Reviews

A Fox Called Herbert by Margaret Sturton

willow_axolotl376's review against another edition

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4.0

A beautiful story about understanding and love.

babyleo's review

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hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.0

madhamster's review against another edition

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4.0

A story about identity, which has relevance to anybody trying, and failing, to fit into the wrong-shaped hole.

mat_tobin's review against another edition

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3.0

Herbert loves watching the foxes playing outside his house. In fact, he loves them so much that he'll often dress up around the house as them, much to the amusement of his sister. But Herbert is a rabbit and certainly not a fox; such actions infuriate his mother who simply doesn't understand her son's obsession until she is made to listen.

There are sweet illustrations here from Sturton and I enjoyed the use of negative space to emphasise character and emotion. I think though, that if this is a story about identity and being born in the wrong body then the message is confusing. Herbert sees himself as a fox but is a rabbit; foxes are wholly different species and predatory to rabbits...

I have no doubt children will read into this in many ways and that's what counts!

royaz92's review against another edition

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3.0

Save the Children is a very good cause, I think, (you cannot trust any "good cause"s these days honestly) but it's providing me with a lot of picturebook content and I thank them deeply

msmouse's review

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hopeful reflective

1.75

This text is probably well-meant, but it misses the mark. The illustrations are decent and the text would work well for a read-aloud, however the messaging is poor. The  tone is patronizing. The obvious metaphor for a trans experience is undercut by comparison to a childhood fixation. The conflict in the story is confusing which muddies the water further. The protagonist’s quest to have their outward expression match their internal reality is mostly seen through the lens of ‘bad’ behaviour. Giving the unsupportive mother a reasonable excuse for continuing to be negative, yay… 
It ends on a positive note, but overall I do not recommend. 

madhamster's review

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4.0

A story about identity, which has relevance to anybody trying, and failing, to fit into the wrong-shaped hole.
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