School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-The proverbial fox may be a menace to the henhouse-but not the hero of this work. The titular character lacks gumption, guile, or cunning, and the chickens send him running each time he ventures into the farmyard. Taking pity on the fox, the wolf proposes playing the long game: stealing eggs and eventually eating the hatched chickens. The fox successfully makes off with the eggs, but things get complicated when the chicks emerge and (surprise, surprise!) assume that the fox is their mother. Though this work is similar in look and tone to typical comic strips (bulging-eyed, caricaturelike characters with exaggerated expressions; occasional slapstick violence; motion lines), there's a sophistication to the art that recalls the author/illustrator's roots as a celebrated filmmaker and cartoonist. Renner sets the individual scenes against a white backdrop, free of borders, resulting in a clean design, and the use of color, texture, and shading is top-notch. While much of the humor derives from somewhat predictable setups, such as the fox's botched attempts at proving that he can be just as intimidating as the wolf, it's sure to tickle young funny bones, and the author injects the narrative with a sly, edgy sensibility that sets this title apart from more typical fare. This one has heart, too, depicting the fox's burgeoning feelings of affection toward his unlikely ward. VERDICT Bound to keep adults and kids alike laughing, this is a winning selection for comic book fans, reluctant readers, and those who enjoy subversive comedy.-Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
French graphic novelist Renner's hapless fox doesn't like to kill prey, and he's putty in the hands of the local wolf, who talks him into stealing three eggs from a farm to be eaten once they hatch. "It's simple," the wolf promises. "You just put them in your mouth and chew. I'll show you." Renner's cramped, spidery lines and diminutive vignettes convey an ever-changing kaleidoscope of expressions on the face of the fox: dismay, shock, sheepish embarrassment. Not unpredictably, the three fluffy chicks grow to love their parent ("If Mommy's the Big Bad Fox, then we're Little Bad Foxes!"), and the fox, in spite of himself, finds that he's attached to them, too. Although a couple of the episodes skew too long, Renner's tone hits the sweet spot between snarkiness and sentimentality, and Johnson's translation is seamless. The supporting characters on the farm deserve recognition, too, such as the hen who organizes her colleagues to beat the pulp out of foxes, and the lazy hound who tries replacing the stolen eggs with refrigerator equivalents. Ages 7-11. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
A not-too-tough fox in a henhouse comes away with more than he bargained for. With his small stature and unimpressive growl, the Big Bad Fox doesn't quite live up to his moniker. His attempt to accost a chicken from the nearby farm is foiledhumiliatinglyand consequently, most of the barnyard denizens see him as an annoyance, not an actual threat. Desperate, he joins forces with a wily gray wolf and steals three eggs that eventually hatch; the chicks believe that the fox is their mother. In an amusing turn of events, when the chicks discover the fox is not a chicken, they then believe themselves to also be foxes and change from docile to fierce. When the wolf comes to collect on their bargain, will the fox let his adorable and adoring brood be eaten? In a departure from the traditional sequential-storytelling form, Renner's earth-toned line-and-wash illustrations have no panel boundaries. His economic scenes offer little in the way of background, relying instead on the characters and their antics to propel the action. This clever offering plays with identity in an appealing and humorous way: the fox isn't ferocious, while the chickens are positivelyand hilariouslybloodthirsty. Although this concept of role reversal may be well-trod, Renner handles it deftly, making the predictable feel satisfying. A comically charming underfox tale. (Graphic fantasy. 7-11) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
After constantly failing to catch any chickens and be taken seriously as a predator, Fox turns to the big, bad wolf for help. After some mentoring, Fox decides it's much easier to just raise baby chicks and eat them when they've grown. But the chicks soon become attached to their new mother, and Fox feels conflicted by their affection, especially since they don't find him scary at all. Renner's style of storytelling, consisting of brief scenes on pages usually containing six borderless panels each, makes for quick and fun reading, and while there's little in the way of character development or plot, that's easily made up for by uproarious humor throughout. With ample slapstick and comic misunderstandings, this has the hilarious style of classic Looney Tunes cartoons. Renner's character design also has a nostalgic feel; bug-eyed, irritable fox looks like he stepped out of a Tex Avery cartoon, while the design of the wolf lovingly mimics Wile E. Coyote. Crowd-pleasing antics for a wide range of ages.--Blenski, Peter Copyright 2017 Booklist
