Poor fox. After the wolf, he’s one of the most common animal villains in children’s literature. Although the following books are definitely anti-fox, they are terrific read alouds for a fox-themed story time.
The fox in Do Like a Duck Does! may be clever, but not as clever as Mama Duck. Fox sidles up to the duck family and insists that he is a duck…just a larger and browner version of a duck. Prove it, replies Mama Duck. Fox attempts to prove it, even though he doesn’t have any feathers or a beak, just “four claws on his hairy-scary feet….two ears that stick up a mile, and a wicked foxy nose and a wicked foxy smile.”
As you can imagine, this fox is up to no good. His dislike of mud and bugs doesn’t deter him from trying to persuade Mama Duck that he is a true duck. She continues to give him challenges, which, of course, ultimately end in disaster (for the fox).
Do Like a Duck Does is a terrific read aloud that even your youngest toddlers can understand and appreciate. It has a perfect mix of humor and tension that will keep the children interested and engaged.
Hungry Hen is a short and captivating story of a greedy fox and a clever hen. Fox is just dying to chomp down on Hen. However, he delays his long-awaited meal each day, just so Hen can get even more meat on her bones. Finally, Wolf cannot stand it any longer. He races down the hill and bursts into Hen’s house. Hen and Wolf look each other straight in the eye.
I won’t spoil the ending for you, because it’s a very funny surprise. The children will also enjoy the unexpected turn of events!
Dinnertime! doesn’t have much of a plot-it’s a counting story encased in a small drama involving a fox and small rabbits-but it does allow for audience participation (everyone can shout “dinnertime!” at the appropriate time). A sly fox stalks six young rabbits, who seem to disappear one by one. At the end of the story, the rabbits’ whereabouts are revealed, and the fox is left to try his luck another day. The mothers in the audience will appreciate the moral of the story (listen when your mother calls you!).
If you’ d like to balance out the “sly fox” aspect of your story time, consider Kate Banks’s Fox. Fox is a quiet story of a young fox eager to explore the world. The writing is more sophisticated and poetic than the other selections, but the appeal of the young fox will add to the appeal of the story.
You could also read Jane Burton’s Fox, part of the See How They Grow series. Children learn about a fox’s development from the perspective of a young fox. The photographs are irresistible. The writing is simple enough for toddlers to understand.
If you’d like to include a traditional folktale, consider a version of The Gingerbread Man or Henny Penny, which both include mischievous foxes. I use Eric Kimmel’s The Gingerbread Man for my fox story time. Paul Galdone has an excellent read aloud version of Henny Penny.
Books Mentioned:
Banks, Kate. Fox. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007.
Burton, Jane. Fox. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 1992.
Galdone, Paul. Henny Penny. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1968.
Hindley, Judy. Do Like a Duck Does! Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press, 2002.
Kimmel, Eric. The Gingerbread Man. New York: Holiday House, 1993.
Waring, Richard. Hungry Hen. New York: HarperCollins, 2001.
Williams, Sue. Dinnertime! San Diego: Harcourt, 2001.
Do you have a fox favorite?
Abby
I read MY LUCKY DAY by Keiko Kasza at storytime tonight, which has a fox that gets duped by a piglet (best for older preschool through lower elementary). Another favorite to add some music to your storytime is the folk song “The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night”. And a favorite for little ones is ROSIE’S WALK by Pat Hutchins.