Pajama Press

“…Good Morning, Grumple is a sweet story about a sleepy fox-like creature ­­- who does not want to get up in the morning – and the patient mother who knows exactly what to do.

Author Victoria Allenby – whose debut picture books, Nat the Cat Can Sleep Like That, won the 2014 Preschool Reads Award – succeeds once again in crafting a charming tale befitting the kindie set. Just as the mother in Good Morning, Grumple tries different tactics to awaken her sleepy-headed child, Allenby incorporates different narrative styles, moving deftly from rhyming couplets to sing-song lyrics to abrupt variances in rhythm that allow for recalibration and reflection….

The mixed media and paper-collage illustrations by four-time Governor General’s Literary Award nominee Manon Gauthier are rustic in appearance, but convey great depths of emotion….The child-like quality of Gauthier’s work matches the story’s sweet and tender tone, while the gradual increase in text size as the book progresses is a great representation of the experience of waking up and embracing the morning….”
—Sarah Sorensen

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“…In gentle, expressive text, Nicola Snitselaar spins a tale that goes far beyond a simple stranger danger warning. Her Little Fox, equipped with his own ingenuity as well as his mother’s wisdom, cleverly finds a way for the other animals to attract Mama Fox’s attention while keeping himself safe. Alicia Padron renders this resilient Little Fox and his forest companions in soft watercolors, their rounded shapes and endearing features easing any anxiety that little listeners might feel about being lost.”

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“Little Fox, Lost is a children’s picturebook with an important moral about safety. When a young fox strays far from home and becomes lost, what is he to do? Fortunately, he remembers what his mother taught him: ‘If ever you are lost, my child, / Don’t let a stranger guide you. / Be still, and I will search the wild / Until I am beside you.’ Little Fox, Lost is not only an endearing bedtime storybook; it’s also a good starting point for a parent-child discussion about safety. Highly recommended.”

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…Originally published in French, this nonthreatening story acts as an important conversation starter for children about strangers and getting lost. Snitselaar’s text explores negative emotions like fear, anxiety and uncertainty that children may associate with being separated from a caregiver….Most significantly, children are reminded that they should not automatically trust strangers, but that seeking help can be a positive thing. The story also champions ingenuity, emphasizing that it is important to be creative when faced with a problem. In support of the gentle tone of the text, Padrón’s soft, pastel illustrations convey a sense of warmth and safety despite Little Fox’s predicament. As a result, young readers will not become afraid, but instead, will come away from the story feeling reassured and empowered. Little Fox, Lost is an effective and compassionate way to begin a discussion about strangers with young children, making it a recommended addition to classroom and library collections.

Read the entire review in Resource Links October 2016 issue on page 12