Foxes are elusive and a bit mysterious. You’re lucky to catch a glimpse of them, but we know them to be smart and tricky. In stories they are always eluding captors by leading them around and around in circles. But what are they actually like? Are they actually that clever? The two non-fiction books will fill you in on the many interesting facts about how foxes live, eat and survive in the wild. These books are about two kinds of foxes, red foxes and arctic foxes. Read both and see what is the same and what’s different. In the stories, you’ll find foxes not just being clever, but intensely loyal as well. Both Pax and Fantastic Mr. Fox take care of those they love which makes them even more endearing. Be ready, though, both of those tales take place around war, and the men in these stories are well described by Sara Pennypacker when she calls them ‘war-sick’. It’s sometimes easy to tell if a character is good or bad, but when they are tricky like a fox, it’s a little more difficult and some would say more interesting. Is a fox who steals food a good guy? How about a fox that protects his family? What if they do both? But if you want to stick to just the tricks, Eric Carle’s story about Red Fox will be just the magic trick you’re looking for.