School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-Emily cannot go to sleep because she is worried that she won't have all the things she needs for her first day of school. Her friend, Foxy, is sure that he can help her with his magic tail, and grandiosely waves it at Emily's every wish--only, the tail doesn't always work as he hopes. Emily needs a pencil and Foxy's very bushy big tail produces a penguin; for a pencil case it produces a bird cage; and for an eraser, an elephant. However, second tries work better, and so Emily goes to sleep with all her supplies in her book pack, and only one last concern: "What if nobody likes me?" But Foxy assures her: "Now, you don't need my magic for that, Emily. I know you'll make plenty of friends." The child is shown on the last spread happily entering the schoolyard followed by a host of amiable youngsters. The illustrations are bold and bright, filling each page, and dominated on most by Foxy's tail, all red and white with magical stars surrounding it. Children will love its goofy missteps and empathize with Emily's anxiety about school. A good read-aloud selection or a one-on-one bedtime treat before a child's first school day.-Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
In a reassuring tale about first-day-of-school jitters, a girl commiserates with a magical but accident-prone fox. Curly-haired Emily is sleepless beneath her flowered comforter when Foxy (accompanied by a bluebird) prances through her window. "What's the matter?" asks Foxy. "Whatever it is, I'm sure I can help." Emily admits she might need a pencil and eraser to start school properly. Foxy confidently waves his "magic tail," producing a penguin and an elephant. The startled bluebird puts a wing over its beak, and Foxy conjures the correct items. Before long, Emily giggles at Foxy's errors ("And here's a schoolbag!" "No, silly, that's a pirate flag!") and nearly forgets her anxiety. Foxy is tucking the penguin and other supplies back into his voluminous tail when Emily ventures, "What if nobody likes me?" "Now, you don't need my magic for that, Emily," Foxy replies. "I know you'll make plenty of friends." Dodd's digital art, traced in inky black and sprinkled with candy-colored stars, zooms in for closeups and out to picture Emily's ordinary room. Dodd (Meow Said the Cow) projects a cheerful attitude, combining make-believe with practical necessities. Ages 3-7. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
