Book Review: Fantastic Mr. Fox
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that the lessons are a little twisty
here, and guns are used, resulting in Mr. Fox losing his
tail.
Families can talk about what the morals of this story are supposed to be. Why is it good for Mr. Fox to kill chickens, but bad for the farmers to want to kill him? Why is it good for Mr. Fox to steal their chickens, and bad for them to want to stop him? Do you agree with all this?
Common Sense Media ReviewRoald Dahl
has more than his share of classics of 20th-century children's literature. In between his greater works, he tossed off many lesser books, and this is one of those. It's humorous and satisfying, in a very straightforward sort of way -- none of Dahl's characteristic wicked cleverness is here. It's engrossing and one of his easier-to-read stories, so it's good for younger and reluctant readers, or when you're looking for a quick, fun read-aloud.
But author Dahl -- to the joy of his child readers and often the horror of their parents -- had a delightfully subversive streak, and loved to turn rules and societal norms on their heads. While this is a very slight story -- clever fox outwits mean farmers -- it provides lots to talk about. Why shouldn't the farmers try to kill the fox who is killing their animals? Why is the fox portrayed as a hero for stealing successfully? In a later book, Danny, Champion of the World, Dahl does the same thing with human poachers. In both cases, those being stolen from are portrayed as rich. Is this some British class-consciousness? Does he just like the underdog? Or does he revel in junior-league subversiveness and messing with parents? Kids won't care -- they'll just love the story, and root for their stand-in, Mr. Fox, to defeat all those mean adults who don't want him to have what he wants.
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