Fantastic Mr. Fox

The novel Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Donald Chaffin is a book many people have read that has also been made into a motion picture that was recently released.  The book is geared toward the older elementary students, ranging from late 3^rd grade to early 6^th grade.  The rating I would give Fantastic Mr. Fox would be 4.5 out of 5 stars. 

This novel describes a dilemma a family of foxes face once the father fox, Mr. Fox, is bring hunted by the three farmers he has stolen chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and cider from.  The fox family are cornered into their burrow and find the other burrowing families (the Badgers, Moles, Rabbits, and Weasels) who have also been stuck in the underground tunnels thanks to Mr. Rabbit.  Together, the animals secretly rob the farmers by burrowing under their stashes of food and create a sufficient community of underground family. 

This book discusses many pertinent lessons about stealing, sharing, cooperation, and justice.  Although the farmers are malicious about hunting the foxes, stealing is not really the best option to teach children.  The largest apprehension I would have using this book in the classroom would be displaying a book where stealing is described as something that is permissible under certain conditions.  I believe that this is something children should not be taught- instead they need to know that a crime is a crime, no matter the outside circumstances. 

Fantastic Mr. Fox is somewhat mature for elementary school children, but some of the older students can grow from this book.  At some points in the book, especially as the farmers literally surround a hill with 108 men with guns and flashlights looking for a family of foxes, children can begin to grasp exaggeration and putting things in perspective.  As an outsider, is this amount of effort over the top or warranted by Mr. Fox’s persistent stealing?  Students have to think about these kinds of situations in life, especially in hypothetical situations.  It is valuable to decide if overreacting is worth possible outcomes or solutions to problems that can sometimes be out of your hands.

I would use this book in the classroom when discussing burrowing animals such as the ones mentioned above or speaking of the conservation of the environment these animals live in.  This novel could also be used when discussion fairness and justice and can truly open up a really great discussion about whether or not this behavior should be allowed.  Children could also learn to help people who are less fortunate than others, like animals that are cut off from their food supply.  Students can see the true desperation in this book when the animals are struggling to survive. 

Overall, this book would be useful in the classroom if a teacher can find a balance between the idea that stealing is never really allowed.  This book could be very effective in triggering thoughts of laws and justice in elementary school students.