Parents' Guide to Fantastic Mr. Fox

Book Roald Dahl Animals 1970
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Common Sense Media Review

Barbara Schultz By Barbara Schultz , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 7+

Clever animals outwit farmers in funny, fantastical tale.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 7+?

Any Positive Content?

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age 6+

Based on 6 parent reviews

 

 

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age 7+

Based on 19 kid reviews

Kids say that this book is an entertaining and clever tale about a cunning fox who steals from three foolish farmers, but it contains some dark themes and moments that may not be suitable for very young children. The humor and imaginative storytelling are highlighted, although some parents note concerns over language and moral ambiguity regarding the characters' actions.language concernsdark themesimaginative storytellinghumormoral ambiguity
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What's the Story?

In Roald Dahl's funny and witty FANTASTIC MR. FOX, the title character is a brave and clever hero, who steals food from three bumbling and rude farmers to feed his family. Tired of having their goods stolen, Boggis the chicken farmer, Bunce the duck and goose farmer, and Bean the turkey and apple farmer join forces to find and kill Mr. Fox. They discover the opening to the fox family's den, and when Mr. Fox scampers down the hole, they manage to shoot off Mr. Fox's tale. With the farmers waiting outside the hole, and digging deeper to reach Mr. Fox, the foxes also keep digging, hoping to find a passage to safety.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 6 ):
Kids say ( 19 ):

This animal adventure by beloved author Roald Dahl is short and sweet, featuring mean bumbling villains (farmers Boggis, Bunce, and Bean) and a dashing hero in Mr. Fox. The story will charm readers with its devoted families of furry animals and a subterranean world full of other interesting creatures. There's also just enough suspense to make the story exciting. Young readers will root for the fox family and laugh at the farmers' lame moves. A bonus: Some editions of this short novel are packaged with more Dahl animal tales.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Roald Dahl portrays the animals in Fantastic Mr. Fox. Are Mr. Fox and his friends similar to the animals in his other books?

  • The foxes sit at a table to eat. Can you think of some other things the animals do in this story that are more like what people do?

  • Have you seen the movie version of Fantastic Mr. Fox? If so, how is the movie different from the book, and which do you like better?

Book Details

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