I Follow the Fox

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Little Fox has gone missing in the park. The family search high and low but the teddy can’t be found. Then, one night, a beautiful fox calls at the window, and the young boy decides to follow her. They go on a magical winter adventure: moving through the city, past snowy meadows and icy rivers, until the boy realises the fox has led him to something special, and that she needs his help. Can the fox help him find his own beloved Little Fox?

English:

Add some speech / thought bubbles to every character on the first page of the story.
The story is written in the first person. Can you rewrite parts of it in the third person?
Can you find any similes or metaphors in this story (e.g. a moth to the flame). Can you think of any others?
Make a list of all the rhyming words in the book. Think of other words that rhyme with these.
Imagine the real fox could talk. What might it say to the boy? How might the boy respond?
Retell the story from the fox’s point of view.
Choose one of the illustrations and write a description of the setting.
Create some character profiles for the boy and the fox.
Write a newspaper article about the boy who lost and found his Little Fox.
Choose one of the other people on the first page and follow their story. Who are they? What might happen to them next?
Write a new story about the little boy. Where might he follow the fox to next?
Watch this video featuring the author / illustrator and think of some questions you would like to ask him:

Maths:

Compare the sizes of human and fox footprints. Can you also explore the footprints of other animals?
Use directional and positional language to describe a route from the boy to the fox?

Science:

Learn more about foxes and create a report to teach others about them.
Make a food chain / web that includes foxes.
This story is set in the winter. Explore how animals are adapted to living in cold environments.
Explore states of matter using snow, ice and water.
How do the seasons affect living things?

Computing:

Create an animation of a fox walking.
Design a game in which the boy has to move around an area to find Little Fox.
Use publishing software to create a ‘Missing Little Fox’ poster to encourage people to get in touch with the boy if they find his toy.

Design Technology:

Make a new ‘Little Fox’ soft toy for the boy.
Design a sledge to help the boy move around in winter.
Make a model shelter for the fox and her cub.
Make a 3D diorama of a snowy scene. Remember to include the boy and the fox.
Make some puppets (or masks) and use them to retell this story.
Design some clothing to keep the boy warm on a snowy night.

Art:

Look at the illustrations on the inside covers. How has the illustrator shown perspective? Could you use this technique in your own pictures? These images can also serve as inspiration for drawing the same scene at different times of day.
Look at photos of a location in the daytime and try to draw the same scene at night.
Scan the QR code at the back of the book and follow the tutorial to draw your own fox.
Create some silhouette pictures of animals against a snowy sky.
Draw, paint or make a collage of a fox.
Follow Rob Biddulph’s tutorial to draw your own realistic fox:

Music:

Compose some melodies for different points in the story (e.g. when the boy loses Little Fox, when he is following the real fox and when the fox cub is reunited with its mum).

Geography:

Make a map that shows the boy how to find Little Fox again.
How many different places are shown in the story?
Look at the illustrations and identify different human and physical geographical features.
How do people live in cold environments?

History:

Investigate people who have explored cold locations around the world.

Physical Education:

Can you try to move like a fox? Can you move like the boy when he is leaping and bounding?

Languages:

Learn some vocabulary for animals, weather and seasons.
Role play asking for directions with a friend.

PSHE:

Look at the illustrations and think of emotions vocabulary to describe how the boy and the fox are feeling at different points.
Have you ever lost something special? What happened? How did it make you feel?
If the boy asked you to help him find his Little Fox, what would you do?
Think of people and animals who help and guide us when we need support.