Fox & Chick: The Quiet Boat Ride

PreS-Gr 2—Fox and Chick are back in another endearing tale of friendship and adventure. Chick is the dynamo of the pair, quick to show emotion and blessed with a vivid imagination and sense of whimsy. Fox, on the other hand, is the anchor of the pair and serves as the voice of reason and logic. Despite their differences (or perhaps because of them), the two seem to find fun wherever they go. In the first chapter, Fox's quiet boat ride is transformed into an epic adventure by Chick's imagined sea monsters, pirates, and shipwrecks. Fox is patient throughout and is generally bemused by his friend's antics. The remaining chapters cover the angst that a chocolate cake initially causes, and the book ends with an amusing tale about the pair trying to catch a sunrise. The lovely illustrations are done in pen, ink, and watercolor with muted tones and Ruzzier is a master at capturing a wide-range of facial expressions. Told in comic-book panel format and divided into three chapters, this is a gentle read, full of subtle humor and curiosity.