This American folk song about a fox’s raid on a poultry house in town is illustrated in lush detail by Spier based on extensive sketches he made on a field trip to southern New England. The result is a lively mixture of realism and humorous fantasy. The book is filled with details of grinning foxes, startled geese, the autumn countryside in moonlight, shocks of corn drying in the field, a covered bridge, tobacco drying in barns, an old graveyard, the town square with its civil war memorial inscribed with the town’s old family names, names like like Andrews, Jones, Perkins, and Giggle Gaggle. Giggle Gaggle, a name that also appears on a tombstone in the cemetery, because old mother Giggle-Gaggle is the citizen that raise the alarm about the raid, causing the fox to get out of town fast, and home to his family feast in a den furnished remarkably like those of the town’s residents. Wonderfully detailed ink sketches in black and white alternate with vivid water-colored ones. All in all, this is a bravo production. ( )

Folk song set to lovely illustrations. Use when introducing folk music ( )

The book had an interesting concept, considering illustration, where every other page was in color and the pages in between were drawn in just black and white. There would be beautiful landscapes of the New England Fall landscape, trees with leaves of all shades, from red to orange to yellow. Then there would be entire pages of black and white. This seemed odd when reading about the fox leaving his home and stealing the goose and the duck from the farmer. But as the story progressed to the fox returning home to feed his family with the food, you see the other side to this story. How the fox is simply providing for his family, like any father would. This twist questions the emotions felt about the fox, having him going from a sneaky predator to a providing father. The pages in black and white brought on an ominous, sinister tone to the story, which was actually an old song, while the pages in color would seem to pop even more climactically and vividly. The color also added warmth to the fox when he is sitting by the fire, as his children nibbled on the bones after the meal, there stomachs' full from their father's hunt. It was a surprise to myself, personally, when the fox returned home and we saw that he was providing for his family and all of his children and I felt torn on whether or not he was the bad guy. ( )

This book, "The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night, An Old Song" illustrated by Peter Spier, is about a fox who is out hunting for food. He catches a goose and a duck to bring back to his family. The owners of the goose are very upset because their goose has gone missing. They try to stop the fox but are unsuccessful. I like the illustrations in this book because they are simple and follow the words very well. The illustrations are colorful when appropriate and dull at other times. I like this because it helps highlight the words and emphasizes the story. This book can teach readers that working hard is very important. The family of foxes would have had no dinner if the father fox would not have went hunting. I think anything that is earned is better than something that is given. This book can show children that taking responsibility is of the most important skills they can learn.

Not a quick read! First I recommend you read the music in the back, if you know how, or at least find a video on youtube, so you know how to read the text. Then I recommend you read the text aloud, in that rhythm, singing if you can, or at least chanting.

Meanwhile, there's *lots* of detail in the pictures. Looks like someone's going to get a cutter for Christmas - see the page from the catalog on the second 'grease my chin' page, and note all the details that signify this is Autumn. Note the text on the Statue in the Town Square, and that the memorial is specifically for Civil War dead, not a generic statue. Note that the Giggle-Gaggles and all their poultry live in town (at least on the edge) - they're not actual farmers.

What is *your* favorite detail?

I do wonder about one image - I see syrup buckets hanging from some trees on an early page. But syrup is drawn in early spring, generally March. And it wouldn't be wise, I would think, to leave the buckets exposed in all weather. Do any of you know more about syruping??

I highly recommend the book. Maybe not to buy, but even if you have to beg permission to read it at the library instead of taking it home, do so. Imo, it deserved the Caldecott honor. 1962 was a very good year. ( )