Children's Picture Books

A Hubbub (Mr. Badger and Mrs. Fox)

By: Brigitte Luciani
Illustrated by: Eve Tharlet
Publisher: Graphic Universe
Publication Date: August 2010
ISBN: 978-0761356325
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: August 2010

It had been about a year since Marguerite, Mrs. Fox, Edmund, and Mr. Badger had been together. They were a very happy, blended family. At first Ginger was very unsettled because it had always been just she and her Mama and when Bristle, Grub, and little Berry came to live with them things were so different. The two older boys were teaching Ginger how to argue and stand up for herself and she shouted out things like, “You flea-filled carpet” and “Striped doormat.” She was really learning fast, but very soon Papa stepped in and asked them to watch their language. Edmund told Mama that “they never get bored when they’re together.”

The children seemed to get along quite nicely since they got together, but sometimes Ginger thought that Papa was sometimes a bit too strict with them. Bristle, Grub, and Ginger were soon off working on their new clubhouse in a hollowed out tree. They were having so much fun putting up hammocks that they were late for dinner. Ginger became very upset when Papa made them clean their rooms after dinner because Mama never made her do that. Things were really different in this new household. Her “real” Papa came to pick her up sometimes, but she worried that she really didn’t fit into the house, especially when baby Berry called HER mother, “Mama.” Would Ginger ever fit into they house? Didn’t her Mama love her anymore?

This charming graphic novel is the ongoing story of a blended fox and badger family who are beginning to care for one another. This is the second installment in the Mr. Badger and Mrs. Fox series. In the first story the family had just gotten together and all the three older children from both families were very upset at the prospect of having to live together. In this book we are beginning to see, as in “real” families, that the children are starting to get along and actually enjoy playing with each other and are defensive of their siblings against outsiders. The series is fun and does not lecture. The artwork is very beautiful, detailed, and quite appealing.

Quill says: If you have several children in one of those special blended families, this lovely graphic novel series is one you may wish to consider!