Run Home, Little Fox

Tom McCaughren's vulpine novels defined many Irish childhoods in the 1980s. Now very young readers can share the pleasures of McCaughren's nature tales courtesy of his new title Run Home, Little Fox, a picture book collaboration with Erika McGann, illustrated by Shannon Bergin, which just won Irish Children's Book of the Year at the An Post Irish Book Awards. Foxy is a cub on a quest to "earn [his] bushy red tail". Setting out into the Wild Wood for adventure, he encounters all sorts of creatures and potential pals, as well as a conveniently bouncy trampoline. The glossy pages are full of animal mayhem, and the journey structure works brilliantly to extend the canon of McCaughren's fine work for this young age group

-- Irish Times

The author of the classic Irish children’s novel, Run with the Wind, is back with a picture book featuring one of his beloved foxes. Little Foxy creeps from his den in search of adventure so that he can earn his bushy red tail. The reader follows Foxy’s journey through the Wild Wood, across gardens and trampolines, until he finds safely once more. A delightful story for young children with glowing, autumnal illustrations by Shannon Bergin. A bedtime winner!

-- Irish Independent

Beloved Irish writer McCaughren makes a return to picturebooks, partnered with McGann, in a tale best suited for crisp October evenings as little Foxy bravely sets out to explore the sights and sounds of the Wild Wood. Bergin's autumnal illustrations truly shine here, capturing domestic gardens and wilder woodlands in the warm glow of the rough and tumble of Foxy's adventure

-- Irish Examiner

Bergin’s magical, eye-catching illustrations draw the reader into Foxy’s world and bring you along on his journey into the Wild Wood. I read this book with my 6-year-old and he loved hearing about Foxy’s journey while my one-year-old loved looking at the beautiful pictures. Nature lovers will enjoy this simple but captivating tale of Foxy’s adventures in the Wild Woods - Saidhbhín Mulchrone (Senior Infant teacher)

-- Seomra Ranga

charming coming-of-age story … With a vibrant colour palette and masterful use of light and shadow, the images capture the lushness of gardens and the depth of the woods. A genuinely lovely story, full of heart and humour, and a celebration of the wild beauty that exists in the most ordinary places

-- Children's Books Ireland's Northern Lights

a charming coming-of-age story … What makes this tale truly special is not just its mix of comedy, menace, and friendship, but its stunning depictions of Irish wildlife and the everyday beauty of an Irish back garden … There is something magical about seeing the familiar — the set of swings, the trampoline, the pet dog and cat and even the laurel hedge — woven into a story of bravery and resilience. For a child, this transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, showing that adventure can begin right outside their own door. The illustrations elevate the narrative even further. With a vibrant colour palette and masterful use of light and shadow, they capture the lushness of gardens and the depth of the woods. Sunlight, twilight, and looming shadows create a sense of wonder and tension. This is a genuinely lovely story, full of heart and humour, and a celebration of the wild beauty that exists in the most ordinary places. A perfect read for young adventurers and nature lovers alike. Sure to become a staple in every home and classroom

-- Childrensbooksirelan