Here are some of this book's reviews
Fox's New Coat by Jonathan Emmett and Penny Ives has that hard-to-define factor that will make it a stock item in every infant class's bookshelves. It is the story of an impulse buy - a long knitted coat that Fox thinks is just "made for me". In fact it is far too long, and as the tale unravels so does the coat. So enthusiastic is she that every time an animal tries to break the truth to her, she-second guesses them. "'Your coat, Fox, I think it might have been...' 'It might have been made for me! I know!'" A simple but ingenious tale that carries two- to six-year-olds with it as delighted co-conspirators.
Dinah Hall, THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
Fox goes out shopping for a new coat. But on her way home, her new purchase slowly unravels leaving trailing threads on each page. This is an artful, witty story with just the right balance of surprise and reassuring repetition. Lovely illustrations by Penny Ives.
(Chosen as one of the "10 Best Books for Pre-Schoolers" and one of the Independent's "5O BEST" Children's Books)
Nicholas Tucker, THE INDEPENDENT
Foxes have a reputation for cunning in children's stories, so it makes a nice change to find one in this book who is more gullible than all the other animals around her. In this story, a lady fox buys a beautiful woollen coat, only to have it unravel page after page so that she finally ends up with a big ball of multicoloured wool and not much else. Fortunately, the other animals club together to knit her a new one, so everything ends up happily. The process of unravelling starts almost immediately, so that infants can follow the various trailing threads from page to page. They can also see what the fox cannot:: the slow disintegration of a once-perfect garment. All the other animals know it too and do their best to warn her about what is happening, and this state of knowing best can also be greatly enjoyed by all young readers. Brightly illustrated, this book pictures a dream-world where animals talk, dress in human clothes and remain perfectly friendly with each other. Such a vision of harmony between the various species is as old as stories about the Garden of Eden before the Fall, and is always particularly popular with small readers.
Nicholas Tucker, THE ROUGH GUIDE TO CHILDREN'S BOOKS (0-5)
If ever a book deserved the word 'charming', it is 'Fox's New Coat' by Jonathan Emmett.
Ms Fox's new rainbow coat - and the story - gently unravel, accompanied by delicately detailed and funny illustrations from Penny Ives, which fit the mood exactly. I loved the different expressions she gave poor Ms Fox when the coat finally disappeared. Everyone is kind in this book, all comes out happily. Not only charming, it is a down-right nice book for a bedtime story.
Caroline Franklin, NEWBURY WEEKLY NEWS
Fox's New Coat by Jonathan Emmett and Penny Ives is the colourful tale of a very special coat. Fox is thrilled with her new purchase and can't wait to show it off. But she doesn't notice that loose thread unravelling. So when she gets home there's not much coat left. But her friends have been busy. A nicely paced story to excite a three-year-old.
THE SUNDAY TRIBUNE, Dublin
This is a really delightful story about Fox who buys a magnificent new coat, but is so busy showing it off to all the other animals on the way home that she does not notice that something is wrong. When she gets home she cannot understand how her coat has vanished into thin air. Luckily all the other animals come to her rescue and all ends happily. Penny Ives' illustrations are very sweet and all the animals are rather endearing. This is a nice gentle story which will be enjoyed by young children.
Miranda Warren, AMAZON.CO.UK
Fox buys a new knitted coat which is slightly too long for her, but she doesn't notice. She shows it off to all the animal friends she meets as she walks home. One by one they try to tell her that the coat is unravelling - but she doesn't stop to listen. By the time Fox reaches home, the coat has vanished. But all is not lost. Her friends have been gathering up the wool and now they start knitting. And this time the new coat fits perfectly.
This humorous tale about the importance of friendship is ideal for children aged between three and six.
Jill Worth, HOME & FAMILY MAGAZINE
Fox thinks the world of her wonderful new coat. She likes it so much that she ignores the fact that it trails along the ground. When she catches the end on a nail, and it starts to unravel, it looks like the end of the woolly jumper until her friends rally round.
Fox's New Coat by Jonathan Emmett and Penny Ives is a perfect story for under fives.
BURTON MAIL
A new picture book from the popular illustrator of Mrs Christmas and Granny's Quilt. In this humorous tale, Fox is chuffed with her beautiful new coat, although it is far too long. It catches on a thread and slowly unravels without Fox noticing, until she returns home and looks in the mirror. Her friends ensure a happy ending.
Ives' illustrations add immensely to the delights of this book.
LANCASHIRE EVENING POST
A new character for the story-time audience of Year Two. Six and seven-year-olds would begin to appreciate the humour and 'moral' of the plot. Fox's character can be brought alive reading aloud her repeat lines. The illustrated characters were really enjoyed: much to notice going on behind Fox's back. (Some observant listeners even commented on the different knitting patterns of front and back cover). Definitely approved in the class: we would like to read more of Fox's well-defined character antics.
SOMERSET CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW
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