The intriguing full-colour cover illustration for The Fox’s Kettle depicts a fox-headed samurai heading straight for the reader, a kettle firmly held under his arm. Is this magical fox friend or foe? All the villagers, except for the beautiful and clever young storyteller, Akoya, fear the stranger who demands food at her parents’ modest inn. Akoya feeds him, and is rewarded for her kindness and bravery with the fox’s kettle. If she takes good care of it, the fox tells her, her village will always have a plentiful rice harvest. Later, when Akoya polishes the kettle, three foxes jump out of it. She gives them food and drink, and they transform themselves into men who work her father’s field. The foxes protect the rice, Akoya cares for the kettle and foxes, and the village prospers. One day the local landowner hears of Akoya’s renown as a beauty and storyteller, and demands she move to his house. He is too powerful for her to refuse; she must leave everything, including the kettle, behind. While Akoya is away, the samurai fox reappears, but her mother chases him off. Shortly thereafter the kettle disappears. Now there is only bad luck for the village. The landowner blames the foxes, and sets out to kill them. Akoya steals away at night to warn the foxes. A luxury-loving female fox agrees to shape-shift herself into Akoya’s double and return to the landowner’s fine house in her place. Thus Akoya can return to her parents and her role as keeper of the kettle. Even when the double is discovered, Akoya comes up with a story to convince the landowner she should be allowed to stay at home to ensure the harvest. In the end, everyone is satisfied, and the village prospers once more.

B.C. writer Langston is best known for Paydirt! The Search for Gold in British Columbia, which was shortlisted for the Red Cedar and Silver Birch Awards. The Fox’s Kettle is the second picture-book collaboration by Langston and Bossun; their debut Japanese tale, The Magic Ear, was published to very good reviews in 1995.

The Fox’s Kettle is an original story using authentic elements of traditional Japanese folklore. Magical foxes are able to influence the harvest, and change into people; cared-for kettles can bring good luck. To the best of my knowledge the fox and kettle connection, however, is an original touch. Langston is clearly comfortable with her material; her story has the directness and logic of folktale. The rich language makes it a perfect read-aloud for four- to seven-year- olds; eight- and nine-year-olds may read it independently. Bossun, an award-winning artist who specializes in Japanese culture, is both the illustrator and designer. His Japanese-style watercolours with white borders face text set on a lightly patterned background. Overall the pictures are dramatic and engaging, as when long, piercing rays of rain echo the village’s misfortune; and the three foxes emerge, cavorting, from the kettle. Minor quibbles: the scene with Akoya and her mother seems too static, and the landowner looks placid where he should look stern. Think of Akoya when you reach for Molly Whuppie and Clever Rachel/Gretel/ Manka et al.