PBT Redux #26 - Flossie and the Fox

Picture Book: Flossie & the Fox
Author: Patricia McKissack
Illustrator: Rachel Isadora
Summary: In rich dialect, McKissack offers a folktale from her story-telling grandfather. Big Mama asks young Flossie to deliver some eggs to the neighboring farm. Flossie begins her journey wondering what a fox looks like. When Fox introduces himself hoping for the eggs, he is puzzled that the little girl isn't afraid. Flossie insists she'll not be afraid until Fox offers proof that he is indeed a fox. Fox's pride is hurt so he lists all the reasons he is a fox. For each argument, Flossie insists that Fox is instead another animal. Eventually, Flossie lures Fox to the road where a neighbor's hound is waiting. As Fox runs from the hound, Flossie confesses that she recognized Fox all along. She heads toward the neighbor's farm with the eggs, having outfoxed the fox.

Hanna’s Comments: I love a tale with a smart female at the center! Her youth is an additional benefit. Even young children will identify with her. Consider steering your audience’s conversation towards issues of bravery and intelligence in the face of evil. Then take Fox's point of view and talk about how temptation and pride lure us into trouble. Flossie handles her fears cunningly, but the fox’s greed and pride tempt him to wander into a dangerous situation. 
Publisher & Date of Publication: Dial Books, 1986
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up
Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: Eve’s conversation with the snake (Genesis 3); Be strong and courageous… for the Lord is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9)
Idea(s) for Application: Consider using this picture book when teaching the story of Eve’s temptation by the snake in Genesis. Draw connections between the fox’s pride and Eve’s pride. Praise Flossie’s self-determination and cleverness.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 317

Picture Book: The Sneetches and Other Stories

Author & Illustrator: Dr. Seuss

Summary: The Star-Belly Sneetches brag about their stars and look down upon the Plain–Belly Sneetches, excluding them from games, parties, and feasts. Then Sylvester McMonkey McBean shows up with a contraption to put stars on the bellies of the Plain-Belly Sneetches for a low price of course. All pay the price and enter the machine. The Star-Bellied Sneetches react with concern that they may not know who has the natural star-bellies. Just in time McBean convinces them that “Belly stars are no longer in style,” and offers, for a price of course, to remove their stars. This pattern repeats until none of the Sneetches are quite sure how they started and all their money is spent. McBean departs with a laugh, “They never will learn.” However, the Sneetches do learn. They decide that “Sneetches are Sneetches. And no kind of Sneetch is the best.”

Hanna’s Comments: I didn’t dare try to summarize a Seuss book with clever rhyme although I was tempted. Many folks the world over would agree that Seuss was a genius of whimsical verse and manufactured words. Today is the birthday of the late Dr. Seuss, born Theodor Geisel, one of my heroes, so I’ll be offering his books all week. This story has much to offer children and adults in faith communities because it humorously offers some of our most frustrating human qualities: our tendency toward acquiring status, creating cliques, and jealousy. McBean, like so many humans, is ready to take advantage of our faults. He gets rich off the Sneetches, but the Sneetches do learn in the end. If only it was that easy for us humans.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Random House, 1961

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 5 and up, K and up

# of Pages: 25

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Tablet, There is a video of this story on Youtube.com and in the video collection Green Eggs and Ham and Other Stories (also includes The Zax and Too Many Daves). Random House has created a website full of Dr. Seuss activities and information. Here’s the link: www.seussville.com.

PBT Category: Classic

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: aspirations/dreams, beauty, belonging, change, competition, conformity, consumerism/consumption/riches, coveting/envy/jealousy, differences, exclusion/inclusion, humanity, identity/names, judgment/judges/judging, prejudice, pride, race relations/racism, religious differences, segregation, social justice, suspicion

Scripture Connections: You shall not covet anything that is your neighbor’s (Exodus 20:17); judge not, and you will not be judged (Luke 6:37); do not judge by appearances (John 7:24); so where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder (James 3:16)

Idea(s) for Application: Use this picture book or its video format in a program for adults or children that tackles issues such as status, exclusivity, division, or marginalization in response to our Holy Scriptures which direct us to refrain from judging others. Also, for adult or youth programming, consider checking out The Gospel According to Dr. Seuss by James W. Kemp.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 306

Picture Book: Flossie and the Fox

Author: Patricia McKissack

Illustrator: Rachel Isadora

Summary: In rich dialect, McKissack offers a folktale from her story-telling grandfather. When Big Mama asks young Flossie to deliver some eggs to the neighboring farm, Flossie sets off toward the neighbor’s house with a basket of eggs. Flossie wonders what a fox looks like. When Fox approaches interested in the eggs, Flossie insists she'll not be afraid until Fox offers proof that he is indeed a fox. Fox's pride is hurt so he lists all the reasons he is a fox. For each argument, Flossie insists that Fox is instead another animal. Eventually, Flossie lures the fox to the road where a neighbor's hound is waiting. As Fox runs from the hound, Flossie confesses that she recognized Fox all along. Flossie heads toward the neighbors farm with the eggs, having outfoxed the fox.

Hanna’s Comments: I love a tale with a smart female at the center! Her youth is an additional benefit. Even young children will identify with her. Consider steering your audience’s conversation towards issues of bravery and intelligence in the face of evil. Take Fox's point of view and talk about how temptation and pride lure us into trouble. Flossie handles her fears cunningly, but the fox’s greed and pride tempt him to wander into a dangerous situation. 

Publisher & Date of Publication: Dial Books, 1986

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Audio download, An amateur video is on Youtube.com.

PBT Category: Pre 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: arguing, bravery/courage, challenges, communication, confidence, danger, enemies, evil, fear, identity/names, journeys/migrations/pilgrimages/quests, pride, survival, suspicion, wisdom

Scripture Connections: Eve’s conversation with the snake (Genesis 3); be strong and courageous… for the Lord is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9)

Idea(s) for Application: Consider using this picture book when teaching the story of Eve’s temptation by the snake in Genesis. Draw connections between the fox’s pride and Eve’s pride. Praise Flossie’s self-determination and cleverness.