Mr. Badger and Mrs. Fox 6: The Wild Cat

Description

Ginger the fox can't wait to see Sylvester the Wild Cat, who puts on daring shows across the forest. Neither can her badger siblings, Grub, Bristle, and Berry. But when Ginger tries some fancy tricks herself, Sylvester says hurtful things. He even teases her about living with badgers. The Wild Cat's mean words make Ginger wonder if she's a true fox. She sets out to find other animals like her. But she's about to learn that there's nothing better than being who you are . . .

Brigitte Luciani is the author of many French titles for children. Born in Hanover, Germany, she received a Masters degree in literature and worked in journalism, editing, and photo research before moving to France, where she began writing books for kids and adults. Around the same time, she discovered graphic novels and began looking for an illustrator to collaborate with on a comic of her own. She teamed up with with Eve Tharlet for the Monsieur Blaireau et Madame Renarde series, which has been translated into English as Mr. Badger and Mrs. Fox. Eve Tharlet is the illustrator of over 150 books for children, including the Mr. Badger and Mrs. Fox series. Although born in Alsace, Ms. Tharlet grew up in Germany, taking courses in printmaking and screen-printing in Berlin before studying illustration in Strasbourg. She has illustrated all kinds of children's products, including miniature books and calendars, games and magazines, schoolbooks and classic fairy tales. She is married and has two sons, and lives in the hilly countryside of Brittany.

A fox longs to be the cat's meow. Ginger, a cheery orange fox who is part of a blended badger/fox family, hears rather exciting news: Sylvester the Wild Cat will be performing that evening. Sylvester is a round gray cat with a ringed tail, a bright yellow mask, and significant acrobatic ability. Ginger inquires as to what makes Sylvester 'wild' when he looks like any other cat and is enthusiastically told that he is 'stronger . . . bigger . . . and flashy!' At the show, Ginger is enchanted and yearns to climb trees as nimbly as the fleet-footed feline. Unfortunately, she is ridiculed for her species-defying aspiration. Dismayed, she receives encouragement from her largely absentee father and learns that Sylvester may not be as wild as he seems. Evinced through warm and whimsical watercolors, Luciani and Tharlet's lovely graphic offering feels as snug and familiar as a Beatrix Potter tale but adds a modern spin with its emphasis on being true to oneself. Vulpine Ginger is taunted for being different in many ways, from how she lives to what she desires; young readers should find the treatment of this theme easily accessible but not preachy or saccharine. Even though this is the sixth installment in the series, this self-contained story is a fine jumping-in point. A sweet and gentle tale of self-affirmation.--Kirkus Reviews -- "Journal" (8/22/2018 12:00:00 AM) Little fox Ginger has a bad case of imposter syndrome. She and her mom live in a burrow with some badgers, making her worried she isn't a real fox anymore. It doesn't help that she's scorned by everyone's idol, Sylvester the Wild Cat, who dubs Ginger 'Reee-diculous' and tells her that her absent dad would be ashamed of her. Ginger is despondent until she finds acceptance and learns that Sylvester is a little less exceptional than at first glance. While readers might need some help following the scene changes, Tharlet's illustrations of expressive woodland animal friends and Luciani's misfit-finds-love theme work well together. VERDICT A solid choice for those who are ready for a graphic novel-type picture book but not quite ready for Dav Pilkey's Dogman.--School Library Journal -- "Journal" (11/19/2018 12:00:00 AM)