Chanticleer and the Fox

Chanticleer is a magnificent rooster who rules over a small farm. When a sly fox arrives and flatters Chanticleer about his beautiful singing voice, the rooster is tricked into closing his eyes to crow, allowing the fox to snatch him. However, Chanticleer eventually uses his own cleverness to trick the fox into opening his mouth to speak, allowing the rooster to fly to safety. SENSITIVE TOPICS: The book contains mild peril as the fox captures Chanticleer in his jaws. This is a secular adaptation of a classic literary tale, and the resolution is hopeful and triumphant, rewarding quick thinking over vanity. EMOTIONAL ARC: The story begins with high confidence and pride, dips into sudden fear and danger during the capture, and concludes with a satisfying sense of relief and a hard-earned lesson in humility. IDEAL READER: A 6-year-old who is beginning to experience 'show-off' behavior at school or who may be overly trusting of others and needs a gentle, metaphorical introduction to discernment. PARENT TRIGGER: A parent might reach for this after seeing their child fall for a 'dare' or after witnessing the child get into trouble because they were showing off for friends. PARENT PREP: The language is slightly formal and sophisticated (in keeping with its Chaucerian roots), so parents should be prepared to explain words like 'daunted' or 'flattery' to younger listeners. AGE EXPERIENCE: Younger children (4-5) will focus on the bright illustrations and the animal chase. Older children (6-8) will better grasp the irony and the specific moral lesson regarding pride and the danger of falling for false praise. DIFFERENTIATOR: Unlike many fables that can feel moralistic or dry, Cooney's scratchboard illustrations and the rhythmic, elevated prose give this a timeless, sophisticated feel that respects a child's intelligence.