Book Review: The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night: An Old Song
Rating: 
The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night is a wonderful old folk song telling the ageless story of a fox who raids a farmer’s goose house and brings his kill home to his family. Peter Spier’s detailed and charming drawings bring the story to dramatic life with alternately black-and-white and colored illustrations.
The anthropomorphism of the fox is playfully developed, somewhat reminiscent of Beatrix Potter’s animal character development. As the fox raids the goose house he acts very much like a realistic animal, but he returns to a furnished home, and he and his wife proceed to pluck and carve the goose before eating it at table. Likewise, the fox children act like humans within their house, but then raid the garbage can outside, leaving bones strewn everywhere.
The story is good enough to be enjoyed for its own sake, but also may provide an opportunity to discuss themes such as creation stewardship, ownership, theft, and animal predatory behavior.
A nice musical score is included at the end of the book, but the melody is rather complicated to read for the first time. You can listen to the song performed by Morwenna Lasko below, or download a version by Nickel Creek here.
Categories: 4 Stars, Age 04-08, Caldecott Honor
Tags: Animals, Creation Stewardship, Farm Life, Farmers, Fathers, Folk Songs, Foxes, Geese, Predators, Singing Books, Stealing, The Natural World, Wildlife
Posted on August 14, 2009
No responses yet. You could be the first!
Leave a Response
Subscribe
Search by:
Tags
Quotes
Just as good stories help to create an emotional bond to goodness, family reading strengthens the family bond. Shared reading draws families together. It provides mutual delight and builds emotional bridges. It establishes intimacy between parent and child in a way that few other activities can match.
—
Recent Posts
Wish List
