“An abecedarian catalog of delights. (…) This work adroitly bridges the more-than-half-century gap between two accomplished artists.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Each page offers its own adventure; taken together, the spreads create an irresistible, deliciously subversive invitation to turn one’s back on the tiresome.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“With a nod to the fanciful, this alphabetic listing of activities invites readers’ imaginations to soar.”
— School Library Journal (starred review)

“A natural choice for storytime…Inventive and original, Ruzzier pays homage to Krauss as well as Sendak, using a style all his own.”
— Booklist

One cannot say Fox & Chick: The Party and Other Stories went overlooked! I am happy to report that the book made it into a bunch of end-of-the-year “best” children’s books, including:

NPR Best Books of the Year

New York Times Notable Children’s Book

Boston Globe Best Book of the Year

Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year

School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

The Horn Book Magazine Fanfare Best Book of the Year

Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year

The 2018 Nerdies: Early Readers and Early Chapter Books

And I might be forgetting a few…

 

 

 

“Three stories well suited to both reading newcomers and not-yet-reading listeners. (…) Collectively, these three stories create a profile of an entertaining odd-couple friendship that, if given a few more outings, could make a Frog and Toad–like impression on the picture-book and easy-reader worlds.” —The Horn Book Magazine, starred review

“A winning choice as a confidence booster for children just learning to read.” ─School Library Journal, starred review

“Brilliant. Sure to be a favorite for reading aloud or as an easy reader.” —Imagination Soup

“Calm Fox and irrepressible Chick make a delightfully funny duo, and Ruzzier captures that perfectly in text and expressive, relatable illustrations. With vast appeal, this series debut will delight younger kids.” —Books to Borrow, Books to Buy

“This charmer blends graphic-novel and early-reader conventions for young readers not quite ready to tackle chapter books.” —Booklist

“There’s an easygoing, reassuring rhythm to the storytelling, and the simple text and sunny colors should engage nascent readers.” —Publishers Weekly

“A fun, simple, yet sophisticated collection about a friendship between two very different characters.” —Kirkus Reviews

In PW’s otherwise favorable review of Fox + Chick, the author questions the two friends’ relationship: “The root of their friendship remains an enigma—why does Fox tolerate such an annoying friend?” I’m happy to rethink the three stories making Chick not annoying:

– The Party (to be renamed The Bathroom)
Fox is at home, reading a book. Chick arrives and asks if he can use Fox’s bathroom. Fox says yes. Chick uses the bathroom and then leaves.

After an exhausting wait, you can finally learn about my reading habits in this interview with Shelf Awareness.