Hector Fox and the Daring Flight: Silver Medal winner for the 2025 IPPY Award in the Children's Picture Book (All Ages) category!
"Just the right amount of intrigue and adventure for children, especially ones who are on the upper end of the picture book phase. Beautiful illustrations, intriguing story, and a wonderful message at the end."
—LibraryThing
"Sheckels’ painterly watercolor illustrations are richly detailed and atmospheric: the nattily dressed animals are outfitted in dapper Edwardian waistcoats with bushy tails peeking out, while Hector’s cozy home inside a tree trunk is lined with bookshelves and warmed by a roaring fireplace. With a classic fairy-tale feel, this is a suspenseful, well-paced picture book of friendship, bravery, and acceptance."
— Linda Ludke, Booklist
"Greenfield artist and children’s book author Astrid Sheckels brings a unique touch to her stories, using rich watercolor paintings of anthropomorphic animals — a style she calls 'a mix of classic realism and whimsy'— who have a range of adventures in their woodland home. Think a more detailed version of E. H. Shepard’s illustrations for the original Winnie the Pooh stories and you’d not be far off."
—Steve Pfarrer, Daily Hampshire Gazette
"Artful watercolors depict pounding rain and gilded treasures in this tale about misunderstandings and unlikely friends."
—Danielle Ballantyne, Foreword Reviews
"Astrid Sheckels is a picture book illustrator to watch! Her classic style won my heart right out of the gate. There’s a lot to look at and love in this sweet story."
— Sarah Mackenzie, Read-Aloud Revival Podcast
"Intricate color illustrations add detail and whimsy to an excellent tale."
—Bill Bushnell
