cover image Fox Busters

Fox Busters

Dick King-Smith. Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers, $13.95 (117pp) ISBN 978-0-440-50064-3

With the farmyard setting and animal characters of which he writes so masterfully, King-Smith once again creates an outstanding fantasy. The fox busters are three extraordinary pullets, whose heritage, upbringing and intelligence combine to make them attempt a daring plan. Their enemies, four smart poultry-loving foxes, have hatched a murderous plan of their own. While the odds seem to favor the carnivores, the chickens have discovered an ingenious way to harden their unlaid eggs and to use them as weapons. Suspenseful, engrossing, and so carefully structured as to render it entirely believable, the story is an ideal read-aloud, with something of interest for all ages. Illustrations not seen by PW. Ages 8-11. (Nov.)