World is a Family

Rosie Adams lives in Lancashire, England, with three dogs and a goldfish named Bert. She loves to write stories about animals and nature. In her spare time, she likes painting, traveling, and taking long walks in the countryside. Frances Ives’ love of all things drawing started in childhood, when she dove into an obsession with poster paints and making a big mess on every available surface. This hasn’t changed much. She still works primarily in water-based media, but these days she mostly tries to keep it on the paper. Frances takes her inspiration from the structures and people that surround her, drawing from both observation and memory. Her most abiding source of inspiration is still the constant yet ever-changing sky, and all of its colors.

Two foxes, one grown and the other a pup, bound into the great outdoors together to explore.A hushed, lulling refrain sets the tone as the sun rises over a seaside town: “The world is a family— / we are all one, / growing together / under the sun.” From this panoramic perspective, the text and artwork then zoom in on a scurry of squirrels scrabbling across treetops. On the ground below, the fox and pup jovially bat at each other’s tails. The refrain is altered slightly to highlight their fun: “The world is a family— / we are all one, / playing together / under the sun.” On each double-page spread, other animals are introduced: otters, bears, and more. Universal experiences of sharing and resting tie the animals together, with a snuggle or two thrown in, of course. Readers see the different creatures all living in harmony. On the closing spreads, with stars twinkling in the night sky, the refrain changes one last time: “The world is a family— / we are all one, / united together / under stars, moon, and sun.” In this sweet British import, the burnt orange foxes are set against open landscapes of saturated blues, greens, and browns. Both the charming artwork and the soothing narrative envelop the reader like a warm, comforting hug. A cozy reminder that we are more similar than we sometimes think. (Picture book. 3-6) --Kirkus Reviews