Arctic Fox Opens A Magical Ice Cream Shop is the new book from Littlehampton author Christine Chambers, published by Candy Jar Books at £7.99.

Christine, aged 54, said: “I wanted to write a story that I would have enjoyed as a child, full of magic and fun. My favourite film is Labyrinth with David Bowie. I love the magic, fantasy and the comradery. As well as the music!

“Sir Didimus is the feisty fox in the film. Looking back I’ve always loved fox characters, Basil Brush, Fantastic Mr Fox, the Disney Robin Hood and the foxy whiskered gentleman from Beatrix Potter stories.

“They, along with other wildlife, often get persecuted. I find this extremely upsetting as we are all living things and need to coexist peacefully. I wanted to write about foxes in a positive light and bring some fun and personality to our beautiful native red fox species.

“Arctic Fox is a character from my first book Red Fox Does What? Surely Not! She’s opened her own ice-cream shop, and there’s a magical secret inside!

“I think Arctic Fox, as happened with Red Fox, will appeal across all ages. Children will love the ice-cream and friendship and funny foxes. Parents will be taken back to their childhood.

What’s better, when you’re a child, than magic, ice-cream and friendship?”

The story is aimed at three to eight-year-olds.

“I was inspired after writing Red Fox. I was asked many times ‘What’s happening with Arctic Fox and Silver Fox? What do they do?’ I loved thinking of the different rides that would be in the magical world. With this story I thought even more in depth what each character would be like, making Red Fox the youngest and quite greedy, Arctic Fox, the more maternal and sensitive, then Silver Fox, the eldest. We will find out more about him later in his own story.

There will be another book for Silver Fox, the third friend from both Red Fox and Arctic Fox’s adventures.

“I started writing in 2022, after many years of wanting to but not quite feeling confident enough. My husband really encouraged me, as did the rest of my family. They really believed in me. I’m so grateful to them for giving me the push I needed. I now go into schools to read my stories to the children. It makes me feel at home and like I should have always been doing it. I’m very humbled to be able to share my imagination with others and to inspire young minds.”