As the sun sets, Roxie leaves her rope with the foxes in appreciation for the wishes and little bit of magic the afternoon was all about. The talkative foxes happily accept help in learning to better their rope jumping skills, and the two species spend a happy afternoon playing together. The rope is not where they left it, but they hear the sounds of rope jumping and follow it to a clearing where a gathering of foxes are jumping with the rope. Roxie and her little brother, Lukie, rush back to the park one day after Roxie remembers she's forgotten her jumping rope. I only hope more of this author and illustrator's works are translated into English! With an engaging story, winsome characters, and lovely artwork, it's easy to see why The Fox Wish won the Japan Picture Book Award.

The accompanying artwork by Komako Sakai, done in acrylic gouache, oil pencil and ballpoint pen, is every bit as lovely as Kimiko Aman's story, capturing the vulpine charm of its foxy characters, and the sweet, goodhearted nature of Roxie and Lukie. Turn to the east, / and turn to the west, / and choose the one that / you like best.' This is particularly impressive, since poetry and rhyme are particularly difficult to translate believably. The translation is accomplished, and reads quite well, something particularly notable in the little rhyme the foxes chant as they play: 'Doxy, foxy, / touch the ground. Originally published in Japan as 'Kitsune no Kamisama,' this gentle, heartwarming tale addresses a number of complex ideas - the magic to be found out in the natural world, if one is looking for it the parallels between human and animal, and the kinship between them the rewards we receive when we surrender something we cherish in order to preserve the happiness and faith of another - in a way that is both graceful and emotionally satisfying. Roxie the little girl decides not to contest ownership with Roxie the fox cub, and she and Lukie race each other home. Roxie teaches her new vulpine friends how to jump rope - it is important to keep your tail up and in, so that it doesn't tangle with the rope! - but when evening comes and she tries to take her plaything, she discovers that one of the young foxes, also named Roxie, believes that is is hers, and came to her as the result of a wish for something with which to play. When a little girl named Roxie leaves her jump-rope at the park, she and her younger brother Lukie return to fetch it, only to find that a group of young foxes are trying to play with it.

The Fox Wish by Kimiko Aman