Hattie and the Fox
By Mem Fox
The Story
A watchful hen named Hattie spots something worrying in the bushes and tries to warn the other farm animals, one by one, as a fox creeps closer.
Why It's Special
For the kid who loves calling out what everyone else missed, Hattie's the hen who notices first and says so, again and again.
- Big idea: Paying attention matters — and so does speaking up, even when nobody else seems worried yet.
- Vibes: Building suspense, repetitive and rhythmic, farmyard cozy with a jolt of alarm.
Perfect For Kids Who
- love repeated phrases they can join in on
- enjoy farm animal stories
- respond well to building suspense with a satisfying payoff
- like to guess what happens next
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & noticing: What did Hattie see in the bushes first?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think Hattie felt when nobody else seemed worried?
- Real-life connection: Have you ever noticed something before anyone else did? What did you do?
- Imagination: If you were a farm animal in the story, which one would you want to be, and why?
