The Cockerel and the Fox retold and illustrated by Helen Fox

Pride comes before a fall ...

Chanticleer is the farm rooster. He is handsome, proud, and loved but he is also vain. He has never seen a fox until one day : "It was Mr Fox - reddish, doggish and hungry for his supper."

Fox is a cunning fellow, as you would expect. He flatters Chanticleer and snatches him by the neck. Chanticleer's wife, Pertelote, raises the alarm. The farm animals give chase. It is a wild stampede.

Image source: Visual languages and Analysis Kat Bayliss

Luckily all of this running has given Chanticleer time to think. When the farm animals stop at the edge of the wood afraid to continue Chanticleer says:

"I have to admit you are a clever fellow. Such bravery and wit! It's such a shame these lowly beasts do not realise. You should tell them what a fine trick you played on me. What a cunning plot you devised. After all they think that I am the cleverest creature in all the kingdom."

The fox opened his mouth to speak and ...

"Beware of false flattery ... now there is a moral worth remembering."

Blurb: "This tale, of 12th century French origin, has been told many times through the years, most notably by Chaucer in The Nun's Priest's Tale."

There are also Aesop versions of this story - the reverse story in The fox and the crow; and The Dog, the Cockerel and the Fox.

The Cockerel and the Fox by Helen Ward was originally published in 2002 but it is still available in paperback (2020).

This book is filled with rare breeds of chickens, goats, ducks, pigs, and cattle. I loved reading so many beautiful names such as Gold Partridge Dutch (bantam); Silver Appleyard Drake; Belted Galloway (my favourite breed of cattle); Soay (sheep from islands off the west coast of Scotland); and the Suffolk Punch (horse). I really appreciate the detailed work involved in the way Helen Ward accurately draws so many diverse farm animals. Her lists of rare breeds are such a bonus and are are sure to foster curiosity in your young reading companion. 

Helen Ward is a fabulous illustrator. If you are not familiar with her work try to find some of these:

The Tin Forest

Henry and the Fox by Chris Wormell

"This is Henry, and Henry is a coward."

"Everyone thought poor Henry was hopeless. 

He only had one friend in the whole world: 

a bantam named Buffy."

Buffy is a such a good friend and she is a problem solver. She thinks of a clever way to fool the other hens and show Henry is brave. She takes some washing from the farm clothes line and uses it to make a fox. A sock filled with grass and leaves becomes a tail and a baggy red jumper, from a distance, looks just like the body of the fox hiding in the nettles. 

It is a brilliant plan except there is a problem. Rhoda overhears the pair of friends. She 'spills the beans' to all other hens. What none of them realise is the jumper has become a warm inviting bed in the summer sunshine. Someone has come along and curled up and fallen asleep on this inviting bed. Yes you are right the someone is a real fox. Henry leaps onto the jumper and without realising attacks the fox.

"Poor Henry got a terrible shock when the red woolly jumper turned in a real fox. He opened his beak to scream, only that's not what came out. What came out was a glorious "Cock-a-doodle-doo! right in the fox's face. The fox ran for his life."

Henry and the Fox was published in 2006 and so sadly it is out of print but you may find a copy in a library. The illustrations showing the rural setting, stone fence, old farm house and meadow are wonderful. They reminded me of John Joe and the Big Hen by Martin Waddell illustrated by Paul Howard. Here is the web site for Chris Wormell.  I would pair this book with these:

Albert and Lila

Banjo and Ruby Red