When I wrote Fujiko and the Fox, I wanted to tell a story about finding calm after a difficult time — and about how nature can help us heal when life feels a bit too noisy.

Fujiko, one of the Woodland Explorers, has broken her arm in a cycling accident and can’t play her violin. Everything sounds different now — birdsong and rustling leaves seem to have been replaced by the screech of tyres and wailing sirens. Then, deep in Willow Wish Woods, she and her friends discover a fox. Quiet, watchful, and full of character, the fox helps Fujiko rediscover her connection to the world around her.

As autumn arrives, the village prepares for its big festival — and fireworks light up the sky. It’s exciting, but Fujiko realises that the animals in the woods don’t share the same joy. The noise frightens them, and she decides to find ways to make the woodland a little safer.

While researching the book, I learned some simple ways we can all help wildlife during firework season:

• Keep pets indoors, and give them a calm space to hide.
• Avoid setting off fireworks near parks or woodland, where animals may be sheltering.
• Choose quieter fireworks if you can — the bright colours are still just as lovely.
• Tidy up debris and packaging, which can confuse or harm small creatures.

Writing this story reminded me how much nature has to teach us — about patience, gentleness, and listening closely. Fujiko and the Fox is about friendship, recovery, and the quiet kind of courage that grows when we look after one another, human and animal alike.