In the midst of a friendly picnic, a group of friends—a bear, a rooster, a rabbit, and assorted hens and chicks—are startled when a fox suddenly rises from nearby bushes, snatches up one of the chickens, and races off with her in his arms. This wordless picture book tracks his flight through the forest, up a mountain, and across a raging sea in a rowboat. All the while, the rooster, the rabbit, and the bear are in frantic pursuit. When the trio finally bursts through the door of the fox’s den, they discover the chicken and the fox having a cozy cup of tea in front of the fireplace. Stockholm Syndrome or star-crossed lovers searching for a happy home? Arguments could be made for either interpretation; however, visual clues suggest that while the hen is startled at the fox’s initial appearance, she appears composed shortly after and is clearly trying to explain everything to her friends near story’s end. The book’s short, wide format encourages readers to track the animals’ movement across the pages, while the warmly colored illustrations add charm to the drama. (Ages 4–8)

Foxes are so very maligned in children’s literature—always cunning, never cuddly. And Rodriguez’s chicken-thieving fox follows in the villainous foot steps of his literary predecessors, snatching Chicken away as Bear, Rabbit, and Rooster sit down to an al fresco picnic. Cue the heroic music, though; the animals will save the day, pursuing the fox and his captive through the woods, over the mountain, and across the sea. The drama of the chase in this wordless picture book is a lively one, and Rodriguez captures the range of emotions effortlessly and clearly on the animals’ faces . lvb

Originally published as Le Voleur de Poule in French by les Editions Autrement France, in 2005.

In this wordless story that is both funny and sweet, a fox steals a hen away from her home. Bear, rabbit, and rooster give chase, but in a twist on the usual children's story, this fox is not a villain. Rather, he tenderly holds hen as he runs into the night. A funny and life-affirming story, The Chicken Thief defies expectations, enlivening the mind with its cleverness while going straight for the heart. This intelligent and charming book is great for all ages. A love story, a road movie, and a playful speculation on stereotypes and misconceptions, The Chicken Thief makes for an unforgettable reading experience!

Béatrice Rodriguez was born in 1969. She received her degree from the School of Decorative Arts in Strasbourg, France, and works today as an illustrator, creating children's books as well as pictures for the press. She lives in France.