Hattie and the Fox (1986), by Mem Fox, is a timeless parable. Hattie is a big black hen that notices oncoming danger, "Goodness gracious me! I can see a nose in the bushes!" Her barnyard companions react with exclamations but no actions. This story is nicely constructed for a very young reader—the rising action develops slowly. Hattie and the reader gradually see more of the emerging danger. This drama is soothed by the other barnyard animals' complacency. The kindergartener will quickly learn to "read" their responses. Illustrator Patricia Mullins' deep colors dampen the growing fear. She's places Hattie's friends in a variety of different poses when all she's got is the same repetitive text to work with.
I'm a little confused about the
ending, but it doesn't detract from the story. I think the animals are saved too easily from
the danger, but maybe this end is comforting. I wonder if we're observing post-traumatic stress on the
final page. This book is one of my favorites. The paperback
I own was published in 1990 as a Trumpet Club Special Edition.
