I’m pleased to introduce you to two of my favorite characters in my forthcoming upper elementary chapter book/lower MG with @twenty_hills press.

Mr. Fox and the Bear. They can’t wait to meet you this June.

Aren’t they sweet? (Although, to be honest, the fox is a bit pretentious at times, seeing as he knows all of the consonants. Or was it the vowels? He can never quite remember… but he is a learned fox, you see, having been to preschool a few times.)

As for the bear, well he’s a scratchy little thing, made from a recycled old sweater, then sold in a boat tiki shop (boutique).

@lovehopeandjoy_illustrations was a dream to work with as an illustrator, capturing these characters as I imagined them in my head.