The Fox and the Stork
Usborne little board books Series
What’s inside...
Fox invites his friend Stork for dinner in order to play a joke on her. But Stork soon gets even in this charming retelling of the classic Aesop's Fable.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-8
Length
22 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
The Stork
Fox
Discussion points
How do you think the fox felt when the stork couldn’t eat from the flat plate?
Why do you think the stork decided to serve her meal in a tall jar?
What did both the fox and the stork learn about treating others at the end of the story?
If you were there, what advice would you give to the fox and the stork about being good friends?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to think about the feelings of the characters by asking how they would feel in similar situations.
Discuss the importance of kindness and empathy, relating them to real-life interactions your child might experience.
Use the story as a starting point to talk about the consequences of actions and the value of treating others as we would like to be treated.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy and understanding others' perspectives
Explanation: In 'The Fox and the Stork,' the fox initially tricks the stork by serving soup in a shallow bowl, which the stork cannot eat from due to her long bill. The stork later retaliates by serving the fox a meal in a narrow-necked jar, which the fox cannot access. This demonstrates how both characters experience discomfort from a lack of understanding.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to empathize with their peers by considering how their actions might feel to someone else and understanding different perspectives in social situations.
Example Lesson: Consequences of actions
Explanation: The story illustrates that actions have consequences, as seen when the stork decides to teach the fox a lesson in response to his initial trick. This helps children see how one's actions can lead to responses from others.
Real-World Application: This can teach children to think before they act and understand that their actions might lead to positive or negative consequences with friends and family.
Example Lesson: Importance of treating others with kindness
Explanation: Both the fox and the stork experience the negative effects of tricks played on them, which illustrates the unpleasant feelings associated with unfair treatment. The resolution emphasizes the importance of mutual respect and kindness.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by treating classmates and siblings with respect and fairness, fostering positive relationships.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving and resolution
Explanation: The way the stork addresses the fox's trick with a clever solution of her own shows problem-solving. The story concludes with both characters presumably learning to not trick each other again, suggesting conflict resolution.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to think of creative solutions to problems and understand the value of resolving conflicts in a respectful manner.