The Fox and the Star

From the award-winning designer of the iconic Penguin Hardcover Classics comes a beautifully illustrated fable about loss, friendship, and courage

The Fox and the Star is the story of a friendship between a lonely Fox and the Star who guides him through the frightfully dark forest. Illuminated by Star’s rays, Fox forages for food, runs with the rabbits, and dances in the rain—until Star suddenly goes out and life changes, leaving Fox huddling for warmth in the unfamiliar dark. To find his missing Star, Fox must embark on a wondrous journey beyond the world he knows—a journey lit by courage, newfound friends, and just maybe, a star-filled new sky.

Inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement and the art of William Blake, The Fox and the Star is a heartwarming, hopeful tale which comes alive through Bickford-Smith’s beloved illustrations, guiding readers both young and grown to “look up beyond your ears.”

“Praise for Coralie Bickford-Smith: "Coralie Bickford-Smith is the queen of beautiful book covers," -Grace Bonney,”

“Brilliant . . . a delight."
-Philip Pullman

"What keeps the pages turning is the remarkable illustrations, which shift from spread to spread... It’s a spectacular show of friendship’s power to change and fill lives.”
-The Boston Globe

“A beautiful piece of design coupled with thoughtful prose…[a] masterpiece.”
–Newsweek
 
“The most physically beautiful book I had the pleasure of holding in my hands in 2015…Really, The Fox and the Star is an art book, a chance for the abundantly talented Bickford-Smith—best-known for designing the crave-worthy Penguin hardcover classics—to create an entire book from scratch. The simple story of a young fox who loses his best friend only to discover a whole new world makes a sweet premise, but the main attraction is Bickford-Smith’s masterful exercise of the book designer’s craft.”
—Laura Miller, Slate 

“A delightful surprise for fairy tale lovers of all ages.”
—Parade
 
“Book designer Coralie Bickford-Smith has created a volume that's as close to a work of art as anything mass-produced can be…It's a quiet allegory made perfect by exquisite, pattern-based illustrations printed on heavy paper. While older children will be mesmerized, The Fox and the Star is for readers of any age who appreciate sophisticated visuals. Grade: A+”
—Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
“One of the most beautiful kids books in recent memory.”
—St. Louis Post-Dispatch

“An unusual, pleasantly old-fashioned… gorgeous production value and moving illustrations.”
—Booklist 

Praise for Coralie Bickford-Smith:

“Coralie Bickford-Smith is the queen of beautiful book covers,”
-Grace Bonney, Design Sponge 

“Penguin’s brightest star is not an author but an illustrator called Coralie Bickford-Smith.”
–AbeBooks

“Penguin Design geeks and bookworms alike have fallen in love with Bickford-Smith's beautiful — and thoughtful — work.”
–Fast Company

“Coralie Bickford-Smith is easily our favorite book cover designer.”
–Brain Pickings

“London-based Coralie Bickford-Smith is the darling of the book design world.”
–Bon Appetit

Coralie Bickford-Smith is a designer at Penguin Books. Her book covers have been recognized by the AIGA in the United States and D&AD in the UK, and have featured in numerous international magazines and newspapers including the New York Times, Vogue and the Guardian. Her work on the Penguin Hardcover Classics series has attracted worldwide attention and harks back to the world of Victorian book bindings. She has been asked to exhibit and speak about her work in the UK, Sweden, Germany, Portugal, and the US.

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