Faraway Fox
Both adults and children will be drawn into this story of a young fox who has been separated from his family and feels trapped among the neighborhoods, highways, and humans that surround him. As he reminisces about his forest home and his family, fox is unaware that a construction crew is working to create a wildlife preserve and highway underpass. This human-made “burrow” allows fox to pass safely under the busy highway and make his way toward a long-awaited reunion. The final page of the book provides an author’s note describing real-world examples of wildlife bridges and tunnels – a fascinating addition that prompts readers to revisit the story for another look.
Pennsylvania Center for the Book Awards
Book Activities & Discussion Ideas
This book provides an opportunity to talk to children about animal habitats. Prior to reading the story, adults can ask children about the animals they see and the habitats in which each animal lives. The fox in the story tells each thing he misses about his habitat. One idea for extending the story is to create a chart. On one side of the chart, an adult can write down the characteristics of fox’s home habitat, such as the presence of his family members, the shade trees, and prey to hunt. On the other side, children can help identify the characteristics of where fox lives now. Call children’s attention to the helpers in the story. What are they doing, and why? The author’s note in the back of the book provides actual examples of wildlife bridges and tunnels built for safe passage. Adults can also provide opportunities for children to pretend play with blocks, cars, and toy animals so that they can practice being helpers, too.
The author’s note in the back of this book provides a wonderful context for adults who are preparing to read this story with children. Adults can pose questions to children prior to reading the book, such as “Have you ever seen a wild animal near the road or close to where you live?” Adults can ask children to consider how those animals got to those locations and provide input on where their original homes might have been. It might be interesting to look at the author’s note with children prior to reading as well, to see if they are able to predict what might happen to the fox in the story. Children may need extra time to look closely at each page in the book, and adults can support their empathy, understanding, and interpretation of the story by asking children to describe what they see happening on each page.