Review: Fox and Raccoon (Juniper Hollow) by Lesley-Anne Green
Source: Hardcopy courtesy of Penguin Random House Canada. Thank you!
Publication: June 19, 2018 by Tundra Books
Book Description:

The first in a new picture book series featuring sweet felted creatures and a little village you won’t soon forget!

Welcome to Juniper Hollow! Meet Fox and Raccoon. They are best friends. They live next door to each other, and they spend every day together. Except for today! Fox is so busy she doesn’t have time to play. But never fear — Raccoon is here to help! He mails letters, goes to the fruit stand, picks up some yarn and even buys some sugar. But Fox is STILL busy. Will she ever have time to stop and play with him? As it turns out, she has a surprise up her sleeve . . .

Lesley-Anne Green’s endearing felted animals and adorable detailed sets create a world that readers will want to come back to again and again.

Are you ready to explore an utterly darling picture book? Canadian textile artist Lesley-Anne Green‘s picture book debut, Fox and Raccoon, is the first in the promised Juniper Hollow series, featuring some of the sweetest felted animals (in a most adorable village) you have had the pleasure to meet.

Fox and Raccoon follows the easygoing adventures of neighbors and best friends Fox and Racoon. We learn that the two have “had their ups and downs and their downs and outs” but always work it out in the end as “that’s just what best friends do!”. Their days together are usually filled with playing, sometimes relaxing in the grass, but this one particular day is a bit different. When Raccoon goes over to see his friend, he finds Fox is rather swamped. Fox has envelopes to mail, ingredients to pick up, and crafting to get done. Raccoon is undaunted and decides to help out with each task as best he can. He is more than happy to help his friend as “four paws are better than two when it comes to doing chores”, and he figures that the faster the work gets done, the sooner he and Fox will get to play. Of course, readers might figure out that Fox doesn’t just have a lengthy list of things to do, but might instead have a happy surprise up her sleeve for her best friend. I do not wish to use the words ‘charming’ or ‘adorable’ to the point where I’ve rendered them meaningless, but I hope I can convey just how delightful and cozy Fox and Raccoon and the world of Juniper Hollow is. The story itself is simple and warmly told, and the art (felting and sets) adds another dimension to it all. The detail in everything: from the stitching on Raccoon’s overalls; to Fox’s apron, and her tiny whisk and mixing bowl; to a spread of Raccoon running while tangled in yarn; to the perfect details on the set pieces (houses, fields, trees, etc.). Marvelous- Lesley-Anne Green’s work is a find. I have been happily reading through and poring over the pages since it arrived, and there is so much to discover and appreciate in Fox and Raccoon.

What can I say but all-around enchanting and fun! Such a kindhearted, winsome and easy story about two best friends and their sweet adventures on their way to a surprise celebration among good friends. Readers (of all ages) who love felted characters featured in stories (like in Jack & Holman Wang‘s books, or Maggie Rudy‘s books), or stories by authors and artists such as Teagan White, Nancy Rose, Beatrix Potter, Kallie George, Stephanie Graegin, or Holly Hobbie might especially fall in love with this cozy and adorable new series. I look forward to more Juniper Hollow entries to come!

If you have a chance, do check out this video- part of the Tundra Illustrator Studio series- with Juniper Hollow creator and author Lesley-Anne Green. The felts and sets are just the sweetest. Extras: Here’s a link to a birthday activity kit!

I received a copy of this title courtesy of Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments are my own.