Thanks to Netgalley and Clavis for a free digital copy.

A book about being out of place and finding new friends. I don't love the messaging that you have to do a big gallant act to earn people's trust. I think this book had good intentions but the execution of the story is not one I can support.

A New Home for Fox is a beautifully illustrated story about a little fox who is driven from his lair by wild dogs. Once he enters the forest, he is shunned by the forest animals based on the reasons they fear or mistrust foxes. Fox leads a large, predatory boar away from that part of the forest, which changes the minds of the other creatures about whether they can accept fox into their community. It's a morality tale about not judging others based on appearances or past experiences. The story is advertised as a conversation starter about immigrants and refugees, but that doesn't quite translate to this story since we're talking about different species of animals and immigrants don't have the opportunity to make a grand community-saving gesture to endear themselves to potential neighbors. Animals have instinctive behaviors (like foxes stealing eggs from chickens - I live in the city and it happens to my neighbors) that characterize them, which are entirely different from cultural differences in humanity.

Hmmm... Fox is drummed out of his home by some hunting dogs, and ends up far into a strange land. Here, none of the other creatures – the chickens, the badgers, the raccoon – want anything to do with him, until one instance where he can prove his bravery and quick thinking. Visually the story is quite lively, with nice (if slightly peculiar) detail – the sprig of berries stuck behind Fox's ear, the hammock the chickens like to rest in. Storywise it's not too bad a bit of drama, and at least it wears its allusions to refugees and anti-immigrant bias lightly, making this a serviceable story for the young. Only serviceable, mind – three and a half stars.

A New Home for Fox is a very cute story about a fox who seeks his way back home after being chased by some dogs. While asking animals in the forest about where he is, something unexpected happens and leads the animals to review their judgement on Fox.

I really enjoyed this story and actually think this is books such as this one that children should read. I love that Ellen DeLange encourages children to get to know people that they meet before making a judgement upon them. I love the moral of this story, especially since we live in a world where we tell children to beware of everybody, and by doing so, prejudices are created towards certain groups of people. Plus, I found the drawings super cute—but that wasn't a surprise, since I already love the drawings of Go out and Play, also published by Clavis Publishing. A New Home for Fox is visually so enjoyable that I am sure that children will love this book! At least, I would totally encourage parents to buy and read it to their children, because I think that this story is not only very actual but also very thought-provoking!

Thank you Netgalley and Clavis Publishing for this eArc.

A New Home for Fox is about a fox who gets displaced by a threatening pack of wild dogs. When he has escaped the pack, he finds himself in a strange new area, unable to return home. He tries to make a new home where he is, but the animals are suspicious of him and reject him. Ultimately, Fox redeems himself in their eyes by helping the animals when they are in trouble. I didn't love the idea of Fox having to prove his worth to be accepted, but this will be a great book to start a conversation with a child about being open to/accepting of others and the importance of empathy. The illustrations are gorgeous and I really liked the messages.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.

Such a charming little story about a fox and the other animals trying to survive in the wild.

Love the illustrations. The artstyle is amazing.

Thank you, publisher author and the artist, for the advance reading copy.