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Behind the Books: Fox and Friends

Corey R. Tabor's Fox Series has now won the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award three times! It's been praised for its cleverness, joy, and of course fabulous illustrations. Fox Plays Ball comes out soon, but check out the whole series below!

The mischievous and fun-loving Fox is back in another humorous and surprising I Can Read, from Caldecott Honor and three-time Geisel Award–winning author-illustrator Corey Tabor.

Fox is ready to play ball!

So are Elephant, Rabbit, Bear…and Snail.

But who will win the game?

About the Creator

Corey R. Tabor is the author and illustrator of the Caldecott Honor–winning Mel Fell and is the three-time Geisel Award winner for Fox Has a Problem, Fox at Night, and Fox the Tiger. His other acclaimed titles include the young graphic novel chapter books Sir Ladybug, Sir Ladybug and the Queen Bee, and Sir Ladybug and the Bookworms; the picture books Ursula Upside Down, Simon and the Better Bone, Snail Crossing, Fox and the Bike Ride, and Fox and the Jumping Contest; and the I Can Reads Fox versus Fox, Fox versus Winter, Fox Is Late, and Fox Plays Ball. Corey R. Tabor lives in Tacoma, Washington, with his wife and son and spends his time making pictures and stories. You can visit him online at coreyrtabor.com.

More Great Fox Books

Praise for Fox and Friends!

Fox Is Late
 
“Simple, repetitive text paired with comical character illustrations rendered in pencil, watercolor, and crayon, make this an accessible story for emergent readers.”
  — School Library Journal
 
Fox the Tiger
 
“A humorous ending provides a positive message of self-acceptance.”
  — School Library Journal
 
“The overarching message of self-love is a good one, but the no-fuss acceptance of changing identities in text and dialogue is even better…. Feel-good, make-believe fun.”
  — Kirkus Reviews
 
Fox Has a Problem
 
"This comical early reader, expressed in understated sentences and simple vocabulary, will charm youngsters; they’ll giggle at Fox’s outlandish “big ideas” and the havoc they wreak. Onomatopoeic sound words heighten the fun. Caldecott Honoree Tabor’s wry illustrations are muted, set against uncluttered backgrounds, allowing kids to focus on the characters and the humorous proceedings. Children will have no problem enjoying this delightfully witty book."
  — Kirkus Reviews
 
"Tabor uses short sentence structure and word repetition to help young readers become more confident in their reading ability. His pencil-and watercolor illustrations tell most of the story and bring Fox’s latest antics to comical heights. An amusing tale with minimal text that will encourage multiple readings."
  — Booklist
 
"Everyone’s favorite fox is back! The engaging text features common sight words and repetitive phrases. Tabor’s signature pencil and watercolor illustrations are as charming as ever, with a cast of appealing characters engaged in comical antics. A welcome and valuable addition to any early reader collection, sure to be popular with fans of the series in addition to newcomers."
  — School Library Journal
 
"Tabor is skilled at letting a controlled vocabulary and tight sentences play it straight while his illustrations bring the comedy. Short statements that lean on sight words and repetition read like wry commentary on Fox’s antics, which are made plain in Tabor’s colored-pencil and watercolor illustrations. Readers [will] be giggling in anticipation of exactly how badly this is all going to end."
  — The Horn Book
 
Fox versus Fox
 
"Tabor does it again, with a charming addition to the much loved “Fox” series. Short sentences along with repeating words and phrases make this book a fantastic choice for shared reading between an adult and child. It’s rare to find an early transitional reader with a captivating plot, humor, and illustrations that also maintains an easy reading level, but this title does all of that and more."
  — School Library Journal (starred review)
 
"The red fox’s superciliousness and the white fox’s indefatigable happiness come through clearly. Visuals and text featuring repetition and simplicity will charm while building reading skills. A winning tale of two pals engaged in a safely silly competition."
  — Kirkus Reviews
 
"The sweet and sometimes silly illustrations—rendered in pencil, colored pencil, and watercolors—complement the narrative, reflecting both the subtly devious plot and story’s gentle spirit."
  — Booklist
 
Fox Plays Ball

“New readers win when they play football with Fox and company. . . . Tabor’s perennially clever, stylish art offers unexpected perspectives and angles, and the action scenes will keep readers in suspense. In the more sedate scenes, the understated illustrations will allow youngsters to concentrate on the few and well-chosen words and to appreciate Tabor’s subtle scene-setting, buildup, and humor. Another victory from a master of the early reader.”
  — Kirkus Reviews
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