The Friendly Fox

In this sentimental barnyard tale, a fox, seeking friendship with rabbits and chickens, asks a wise owl for advice. The owl tells fox of a land ``behind the sun and beyond the moon . . . where the lion lies down with the lamb.'' Each night until summer comes, on the first star, the fox makes a wish to go to that place. Eventually, the fox, rabbits and chickens become friends and plan to run away together. On the night of the first snow, the fox sets off with the rabbits and the chickens ``for the land where all animals are friends and they were never seen again.'' Readers may be disappointed by the overlong text and the pointedly obtuse ending; they never see the animals reach their longed-for destination (heaven?) and the obvious message of brotherhood strains. Goodling's colorful drawings are reminiscent of Paul Galdone's work, but her animals are far more amiable than her people. Ages 3-8. (Jan.)