As each new part of the animal in the bushes is revealed, Hattie the hen warns her farmyard friends - the goose, the pig, the sheep, the horse and the cow. None of these animals seem to share Hattie's concern about the slowly advancing animal in the bushes. Young children will recongnise the animal as it is revealed and enjoy sharing Hattie's increasingly long warnings to her friends and joining in as each animal responds with its own particular comment each time.
Mem Fox uses her signature repetition and rhythm with her words. Young children will love being able to predict what each farmyard animal will say - after a few reads, they will love 'reading' each response.
Mullins' illustrations depicts each farmyard animal beautifully, using mainly ripped tissue paper to create colour and depth within each picture. The detail shown on each animal's face is wonderful, especially at the end after the animal in the bushes is revealed and the farmyard animals realise that Hattie was right to be alarmed at the slowly advancing animal.
~ This review is by new KBR contributor, Kate Schultz ~
Title: Hattie and the Fox
Author: Mem Fox
Illustrator: Patricia Mullins
Publisher: Scholastic, $27.99 RRP
Publication Date: originally published 1986
Format: 25th Anniversary Hardcover Edition
ISBN: 9781741699166
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture book
