The cumulative tale of Hattie and the Fox, by Mem Fox tells of a big black hen who spies a nose, two eyes, two ears, two legs and the body of a fox in the bushes. Each time she spots a body part she calls out to her farmyard compatriots. They greet her alarm with nonchalance. That is until the fox appears in entirety and then the animals' chorus changes drastically. Illustrations by Patricia Mullins are a harmony of realism and artistry, collage and drawing.
Older toddlers are ready for a bit more story.
Was Chased By Some Cows. The title gives you a strong sense of the plot, but you'll have to experience for yourself the comic situations, the rollicking rhythms, the hilarity of the chase, the wildness of the illustrations, the building of the climax and the satisfaction of the ending. There's a stronger sense of plot for a child who is beginning to appreciate story in Patricia Brennan Demuth's The Ornery Morning. It is Daughter who solves the problem in a fitting way. Ms. Demuth supports a young listener with funny responses, repeating words, lots of sounds and lovely cadences.