From its bright green cover decorated with elegant black and gold, through to its retro-style pictures on every page, the book is stunningly illustrated.Ĭhris Riddell has a distinctive illustration style that lends itself to continual re-readings. Published in a gorgeous hardback that kids will want to keep for many years, this book is as much about the pictures as it is the text. They also get to indulge in their love of puzzles, clues and mysteries as the story goes along. Main character Ottoline, and her best friend Mr Munroe (an intriguing Cousin IT-esque companion), are back in this brand new book for young readers that sees the pair meeting new friends, exploring the Big City on an urban adventure, hosting a dinner party, and helping to mend a broken heart. Ottoline and the Purple Fox is the fourth book in Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell’s award-winning Ottoline series, however readers do not need to have read any others to understand this delightful story. Who is the secretive poet, and how can he and Ottoline help them mend their broken heart?

Mr Munroe is making notes too – on the anonymous poems he finds stuck to lampposts on their journey. The fox shows them all the hidden animals of the city and Ottoline makes notes on them in her field notebook. One day, they meet an enigmatic purple fox, who offers to take them on a night-time urban safari. Ottoline and Mr Munroe love puzzles, clues and mysteries. Ottoline and the Purple Fox, Chris Riddell (author/illustrator), Pan Macmillan, 2016

Ottoline chris riddell