Old Granny Fox

I chose this book to use for reading instruction. The print is big and bold. Just the right number of words per page for a child starting chapter books. The book is easily decodable, with a very few sophosticated (but still decodable)words sprinkled in like undignified, contentment,conceit, to advance a childs vocabulary. Most important though, the story is really very entertaining. The reader quickly finds himself sympathizing with the poor hungry foxes. Granny has lots of important lessons to teach the younger fox about just how smart elders can be. A true delight.

A 1920 copyright book (with a few illustrations by Harrison Cady) presents charmingly told stories by a master storyteller. Reddy Fox learns many lessons in life from his Granny. Greed, humility, patience, selflessness, and other virtues and vices are revealed in timeless tales of the animals that inhabit the Green Meadow and Green Forest. There are 29 chapters, each about 6-7 pages long, in the Grosset & Dunlap edition. Each chapter begins with a short insightful poem. This is a good book to read to a 4-9 year old at bedtime. The pace of its stories are suitable for being read over several nights with chapters building upon prior events. As Granny Fox says, "It's what you do for others, Not what they do for you, That makes you feel so happy All through and through and through." - Cedric Richeson