Monsieur Blaireau et Madame Renarde #4

The fourth volume of Brigitte Luciani and Eve Tharlet's charming series finds Monsieur Blaireau and Madame Renarde — along with a lively tumble of young badgers and fox cubs — in the middle of a wonderfully chaotic winter scene, surrounded by a crowd of lumpy, lovingly built snowmen. The soft watercolor cover perfectly captures the warmth and playful energy of a blended animal family that is, as the subtitle promises, Jamais Tranquille! — never at rest for a moment. Published by Dargaud in 2010, this is gentle, heartfelt Franco-Belgian comics storytelling at its most inviting.