Fox

Author: Margaret Wild

First line: Through the charred forest, over hot ash, runs Dog, with a bird clamped in his big, gentle mouth.

Why you should read this book: Wild, weird, warm, and wonderful, this is a book about trust and betrayal, disability and adaptation, acceptance and desire, to wit, all the adult emotions you can possibly fit into a kid's picture book. Dog, blind in one eye, and Magpie, who has lost the power of flight, form a perfect partnership, until Fox makes them a trio and introduces doubt into the dynamic. It's deep and beautiful, written on the level of a fable so that kids can draw their own conclusions and take away a meaningful lesson about friendship.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You relish being a home wrecker.