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Rating: 
Summary: RES4thgrade
Review: I grew up with this song. My father would sing it while driving home at night from places like Gramma's house. I found the book at a yard sale years and years later and although it isn't in the best of shape, it does remind me of the words when I forget. For the mother whose 3 year old it was too graphic for, maybe try just singing it to them, let their own mind make up the pictures. A good example of Nature fending for itself.
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Summary: Too graphic for my 3 year old.
Review: Sure, this book is based on a Burl Ives song which is "fun". However, the illustrations showing the fox killing the goose and holding it limp in his mouth and then bringing it home to his little foxes where they cook and eat it is simply too graphic for my 3 year old. Sure, everyone has to eat and foxes eat geese. We all die yet I am not ready to show my 3 year old pictures of dead people. Sorry to be a party pooper. I was really looking forward to reading this book to my son. When he is older I will. Not at age 3 or 4.
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Summary: Wonderful memories, wonderful book
Review: This book is a treasure from my childhood. I remember singing the song along with my dad and older sister. Since I was reading at age 3, I read this book by myself. I didn't find it too graphic then, nor do I now. The images didn't disturb me in the least.
I love this little book, and have given it as a gift many times, always to rave reviews from the parents and children alike. It is fast-paced and the lyrics are fun to sing. The pictures are delightful, from the detailed farm scenes, right down to the Civil War monuments in the town square that the reader sees as the fox passes by with his birds. I recommend this for children of any age, and their parents. It is a treasure of a children's book.
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Summary: Beautiful work from a master illustrator...
Review: This book is one I picked up on a whim. I was drawn to it by the colorful cover illustration, and just had to purchase it.What makes this book stand out is the absolutely gorgeous line art from Mr. Spier. The cover offers you just a hint of the exquisite detail in each and every drawing. I was struck by the amount of detail Mr. Spier was able to pack into each rendering, capturing accurately a wealth of details in the farming community. From a "working" barn interior simply brimming with accuracy, to the sagging rooflines of old farm buildings, to moonlit churchyards, dirt crossroads, and covered bridges, you'll swear this man must have lived extensively in a farming area all his life. This is not a full-color text, which may disappoint some readers. Only every other page in the book is in full color, probably to save money when it was first printed many years ago in the early sixties. Pity, for the coloring makes each drawing leap off the page. The time period is apparently rooted firmly in the early 1900's, when our nation was still agricultually based. Many details (such as antique portraits with the old-fashioned practice of dates on them), hint at a past time are liberally displayed. Although the Ingram write-up listed on this catalog page indicates the story takes place in New England, this is probably not the case. While it is true that much of the art calls to mind New England, New Englanders do not raise tobacco. Here we see several tobacco barns where the leaf is dried, and notices for tobacco actions on barn walls and covered bridges. As such, I suspect Pennsylvania, or perhaps even Virginia as the locale, but what difference does it make? This is a whimsical tale from the past, which is all that matters. Upon close inspection, the observant reader will note that the gray goose and the duck are both alive and kicking long after the fox steals them. In fact, you never actually see them being killed, just being prepared for dinner after the fact. None of the imagery is in any way graphic regarding the demise of the fowl. On top of that, we see both duck and goose join in with the sing-a-long at the end of the book, so the book should be okay for the younger children (of course, this depends on your own judgement).
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Summary: Music Enhances the Story
Review: This book is the musical tale of a fox raiding the farmer's bin in order to feed his family of a wife and ten little foxes. The book has a long title, which is typically problematic for young children. In my house the book is known simply as "Fox". The story's lyrics are simple and repetitive. While broaching mature themes such as prayer, hunting, self-defense and providing for a family, the story flows most ostensibly as the adventure of the expeditious fox through the unassuming town. The music is both hopeful and melancholy. Sung against a back drop of colonial New England, the story has a charming, romantic air to it. The illustrations are suitable for children while conveying a stylistic and modern tone. Even after the 150th reading, I am still excited to read of the fox's exploits and am comparatively happier to have my 20 month old little daughter choose this handsome tale over what seems like an overabundance of pointless and ill-conceived young children's stories.
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Summary: Fun sing-a-long classic!
Review: This Caldecott Honor Book has been a favorite in my family for about 30 years and was a frequently requested story for my four boys as they were growing up. It was illustrated in 1961 by Peter Spier and is based on a Burl Ives arrangement from 1945 of an old folk tune called "The Fox." The lyrics make up the lively text. Spier's wonderful line drawings are filled with details, plenty of action and a folksy, down-home world of a bygone era from the turn of the last century. Every other page is in full color with the rest in black and white. The drawings are so chock full of details that you will enjoy the black and white ones nearly as much as the colored ones. Small town life and a rustic farm homestead come to life in these pages as the fox goes out on a chilly night to find supper for his hungry children. The pictures are informative and interesting and funny. There is so much flavor in this book that you'll want to share it with the kids again and again. There is music at the back of the book for voice, piano and guitar so that you can sing along and teach the kids to join in. All seven verses are included. I still sing this song on road trips and every one of my grown children remembers the words. It's a treasure.
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Summary: A song of a fox hunting for its family.
Review: This children's book is based on a 1945 Burl Ives adaptation of an old folk song about a fox who went hunting for geese. The song is included so that children can sing as well. The book was a 1962 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustration in a book for children.
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Summary: Sing and read!
Review: When I was a little girl, my Mom would read this book to me and play her guitar along with it. It was such fun. I am now a Mom and read this to my kids. My Mom even came over and played the guitar part. The music is at the back of the book! My kids love it!
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Summary: wonderful for speech delayed 4 year old
Review: Wonderful illustrations to the well known classic song. Great for kids who love to sing or who learn well when things are in a song! The illustrations are a bit graphic, but at 4 years, I think it is fine. My son loves this book. We "sing" it together. Very good for speech therapy goals too, new words and situations.
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