This picture book is the second in the Crow Stories trilogy. The illustrations are beautiful, and the story lovely. Read it. ( )

Happening upon an injured fox one day, who has his foot caught in a trap, a ranger named Annie releases him and nurses him back to health, all while determined not to tame him. But when Annie herself is the one in danger - attacked and wounded by a bear - the fox (and perhaps a fox spirit?) is the one in a position to be of help. Annie's thought that now they are "even" is rejected by a clearly affronted fox, and the two head off together. Now they are Annie and Kit...

Following upon The Outlaw, this is the second in Canadian author/artist Nancy Vo's Crow Stories trilogy, in which she explores classic themes of the Western genre through picture-books. That earlier book examined the idea of the outlaw, and highlighted issues of forgiveness and redemption, whereas The Ranger looks at the human relationship to our animal cousins. Specifically, to our vulpine relations. As someone interested in the depiction of foxes in children's books - I wrote my masters dissertation on three centuries of Reynard the Fox in Anglophone children's literature - I was almost guaranteed to find this one fascinating. That said, Vo did some unexpected things that really gave her simple story depth. I loved the moment when Annie thinks that she and the fox are "even," after they each save one another, only to be met with snarling at the idea. Annie realizes she has offended the fox and apologizes, highlighting that friendship, love and fellow-feeling are all experiences that stand outside of concepts like debt, or obligation.

As powerful as the story here is - and despite the brevity and simplicity of Vo's text, the tale she tells here is thought-provoking and emotionally resonant - it is the artwork that truly shines. Done in ink, watercolor and acetone transfer on Rising Stonehenge paper, and utilizing newspaper clipping and fabric cuttings from the 1860s and 1870s as collage elements, the illustrations are both beautiful and fascinating. I loved the full-on portrait of Annie, but not surprisingly, it was the depiction of the fox, whose reddish-brown body provides a splash of color in an otherwise muted palette, that truly stood out. Given that striking color distinction, I think it clear that we are meant to read the old woman in a red dress, who cares for Annie when she is recovering from the bear attack, as a manifestation of the fox. Just a gorgeous, gorgeous book! I enjoyed Vo's first title, but this was a distinct improvement on that, making me wonder what the as-yet-unreleased third will be like. Recommended to young fox lovers, and to picture-book readers who appreciate gorgeous artwork or are looking for Western-style stories. ( )