ALA Booklist (Wed Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

Modish illustrations and minimal text tell the story of a burglary gone wrong in this lively, sneaky picture book. A sly fox spies a tony-looking townhouse, and after clambering through a window, he helps himself to the riches within, after greeting each one with a polite hello. Dishes, paintings, silverware, and clothes all go in his sack, until he finds the best prize of all: "Hello, necklace. Hello, rings. HELLO, OTHER SPARKLY THINGS." The fox blithely traipses around the house, leaving havoc and empty picture frames in his wake, and subtle details (beehive bedside lamps, a bust of a noble bear, and an autobiography of Goldilocks) in the background of Coburn's bright, animated artwork reveal plenty about the owners of the house. The fox comes face-to-face with those owners on his way out, culminating in a slapstick chase scene and an ending hinting at more chaos at the hands of an unrepentant fox. Thanks to the uproarious contrast between the wry text and cartoon art, this will tickle many a funny bone.

Horn Book (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

A fox sneaks into an unoccupied home ("Hello, door") and proceeds, Grinch-like, to bag up loot: "Hello, necklace. Hello, rings. / HELLO, OTHER SPARKLY THINGS!" He's about to bolt when the irate bear owners return and throw him out ("Hello, window..."). The rhymes are word perfect, and the urbane art gives the wily fox-robber the appeal of a Looney Tunes character.

Kirkus Reviews

Goodnight Moon meets "The Three Bears" in this tale of a robber fox.Sporting a blue turtleneck, this bushy-tailed thief approaches an elegant home with columns and a mansard roof (a Georgian town house, according to the illustrator's dedication). The fox greets objects and creatures by name: "Hello, door. Hello, house. / Hello, mat. Hello, mouse." Once inside, the intruder enjoys a snack, swings through the parlor on the chandelier, and leaves a trail of broken china and debris. What isn't nailed down goes into an increasingly bulging satchel—porcelain, silver, jewelry, and paintings, cut from their frames. The palette is predominantly turquoise with burnt orange and red accents; the feel of the mischief is reminiscent of Warner Bros. cartoons. Just as the fox is about to make a getaway, the three bear homeowners return, and a confusing chase ensues, the characters appearing as orange silhouettes running through a cross-section of the house. Mother Bear finally tosses the culprit out the window. The fox lands, empty-handed but gleeful, eyeing an even more palatial setting replete with fountains and formal gardens. This plot and conclusion produce discomfort. In "The Three Bears," while Goldilocks does enter a home not her own, she is more naughty child than thief. When found, she is frightened enough never to be seen repeating the offense.What are young listeners to feel upon finishing this story? Unsatisfied—and maybe even insecure. (Picture book. 3-5)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

A wily, larcenous fox with the suave moves of Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief embarks on a caper. Slipping through the open window of an elegant townhouse, he gives a jaunty greeting to every room and potential piece of plunder. -Hello, sofa. Hello, chairs,- he says, swinging through the living room on a chandelier. -Hello, mirror. Hello, stairs,- he adds, glimpsing his reflection as he adds silverware to his haul. After hitting the jackpot-a cache of jewelry that he can-t resist trying on-he attempts to make an equally carefree exit (-Bye-bye, bedroom. Bye-bye, stairs-) and comes face-to-face with the house-s inhabitants: the Three Bears. The fox-s unceremonious ejection proves that crime doesn-t pay, but there-s no doubt that incorrigibility has a certain charisma. Coburn (who worked with Heim on Love You Too) gives her bushy-tailed hero suitably balletic moves, putting him to work in stylish interiors rendered in dusky pinks and soft Wedgwood blue. Heim-s snappy, saucy text should bring out the lovable rogue in anyone who reads it aloud. Ages 4-8. (Jan.)

School Library Journal (Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2018)

PreS-Gr 2 A sneaky fox attempts to burgle a house. He is excited when he finds a wide array of valuables inside. The rascal prances about the house stuffing various items into his bag. He says "hello" to each thing he sees, including a door, stairs, and a sofa as he continues to take things from the house. One can track his rapid movement throughout the house in part by what he greets, untilhe realizes whose domain he has invaded. The illustrations communicate a completely different story line than the text would by itself. The lively multi-paneled artwork is filled with details and many hidden context clues. Movement is depicted via lines that show how the fox darts throughout the house. VERDICT The mischievous character and his comeuppance can be used to spark conversation with children. They will love to pore over the fun and energetic cartoon artwork. Deanna Smith, formerly at Mamaroneck Public Library, NY