Crazy Like a Fox: A Simile Story

by Loreen Leedy

Overview

Rufus the fox is up to something— find out why he's acting so crazy in this clever simile story.

All night, he's been sleeping like a log. When the sun rises, he feels as fresh as a daisy. In a story told entirely with similes, Rufus sneaks up and startles his friend Babette, and leads her on a wild chase through the woods. 

Perfect for teaching figurative language, this brightly-illustrated picture book includes the definition of a simile, as well as a brief introduction to idioms and cliches— and examples on every page of different sayings and similes. 

Loreen Leedy's zany illustrations depic the figurative sayings in literal ways— a wooden fox sleeping like a log, a yellow and black striped sheep who's as mad as a hornet— to bring home the meanings of the expressions.

Perfect for kids studying creative writing, or English language learners who may not be familiar with common but less literal sayings, Crazy Like a Fox will make readers happy as a clam— and help them incorporate similes into their own writing.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823422487
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	09/15/2009
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 10.60(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Loreen Leedy has been writing and illustrating picture books since she was 25 years old. She is the author of numerous books for children, including 2 X 2=Boo, Seeing Symmetry, and Amazing Plant Powers: How Plants Fly, Fight, Hide, Hunt and Change the World. Her books have been ALA Notable books, Kirkus Reviews Best Books, and Booklist Editors Choices. Loreen lives in central Florida. Find her online at www.loreenleedy.com/

Editorial Reviews

* "As welcome as springtime to teachers, aspiring writers and any who appreciate wordplay."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"Vivid illustrations, filled with movement and wide-eyed creatures, will entertain readers. A pleasing addition to any collection."—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

K-Gr 2

Rufus, a spunky fox in suspenders, rudely startles his friend Babette, a lamb, by roaring "like...a lion." She gets "mad...as a hornet" and chases him, and he eventually leads her to her surprise birthday party. Leedy relates this narrative entirely through similes. Her illustrations emphasize the comparisons as each protagonist is amusingly transformed from one object into another. Children may participate by guessing the upcoming change at each page turn. Apart from the main narrative, animal spectators offer up alternative descriptions of events as they unfold. Leedy includes an explanation of this figure of speech and an invitation for readers to create their own similes. Her vivid illustrations, filled with movement and wide-eyed creatures, will entertain readers. A pleasing addition to any collection.-Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI

School Library Journal

Not everyone can take the most well-known and cliched similes in the English language and turn them into a story that will hold the interest of young readers, but Leedy has done just that. Rufus is a fox on a mission. He sneaks into Babette the sheep's yard like a thief in the night, roaring like a lion until she is shaking like a leaf. Then the chase is on: The two swim a river (cold as ice), climb into a cave (dark as night) and finally step into the light . . . of a surprise party for Babette. The brilliantly colored digital illustrations cleverly depict the similes-when Rufus is as fast as lightning, his head perches atop a thunderbolt, and when Babette is as angry as a hornet, her head adorns the body of the insect. Meanwhile, their friends-a sort of Greek chorus-comment on the action, incorporating more similes into the text. Includes a thorough definition of a simile and ideas for writing a similar simile story. As welcome as springtime to teachers, aspiring writers and any who appreciate wordplay. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews