The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman illustrated by Marcin Minor

When winds blow

Through Deadwood east

The undead monster waits to feast

On little bones

And braids

And toes

But don't you scream

Or its hunger grows!

While I did read this book fairly quickly, over a couple of days, it took me a little while to get used to the use of a girl's name - Clare for a male character - the undead fox.

What does undead mean? Well, when a creature dies it usually just heads off to the afterlife but there are some creatures that need help to find the right door or realm. This guiding or, as it is called here, the Ushering, is the job of the undead - in this case Clare the fox but there have been many others before him - Brickbane a fox; Eddifoot a racoon; Po an elk and Felix a moth. There are four destinations:

"Travel north from here and you'll find the realm of Peace ... for those who found joy in rest. Head east and you encounter the realm of Pleasure ... best suited to those who sought fun about all else. Directly west is Progress ... for those who loved work, service and effort. And finally travel south ... and one enters the realm of Pain."

Clare has been sending the souls who arrive at his cottage in Deadwood Forest to the 'right' door for over four years. He enjoys his work and loves tending to his extensive mushroom garden but deep in his heart he is lonely and also frightened because Brickbane told him, on the night of his death, that he was destined for Pain. And not only that a prophecy song is circulating:

"On All Hallows Eve, Deadwood will bring mayhem to Fernlight. And before the moon sets, one in Deadwood will vanish forever."

Then there is new arrival. It is a badger named Gingersnipes. Astute readers will realise something is wrong. Gingersnipes does not arrive in the usual way by knocking on Clare's door. When Clare sends Gingersnipes away to his assigned realm "he did not wait for the crackling sound of her departure".  This is a big mistake.

Hopefully now you have lots of unanswered questions. How did Clare die? Why did Gingersnipes arrive at this time? What does do the songs of All Hallows Eve mean? Who is the little girl with the red shoes? Can the message and advice from Hesterfowl be trusted? And most important of all what on earth is a braid?  (Of course, dear reader you know the answer to this final question but it is a mystery to Clare).

There is one very violent scene near the end of this book so I am going to say this is a book for mature readers aged 10+. 

All of this plot sounds every 'heavy' but there are some sweet touches of humour in this story and you are sure to enjoy meeting the rats at the dump named Nine and Two. The names of the mushrooms that Clare collects from the forest are also delightful. And I loved the way Clare always said 'travel true' as he sent lost souls off to their assigned realm. 

Here is a description of Clare's cottage:

"Clare, for example, had strung the ceiling with rows and rows of twine. The walls were lined with shelves crammed with jars of all shapes and colours, gathered from Deadwood Dump and filled with dried fungi. In the firelight the vessels glinted and glowed, splashing the hollow in jewelled hues."

Here is a line that made me smile - it is Gingersnipes speaking:

"I have a moose-sized bone to pick with you. Four times you sent me into that forest. And four times the coloured lights led me back here. Is this some sort of game? A test? Because I'm tired of it, fox!"

And later Gingersnipes says: "You're a tough nut to crack, Clare, and frankly I am not a squirrel!"

There is an interesting theme in this book about thirst - this is something I need to think a little more about. Being undead Clare does not need food or drink, but he makes special tea for all his visitors and so it seems important and very strange that once Gingersnipes arrives, and Clare's world shifts, he seems to be desperately thirsty all the time. 

Here is a description of Hesterfowl the grouse - "She wore a cloak of moss. A collar of bones encircled her short neck, some poor dead animal's rib cage fanning up and around her head. The feathers surrounding her eyes were smeared with berry pulp and groomed into sharp points." (I need to make special mention of the amazing illustrations in this book AND question why his name is not on the cover or title page. You can see his art here on Instagram). Marcin Minor lives in Poland.

Image source Instagram

I think it was the cover that first caught my attention. Checking some details I see the hardcover of this book arrived here in Australia in late February 2025 then, as I already mentioned I was given a generous book voucher for one of book chain stores here in Sydney - so when I saw they had the paperback which was released in April this book was an obvious first purchase.

