Title: The Fox and the Grapes

Author: Mark White

Illustrator: Sara Rojo Pérez

Date: 2004

Tags: Preschool, Early reader, Picture book, Fable, Medieval to modern worlds, Animal characters, English

This retelling of the fable of the fox and the grapes is simple and straightforward, without much comic exaggeration. The fox jumps and snaps at the grapes and even tries to climb the trellis’ pillars, but his paws aren’t made for climbing. The text is careful to explain why he decides that the grapes are sour, so that young readers can understand the moral easily. What makes this particular retelling so delightful are the illustrations. Sara Rojo Pérez uses simple shapes to tell her story but adds lots of expression. The Fox’s triangle head tilts speculatively at the grapes in every plane, planning his next attack. His body twists and stretches, then flattens with the impact of his many falls. He’s doomed to fail, but it’s a pleasure to watch him try. – Krishni Burns