The Fox and The Star

As we limp along to the end of quite frankly a brutal year, its only right to start looking forward to what we all hope will be a brighter 2021.

There is undeniably a lot of positivity with the vaccine for Covid being rolled out and a lot of economic data being a long way from the worst case scenario. Admittedly we are all on baited breath as we have entrusted the future of the nation to an overly stimulated Labrador, so lets see how that plays out, but for now, things at least aren’t looking so bad.

That brings me nicely to my book recommendation of the week – The Fox & the Star – Which is of course is a children’s book, but this is one of the those rare treats, a great read for the parent and a beautifully illustrated book for the child (and bound in an exquisitely). The book fundamentally deals with loss and focusing on what you can control. Always a great lesson but now more than ever, one we can all take on board. It’s a short story and hard to express how beautiful the illustrations are, so for once, I will leave you to look this up, enjoy the read and possibly even send on to other parents in need of a nice stocking filler. It’s a short but beautiful tale.

Happy reading and stay safe.

An extract from Goodreads

The Fox and the Star is the story of a friendship between a lonely Fox and the Star who guides him through the frightfully dark forest. Illuminated by Star’s rays, Fox forages for food, runs with the rabbits, and dances in the rain—until Star suddenly goes out and life changes, leaving Fox huddling for warmth in the unfamiliar dark. To find his missing Star, Fox must embark on a wondrous journey beyond the world he knows—a journey lit by courage, newfound friends, and just maybe, a star-filled new sky.

Inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement and the art of William Blake, The Fox and the Star is a heartwarming, hopeful tale which comes alive through Bickford-Smith’s beloved illustrations, guiding readers both young and grown to “look up beyond your ears.”