SPOILER ALERT - Bookseller blurb: Clare is the undead fox of Deadwood Forest. Here, leaves grow in a perpetual state of fall: not quite dead, but not quite alive...just like Clare. Long ago, he was struck by a car, and, hovering between life and death, he was given the choice to either cross into the Afterlife or become an Usher of wandering souls. Clare chose the latter: stepping into a solitary life of helping souls meet their destiny. Clare's quiet and predictable days are met with upheaval when a badger soul named Gingersnipes (arrives). Despite Clare's efforts to usher her into the Afterlife, the badger is unable to find her way out of Deadwood. This is unprecedented. Baffling. A disturbing mystery which threatens the delicate balance of the living and the dead. Clare seeks the help of Hesterfowl--the visionary grouse who recently foretold of turmoil in Deadwood. But Hesterfowl divulges a shocking revelation about the badger that leaves Clare devastated, outraged, and determined to do anything to change their fate.

Read some young reader reviews - very insightful.

Heartbreaking, marvelously funny, and generously redemptive. Kirkus Star review

"I really love Gingersnaps" "A timeless book". Colby Sharp Newbery prediction.

US author Aubrey Hartman has written two books. Check out her webpage.  

Companion books:

Good Dog

Loteria

The Life and Time of Lonny Quicke

Magrit

Mushroom Lullaby by Kenneth Kraegel

"You head up your soft mushroom stair and read a book in your big mushroom chair."

For the first few pages of this lullaby, we meet various mushrooms in different situations. On the ground, on a tree branch, in a desert, under a waterfall. Then turn the page and we find a mushroom house with a front door and window. This is sure to enchant your young reading companion. The path to the house even has a small lantern hanging on a twig rather like the light from Narnia. There is an outdoor table with a checkers board game and inside the house you will see shelves crammed with books and other toy treasures. There is even a model of the mushroom house itself. 

A nearly square trim size and ink-and-watercolor compositions with an abundance of curves and rounded shapes create a setting filled with quiet joy and a sense of security. Stippling and other surface patterns provide texture and gradations of light. As the day winds down, the warm palette becomes even more intense, with glowing embers in the fireplace and deep orange-red walls and décor. Kirkus Star review

The font is large and so easy to read throughout that it works so well for bedtime. There are relatively few words on each page, with merely a phrase or two on the spread. The illustrations are quite detailed and lovely, really inviting the reader to explore this magical world visually on each page and leading into the slower pace that works so well for bedtime books. The amount of words and simplicity of the story along with the rhymes will work well for toddlers on up. YA Books Central

Publisher blurb: In gentle rhyme, this spare and whimsical picture book from the one-of-a-kind imagination of Kenneth Kraegel introduces little readers to all sorts of wonderful mushrooms: ones that grow up high and ones that never stay dry, ones that grow in a park and ones that glow in the dark, and even one made just for them! Who can resist climbing up the soft mushroom stair, curling up in a plush mushroom chair, and preparing to dream sweet mushroom dreams? The lulling narration and warm illustrations of this charmingly quirky book will have drowsy young ones settling into their own comfy beds, ready to drift off to sleep.

I first saw this book in an independent bookstore (sadly this store has now closed). I told the teacher-librarian of the library where I volunteer each week and she generously purchased this for her library. I did mention the author Kenneth Kraegel in a previous post. Here is his webpage.

Fungi Grow by Maria Gianferrari illustrated by Diana Sudyka

In this book you will discover so much about fungi and mushrooms. How spores are distributed and threads called hyphae which are a little like roots. The colours used on some pages almost look damp which are the perfect conditions for fungi to grow. The only extra I wanted in this book was a list of all the fungi they mention - so many have such quirky and interesting names. 

At the back of this book there is a glossary, a fact page, a list of sources, a further reading list for children, and a long list of websites. Kirkus say this book is thin on detail but I disagree - the really terrific thing about this book is that it is sure to be a jumping off point fueling more curious questions about all forms of fungi.

In a school library it can be easy to think of your nonfiction collection only in terms of syllabus topics but really your collection should be way more eclectic.  I don't imagine many classes study mushrooms, but they are so fascinating, and I am sure a curious child and their parents will thoroughly enjoy this book which is enhanced with scrumptious illustrations. If you visit a library and browse near Dewey number [579.6] I wonder how many other books you will find about fungi? Here's one that is quite old but it could easily be in a school library as these Read and Wonder (later called Nature Storybooks) are so fabulous and most school libraries added titles from this series to their collection. 

