Reynard the Fox - Hardcover

Selina Hastings; Illustrated By Graham Percy

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 074450760X ISBN 13: 9780744507607

Publisher: Walker Books, 1990

Synopsis

Reynard the Fox

About this title

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5-- In this retelling of an old Northern European legend, crafty Reynard indeed manages to "outfox" his captors even at the very moment of his imminent execution. This version is based upon the translation from Dutch to English by the early printer, William Caxton, in 1481. Although obviously guilty and unrepentant to the end, Reynard is nonetheless a charismatic antihero, and his escapades should prove diverting reading. All of the characters retain their animalistic natures while serving as representatives of the human condition. To reinforce this, they are clad in elegant garb appropriate to the era. Enhanced by Percy's graceful illustrations in soft pastel tones, Hastings succeeds in recreating a world that is believable and replete with medieval flavor. Readers will enjoy the unfolding of these adventures, and will be challenged to keep ahead of the shrewd fox as he fools everyone and manages to surface safe and victorious. Although a lengthy and demanding read-aloud, this should be a welcome addition to collections in which folklore is heavily used. Reynard is an appropriate companion for Brer Rabbit and Til Eulenspiegel, as well as for Aesop's more closely related stories. --Martha Rosen, Edgewood School, Scarsdale, NY
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Basing her retelling of this traditional European story about an impenitent trickster on Caxton's 1481 translation, Hastings retains its medieval flavor in her details (Reynard, claiming to have reformed, ``has given away all his wealth, and spends hours a day on his knees in penance for his sins''). Beginning with a scene in which Reynard's neighbor animals voice their complaints against him, she recounts three unsuccessful attempts to bring the miscreant to justice in the halls of King Lion. Like Hastings's carefully honed text, Percy's illustrations have an apparent simplicity that disguises their considerable subtlety. His soft color-pencil drawings almost appear to be in coloring-book style, yet they are beautifully structured; the characters are lively and have extraordinarily expressive faces, and the setting is skillfully evoked, both in the many details and in the animals' demeanor--they would be equally at home in a Chaucerian tale. A fine, accessible edition in lengthy picture- book format, to share aloud or use as a young reader. (Folklore. 5-10) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Edition details

• Publisher: Walker Books
• Publication date: 1990
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 074450760X
• ISBN 13: 9780744507607
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Graham Percy
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 80