City Fox

A child and her aging neighbor share a rare experience when they encounter a wild fox who has taken up residence in the backyard. Mrs. Kindley has seen ``City Fox'' lots of times near the edge of the woods and puts food out for him every night. Ellie is fascinated by the woman's description of the fox, and the two of them wait up one night to catch a glimpse of the elusive animal. Bergman's deceptively simple text skillfully blends several story lines--the friendship between the girl and her neighbor, the circumstances of Mrs. Kindley's advancing age and information about foxes and their habits. Hanson's soft, predominantly blue and green illustrations--rendered in an unusual cross-hatching style--have an impressionist effect. The characters appear shadowy and nondescript, distinguished only by the variance in hues. Younger readers may be disappointed by the lack of artistic detail, but this gentle story offers enough warmth and anticipation to compensate. Ages 5-8. (Mar.)