Kinderjury Prize 1996

When old Mr Fox died, good Mistress Fox, his wife, put on her best black dress and went into dignified mourning. She would receive no one- not even Mr Wolf, nor Mr Dog, nor any of the other suitors lined up outside her door. None possessed the features required: red trousers, a sharp nose. a tail tipped in white. Who could possibly fit that description?

‘The Wedding of Mistress Fox’, one of the Grimm brothers’ less familiar tales, is full of the same magic and drollery as their better-known works. Philip Bailey’s sprightly retelling, complemented by Gavin Bishop’s whimsical pictures and sumptuous, makes a valuable addition to any folktale collection.

Reviews

"A fine rendition of an obscure tale. The story itself is a slight one..this retelling skilfully enlarges this simple story. Here it is fittingly set in the Victorian period. Mistress Fox lives in an elegant mansion, filled to the brim with ornate furniture, knick knacks, and ponderous portraits of old Mr Fox in various triumphant poses. (One whimsically depicts him in the classic great hunter stance, standing atop a pile of dead geese.) The action is facilitated by the maid, a sly orange cat who gossips with the villagers, ushers suitors in and out and who lives happily well-fed ever after. Bishop's wonderfully detailed pen and ink illustrations (reminiscent of Ardizzone's lively art) perfectly complement the text, and expand upon the action. Libraries with strong folklore collections will especially appreciate this excellent retelling."

American School Library Journal, November1994

"Modifying one of the Grimm Brothers' classics, first-time author Bailey preserves its 19th century mood and mores. Likewise, Bishop's shadowy, cross-hatched ink and watercolor illustrations return to an earlier era, depicting a mansion decorated to excess and populated by animals in Dickensian garb...

Bailey preserves the original story's combination of couplets, unrhymed prose and onomatopoeia. The old-fashioned formalities are well-matched by the art work, notable for its architectural details."

American Publishers' Weekly, November 1994