Just for fun here are some of the fungi Fungi Grow by Maria Gianferrari - cotton rot fungus; pear-shaped puffball; stinkhorn mushrooms; yellow morel; deer mushroom; chanterelle; and rusty-gilled polypore. See inside Fungi Grow here. 

... readers will come away dazzled by the kingdom’s huge variety of forms and colors, a bit more informed about fungi’s potential uses for industry and waste disposal, and properly warned off from eating any found mushrooms without an expert’s OK.  Kirkus

This vibrantly illustrated picture book sheds a comprehensive light on the often-overlooked mushroom. At first glance, this is a book for younger readers, but each page also features more detailed facts and information about the fascinating fungi world that older elementary students will appreciate as well. … A noteworthy addition to all collections and a book that is sure to enthrall young biologists. School Library Journal

Read more about the science of fungi here.

You can see other books by Maria Gianferrari here. I previously mentioned Diana Sudyka when I talked about this book:

Meet the author illustrator Kenneth Kraegel

My local book store - Beachside Bookshop shared this book with me a couple of days ago. 

A mycological charmer. Kirkus Star review

Here is the blurb: In gentle rhyme, this spare and whimsical picture book from the one-of-a-kind imagination of Kenneth Kraegel introduces little readers to all sorts of wonderful mushrooms: ones that grow up high and ones that never stay dry, ones that grow in a park and ones that glow in the dark, and even one made just for them! Who can resist climbing up the soft mushroom stair, curling up in a plush mushroom chair, and preparing to dream sweet mushroom dreams? 

Then Nerdy Book Club posted this from Kenneth Kraegel. 

I was curious to discover more about Kenneth Kraegel and his books. The wonderful school library I visit each week had one book by Kenneth - King Arthur's very great Grandson.

Blurb: Henry Alfred Grummorson is the great-great-great-great-great-great great grandson of Arthur, King of Britain. On his sixth birthday, adorned with a helmet and sword, Henry goes in search of adventure. He challenges a fire-breathing dragon to a fight, but the dragon prefers a game of blowing smoke rings. A cyclops wants only to have a staring contest. Even the griffin will not engage in "a battle to the uttermost" of the type Henry desires. Desperate for a real battle, strength against strength, might against might, Henry seeks out the fearsome leviathan. Has he met his match at last -- or might he find something he didn't know he was looking for? Children bold and imaginative will relate to Henry's quest -- and smile at its unintended consequences.

Kirkus review: This is a good choice for reading aloud and for discussing such topics as friendship, aggression and the bravery it takes to change your mind.

This is a book of Shapes is a board book. Kirkus said: Bound to put a smile on readers’ faces.

Two for me, One for you by Jörg Mühle

On her way home, Bear found three mushrooms.
Weasel was very excited. He wiped the mushrooms, seared them, seasoned them with plenty of salt and pepper, and let them simmer in the frying pan with a little parsley.

It all sounds so perfect. Bear and Weasel can sit down for a delicious mushroom dinner. But wait have you spotted the mathematical dilemma.  There are three mushrooms but only two diners.

Let the arguments begin!

Bear - I'm big I need to eat a lot
Weasel - I'm small, and I still have to grow
Bear - I found the mushrooms
Weasel - I cooked them, I did all the work
Bear - It was my recipe
Weasel - I am so hungry you can hear my tummy grumbling

The pair are so engrossed with their argument, which turns quite nasty, that they fail to see the sneaky fox. He lunges forward and grabs one mushroom. Problem solved - bon appetit.

Now for dessert - wild strawberries. Oh no there are three on the plate!

Every young child, and perhaps every adult too, needs to read a story about sharing and this one is perfect.  This is also a book teachers could use when they explore the idea of persuasion.

This book was originally published in German.  Well done again to Gecko Press for bringing us another translated picture book to read and treasure.

Comic timing combined with droll mixed media scenes of the escalating situation (I love the forest setting with the kitchen set-up) make for a fun way to introduce youngsters to the notion of sharing: how might they solve the‘afters’ issue? Red Reading Hub

An insightful picture book that looks at friendship when the puzzle of 3 into two won’t go is posed, especially when food is involved. Bobs Books Blog

Another book with a similar theme is where friends need to work out differences is A letter for Tiger by Janosch. Take a look here for some other picture books about sharing.

Jörg Mühle is the illustrator of Meet me at the Ark at Eight - a book I really enjoyed.