Harquin

by John Burningham

Harquin the fox lives with his parents at the top of the hill, but at night, when everyone is asleep, he secretly goes down to the valley in search of adventure. Time and again, his father warns him of the dangers, but Harquin refuses to listen, and soon the gamekeeper catches sight of him. Harquin’s family is in despair as the hunt leads up the valley, but Harquin is ready and waiting to lead them on a merry dance.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1967

About the author

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bur...

Married to Helen Oxenbury They have one son and two daughters.

John Burningham was born in 1936 in Farnham, Surrey, and attended the alternative school, Summerhill. In 1954 he spent two years travelling through Italy, Yugoslavia and Israel, working at a variety of jobs.

From 1956-1959, he studied at the Central School of Art, after which he designed posters for London Transport and the British Transport Commission. He also spent a year on an animated puppet film in the Middle East. He then became a writer and illustrator of children's books, his first book, Borka: The Adventures of a Goose With No Feathers (1963) winning the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1963, an achievement he repeated with Mr Gumpy's Outing (1970).

Since then, he has written and illustrated many children's books. He is also a freelance designer of murals, exhibitions models, magazine illustrations and advertisements.

Reviews

[Nick Swarbrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Burningham’s books are often full of visual or verbal surprises, gentle word play, shifts in colour. This story of a fox’s encounter with a hunt is no exception: the action of the hunt looks exciting, although the individual members look part of a rather pompous squirearchy; the landscape moves (as do often with Burningham) between rich, full-page illustrations and closer detail, often around the fox, who gains our sympathy from the start.
Because of Burningham’s sure hand in this fairly straightforward story, there is a lively pace, a sense of relief when the fox escapes, and a wry sense of justice at the fate of the hunt leader’s hat.

[Mathew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harquin finds the peaceable life up in the valley dull and even though his father warns him that descent into the land below will only draw the hunt, he goes anyway. Hiding his jaunts from the family, Harquin returns with fowl and fortune until the moment he is spotted and the hunt begins. Not to be outdone or cost his family their lives, with perhaps a nod to The Hound of the Baskervilles, Harquin lures them into the bog.

The story is simple enough and perhaps a precursor to Burningham's future stories of children who do not do as they're told. The landscapes and images of the hunt are stunning and children will delight in the sly fox outwitting the head of the hunt. Lovely alongside Fantastic Mr. Fox.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this book. Great JB illustrations in his painterly style. Like the image of the gamekeeper looking down the barrel of a gun at Harquin. Such a sweet cosy story and I like the fact that Harquin takes the Squire's riding hat at the end. We have urban foxes here and they also take things, especially shoes from people's door steps.

[Ter Caldwell]

I don't know. I read this back in 2010?2011? Cuando vivía en Montaña lol. Me acuerdo que lo compramos en la escuela (que vendía libros de la biblioteca a un euro) y lo recuerdo con mucho cariño
Limpiando recién lo encontré.
I really liked it back then idk. Este y el libro ilustrado de la sirenita son prob los primeros libros que recuerdo haber leído en mi infancia lol.
Why does it say Dylan lol, i read and cherish this book mroe than he ever did. I guess thats on t it being about a fox?? NO

[Adrian Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book highlights the horrors of fox hunting in a child like style great for young readers looking at issues beyond their school remit.

[Genebe Gayo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made a lasting impact!

[Nanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harquin is definitely a fantastic fox!

A really nice, short story and lovely art.

I wonder which came first: Harquin or Fantastic Mr. Fox? Either way, tales of smart, cunning, yet likeable foxes have always been delightful for as long as I can remember. To another one.