The Fox and the Star is my first work as an author/illustrator, spread across 64 highly illustrated pages. I received both The Fox and the Star and The Worm and the Bird for Christmas this year after having them on my wishlist for years.

Don't get me wrong, it was lovely, but I think the majority of the appeal of this book is the artwork. The intertwining leaves, plants and fronds Morris favoured as backgrounds to his fabrics now reappear as backdrops to many of this tale's pages. Presenting the award, Waterstones’ managing director James Daunt described The Fox and the Star as, "a book of great physical beauty and timeless quality, one that will surely join that very special group of classic tales that appeal equally to children and adults".stars for the beautiful illustrations, the cover and the way of how it was written - absolutely fantastic! In December 2015, author Coralie Bickford-Smith wrote in UK newspaper The Guardian, "Although The Fox and the Star looks like a children's book I wanted the story to be something that resonated with adults as well. Other titles on the award's shortlist had included: Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman, SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome by Mary Beard; My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante; Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig; The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins; The Shepherd's Life by James Rebanks and A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara.

For as long as Fox could remember, his only friend has been Star, who lit the forest paths for Fox each night. Its handsomeness befits the author, the art director who designed some of Penguin Classics' most iconic modern editions. Coralie Bickford-Smith is one of the most renowned designers in the publishing industry, especially recognized and celebrated for her illustrated covers of Penguin's clothbound classics. Illuminated by Star’s rays, Fox forages for food, runs with the rabbits, and dances in the rain—until Star suddenly goes out and life changes, leaving Fox huddling for warmth in the unfamiliar dark.

Penguin Design geeks and bookworms alike have fallen in love with Bickford-Smith’s beautiful — and thoughtful — work. The cover is amazing, lovely hardback textured cover, the illustrations are wonderful, the fox is so sweet. At first the fox hides from the dark and is scared, but eventually he decides he can’t hide forever and he goes looking for his star. Book designer Coralie Bickford-Smith has created a volume that's as close to a work of art as anything mass-produced can be…It's a quiet allegory made perfect by exquisite, pattern-based illustrations printed on heavy paper.

Each time you look there is something different to catch your eye, from a scurrying beetle to a hidden rabbit. These are two of the most beautiful books I have ever added to my shelves and just feeling the weight of the pages is an experience in and of itself. Coralie Bickford-Smith, an award-winning designer, encourages the story to become a living tangible thing, making this is a book for your forever shelf, it is quite simply, a book to love and cherish.We haven’t released The Fox and the Star as an ebook because I don't think it would work – it's all about the paper. The Fox and the Star is her first book, inspired by William Blake's Eternity and the graphic work of William Morris. They'll rejoice at the sound of your voice , which is temporary by nature , at the beautiful artwork, and you'll rejoice by the end of this book . I love the concepts of loneliness and fear of darkness in the story that a lonesome fox had to face everyday. The moving story of a fox, a star and an eternal friendship, written and beautifully illustrated by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith - chosen as Waterstones Book of the Year, selected in Time Out's 100 Best Children's Books and loved by parents and children alike.