This Lithuanian import portrays the friendship developing between a boy and a fox.An omniscient narrator introduces Paul's family: His father pilots a helicopter, and his mother makes pottery. More unusual is their dwelling, which is a tall tree in the park. Close observers of the zany mixed media and digital collages will glimpse a bushy orange tail early on. Paul's first encounter with the lanky fox, clad in blue boots and enjoying a swing in the park, is during his daily walk home from the bakery. Although the fox engages in philosophical and somewhat mysterious conversations (reminiscent but not duplicative of her counterpart in Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince), the boy anticipates these visits even though it means sharing his bakery treat. He learns how to be a friend in ways appropriate to her moods, especially exulting in the swinging and shouting about things that make them happy. Suddenly concerned one day, Paul asks: "Will I always find you here?" She replies: "Of course not….When I need to be somewhere else, that's where I'll go." The text is longer than in many American picture books, but there is much to savor: the honesty of unspoken ruminations, challenging dialogue, and myriad unexpected details, such as a sign-carrying parade of protesting birds. The humans' skin tones range from Paul's paper-white to pink or red.An enormously satisfying surprise completes this wholly original narrative. (Picture book. 5-8)

This Lithuanian import portrays the friendship developing between a boy and a fox.An omniscient narrator introduces Paul's family: His father pilots a helicopter, and his mother makes pottery. More unusual is their dwelling, which is a tall tree in the park. Close observers of the zany mixed media and digital collages will glimpse a bushy orange tail early on. Paul's first encounter with the lanky fox, clad in blue boots and enjoying a swing in the park, is during his daily walk home from the bakery. Although the fox engages in philosophical and somewhat mysterious conversations (reminiscent but not duplicative of her counterpart in Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince), the boy anticipates these visits even though it means sharing his bakery treat. He learns how to be a friend in ways appropriate to her moods, especially exulting in the swinging and shouting about things that make them happy. Suddenly concerned one day, Paul asks: "Will I always find you here?" She replies: "Of course not….When I need to be somewhere else, that's where I'll go." The text is longer than in many American picture books, but there is much to savor: the honesty of unspoken ruminations, challenging dialogue, and myriad unexpected details, such as a sign-carrying parade of protesting birds. The humans' skin tones range from Paul's paper-white to pink or red.An enormously satisfying surprise completes this wholly original narrative. (Picture book. 5-8)

This fresh and unexpected Lithuanian import transcends easy categorization. Paul-s father flies helicopters, his mother is a potter, and they live in a tree. In episodic passages, Daciute lays out these whimsical details with cheerful matter-of-factness. A parade of people, vehicles, and animals through Kiudulaite-s colorful digital collages contributes to the atmosphere of bouncy unpredictability. On his daily journey to buy rolls, Paul meets a fox in the park-she likes to sleep on the swing-and they become friends. She-s moody, even prickly, but she addresses Paul like a peer. -Will I always find you here?- Paul asks. -Of course not,- the fox replies. -When I need to be somewhere else, that-s where I-ll go.- Yet it-s Paul who leaves first, as his family moves to a bigger tree in a bigger city. Stories about moving often imagine the main character gradually adapting to the new place, but Daciute-s story immediately gives Paul what he most wishes for-a reunion with a friend. Ages 4-8. (June)