Scan barcode
A review by jordantaylor
The Adventures of Reddy Fox by Thornton W. Burgess
3.0
Thornton W. Burgess is best known as the author of the children's classic books about Peter Rabbit, or Peter Cottontail. He wrote a series of 20 children's books set in Peter Rabbit's forest, and this was the first, originally published in 1913.
Don't let the distant publication year stop you from reading this gem of children's literature. It certainly still deserves to be read! The book would be great for introducing young readers to longer books. The chapters are each about 3 pages long. I can also see this being an excellent read-aloud. Burgess also writes some character's speech in Southern accents, which would probably be confusing for beginning readers, who won't read something like "Ah'm gwan home" as "I'm going home."
This is the tale of Reddy Fox, who grows up in the forest in the care of Grandma Fox. Burgess doesn't hesitate to make his main character flawed and even a little... bad. Reddy would probably be cast as the villain if written from any of the other forest animal's points of view. Gentle and lovable Peter Rabbit reveals that Reddy had once tried to eat him, and we see Grandma Fox chase Peter Rabbit and try to kill him.
Reddy is arrogant, boastful, and selfish. He kills another animal for absolutely no reason but to show off how clever he is. He brags endlessly and doesn't seem to have any friends at all, he's annoyed the other woodland creatures so badly.
And yet, there is definitely a flashy likability about him, despite how ridiculous he is.
The book is surprisingly exciting. In many children's books, the sense of danger is often toned down, and the characters don't actually experience life-and-death moments. That is not the case with Thornton Burgess.
Reddy experiences plenty of danger (all of it due to his own foolish bragging and arrogance). He is hunted, shot and injured, must hide from gunmen, and more. Sometimes, it seems impossible that he will get away.
A clever little gem that has a well deserved place in classic children's literature.
Don't let the distant publication year stop you from reading this gem of children's literature. It certainly still deserves to be read! The book would be great for introducing young readers to longer books. The chapters are each about 3 pages long. I can also see this being an excellent read-aloud. Burgess also writes some character's speech in Southern accents, which would probably be confusing for beginning readers, who won't read something like "Ah'm gwan home" as "I'm going home."
This is the tale of Reddy Fox, who grows up in the forest in the care of Grandma Fox. Burgess doesn't hesitate to make his main character flawed and even a little... bad. Reddy would probably be cast as the villain if written from any of the other forest animal's points of view. Gentle and lovable Peter Rabbit reveals that Reddy had once tried to eat him, and we see Grandma Fox chase Peter Rabbit and try to kill him.
Reddy is arrogant, boastful, and selfish. He kills another animal for absolutely no reason but to show off how clever he is. He brags endlessly and doesn't seem to have any friends at all, he's annoyed the other woodland creatures so badly.
And yet, there is definitely a flashy likability about him, despite how ridiculous he is.
The book is surprisingly exciting. In many children's books, the sense of danger is often toned down, and the characters don't actually experience life-and-death moments. That is not the case with Thornton Burgess.
Reddy experiences plenty of danger (all of it due to his own foolish bragging and arrogance). He is hunted, shot and injured, must hide from gunmen, and more. Sometimes, it seems impossible that he will get away.
A clever little gem that has a well deserved place in classic children's literature.