School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-With collage-style cutout illustrations varying from full page to multiple scenes on one, McFarland tells a tale reminiscent of the classic "Country Mouse, City Mouse" story. Fred is a city fox, but unlike his relatives, he is not a fan of how smoky and noisy the city can be. One day he finds himself wondering where the birds, who are flying over the rooftops, are going. So he's off on a journey that leads him to the wild where trees grow tall and flowers bloom. He had never seen such beauty. It is in the wild that he finds another fox who wonders the same as Fred, where do the birds go? Not quite a "grass is always greener" tale but certainly one that shows that there are always two sides. VERDICT The illustrations and the fun text design make this a great read-aloud story to be enjoyed by a broad audience. A strong addition to any picture book collection.-Betsy Davison, Cortland Jr. Sr. High School, NY © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
In this meditative story, urban red fox Fred dislikes city living with its accompanying noise, scraps of food, and fast pace. Curious Fred ponders where birds fly to and discovers their destination via a tunnel. In "the wild," the exhilarated fox finds clean air, trees, soft ground, other animals, and, ultimately, contentment. The mixed-media illustrations' clean graphic design accentuates the dichotomy between city and wild life. (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
A fox named Fred quests for a life away from his native city. The opening double-page spread features a background of what looks like dark-blue construction paper, foregrounded by the geometrical shapes of a city at night. A slender, orange fox with white feet, oversized head, and large eyes that recall Jon Klassen's art peers toward the next page. Dark, large words proclaim, "This is Fred. He lived in the middle of a big city." Readers learn that Fred doesn't like the smoke, noise, and fast action of the cityunlike his cousins, who happily use Fred as lookout as they attempt to raid some garbage cans. When the inevitable garbage-can fiasco ends, Fred talks to various animals to find out what is beyond the city. He believes there must be something that's more to his liking, and a bird confirms that a place called "the wild" has wind blowing through trees with spreading branches. Each colorful painting shows the different places the fox encounters as he makes his way from urban to ruralfrom city outskirts past the harbor and a junkyard and finally into a tunnel. The tunnel spread is engaging: against a totally black background, staring eyes and mottled steppingstones marking a path for the courageous fox stand out. In a nice twist, the ending defies the familiar "no place like home" trope. There's lots that appeals: a polite but determined fox, just enough danger, and plenty of colorful art. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Fred, a fox, lives in a big city with his cousins. They love the city, but Fred finds it smoky, noisy, and very, very fast. He watches birds fly overhead and wonders where they're going. After conversing with a wild goose, he begins to long for the wild. One day, frightened by a construction truck, he runs into a dark tunnel and finally emerges . . . in the wild, where the trees are greener, the ground is softer, the air is cleaner, and the smells and sounds are wonderful. There a friendly fox asks him, Do you know where the birds go? McFarland uses crayon, acrylic, and watercolor very effectively in the attractive digital collage illustrations, which depict Fred as an amiable, curious character against backdrops that contrast the city and countryside settings. Reminiscent of Aesop's fable The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse, this pleasing picture book offers its own narrative exploring the urban versus rural contrast, as well as an open-ended conclusion.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2017 Booklist
