This is the story of Paul, his father who owns a
helicopter, and his mother who makes vases,
bowls and pots, mainly orange ones.
They live in a tall tree with a helipad
at the top. Their life is predictable. Except for the times when Paul walks
home from the bakery through the park. That’s when he sees a fox sitting on the
swing.
Then he sees her swinging.
They strike up a friendship. Paul is happy with Fox.
He learns that friendship comes with the responsibility of being generous and sharing
what you have, whether food or knowledge, and caring the same for someone even
when yours or their feelings and moods are brooding and dark. Friendship is knowing that everything depends on your point of
view, and from which side you are looking at things. And that things should
always be looked at from all sides.
A big change throws Paul’s predictable life off
course. His family moves – to a bigger tree, with a bigger helicopter; bigger
opportunities; to something better. But what about his friend Fox?
In his new and better life, Paul misses Fox. Again,
his life becomes routine. He finds a new park with a winding path that leads
through the woods to walk through when returning from the bakery. He realizes
the woods have similar things to the old park. It also has a swing.
Stunning illustrations in a fantastic range of
colours claim as much attention as the perfect text, which changes in size,
font and shade depending on what is being accentuated.
Profoundly philosophical and optimistic, the book’s
themes include what defines happiness and friendship, and how to measure what’s
important in life. Sometimes it’s simply being satisfied with what you have, no
matter how long that lasts, for happiness doesn’t depend on one person or
thing. It’s coming to terms with change and adapting to new situations, as
happiness can be found in any place, and that things have a way of coming full
circle.
Title:
The Fox On The Swing
Author:
EveLina Daciute
Illustrator:
Ausra KiuduLaite
Publisher:
Thames & Hudson, $21.99
Publication
Date: March 2018
Format:
Hardcover
ISBN:
9780500651568
For
ages: 5+
Type:
Picture Book
