Every great adventure needs great characters and a spark of mischief – especially between the pages of books for young page turners. Cunning trickery taps into our love of cleverness, seeing the heroes of the stories outwit bullies and beating impossible odds with nothing but wits, courage and a well-timed plan. From imaginative heists to underground feasts, these sly escapades deliver heart-pounding excitement while reminding us that brains can triumph over brawn. And all that can be found in Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox – it’s a whirlwind of cunning, courage and chaos!
55 years ago, on the 12 September 1970, the children’s author Roald Dahl published a fantastic story of ingenious cunning featuring the most wily and astute creature, you may even have seen one for yourself, the gorgeous red fox. Foxes are shy, skittish and cunning creatures and in this junior fiction novel the Fantastic Mr Fox shows just how cunning and smart he can be when he outwits three greedy, mean and cruel farmers who want to kill him, and steals their food from right under their noses!
In Fantastic Mr Fox, young readers will discover one of literature’s most ingenious, and mischievous, heroes leading an energetic escapade through mud-splattered tunnels and farmyard feasts. With Dahl’s fun use of language and wonderful storytelling, accompanied by the signature charm of Quentin Blake’s illustrations, it proves that family, friendship and a dash of daring can outfox even the meanest of farmers. It has a fun plot that moves faster than a fox on the run.
Let’s meet the fantastic anthropomorphic Mr Fox. Mr Fox and his family; Mr & Mrs Fox and their children of four small foxes, live underground beneath a cosy hill surrounded by three well-stocked farms. Every night he sneaks out from his underground lair to steal the best chickens from Farmer Boggis, the plumpest ducks from Farmer Bunce and the most mosit and juicy turkeys (plus apples!) from Farmer Bean.
But the three farmers catch on, swear vengeance, and resort to guns, digging and downright nastiness to trap him. A countryside conflict begins – Fox vs Farmers. Undeterred, the cunning and intelligent Mr Fox burrows deep – down through soil, past roots and rocks, until he reaches the very heart of the farmers’ cellars. There, he rallies not only his own family but a community of badgers, moles, rabbits and hedgehogs for the feast of a lifetime. It’s an underground banquet that transforms desperate danger into triumphant celebration.
Overall, Fantastic Mr Fox is a splendiferous tale of greed versus nature, family and friendship. There’s barely a dull moment with every line bristling with humour, surprise and tension. It’s a pacy read that zips by like a getaway car. With lots of tension, scheming and some violence it might scare some young readers, but it is not too graphic or too scary (e.g. the farmers use guns and shoot Mr Fox’s tail off, Mr Fox kills chickens with a quick snap of his jaw etc.) – these events don’t go into any real detail and pass quickly with ease.
With its blend of high-stakes adventure, uproarious humour and enchanting illustrations, Fantastic Mr Fox stands out as a story of the ugliness of greed and the friendliness and unselfishness of Mr Fox. A fantastic short chapter book where young page turners will be routing for Mr Fox, the heroic father who is doing everything his can to rescue his family from mean farmers, gunfire, starvation and death. Young readers will race through its pages, paws twitching with anticipation, craving each new twist. And when they finish, they’ll carry Mr Fox’s indomitable spirit – a reminder that with wit, will and a little dirt under your nails, you can outsmart even the biggest bully.
While I personally didn’t find it as funny as some of Dahl’s other books, it is a very entertaining read, especially with Dahl’s wonderful use of language. The character of Mr Fox is a delightful character full of charm, trickery and cunning who clearly loves his family and friends and will do anything for them. His courage and resourcefulness brings the story to life.
Then of course are the illustrations littered throughout the book. Quentin Blake’s vivid sketches bring the characters out of the pages and into the imaginations of young readers – one look at Mr Fox’s sly grin, and you’ll be ready to join his band of merry diggers.
With themes of courage and resourcefulness, family and community bonding, as well as standing up to bullies, that resonate beneath the surface of this wonderful tale, readers will love it – young and old.
P.S. The last I heard, there were three farmers still camped outside a fox hole waiting for Mr Fox to show himself – I wonder if they are still there?
Rating: 4/5
RRP: £14.99 (Hardback) / £7.99 (Paperback) / £3.49 (Kindle)
For more information, visit www.roalddahl.com. Available to buy from Amazon here.
DISCLOSURE: All thoughts and opinions are my own. This review uses an affiliate link which I may receive a small commission from if you decide to purchase through the Amazon link (it helps with the running costs of the website).
Note: If you have a fox problem, please don’t try any of the efforts used by the three mean farmers in this book, visit fox-a-gon.co.uk for help and advice. Whilst some people consider foxes to be vermin they aren’t, and have never been, actually legally classified as vermin. For more information visit foxproject.org.uk/foxes-and-the-law
