story time 01-11-23
Read
April 13, 2023The book explores day and night and then various examples of light that shine in the darkness at night.
September 12, 2023
Fox explores the city at night and finds different examples of light and dark.
April 11, 2025
Love the story
Great illustrations with the highlighted area in the light against a very dark area.
Great illustrations with the highlighted area in the light against a very dark area.
June 11, 2025
lovely illustrations, lots of things to point at with questions at the end re: light sources and opacity (great for a kid who always points out the moon if they see it in the sky)
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews