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Fox Eyes
A fox causes consternation among the animals whose secrets he discovers. Little do they realize that because of the fox's secret, they have no cause for worry.
New illustrations
New illustrations
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1951
2 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Wise Brown
394 books1,233 followersMargaret Wise Brown wrote hundreds of books and stories during her life, but she is best known for Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny. Even though she died nearly 70 years ago, her books still sell very well.
Margaret loved animals. Most of her books have animals as characters in the story. She liked to write books that had a rhythm to them. Sometimes she would put a hard word into the story or poem. She thought this made children think harder when they are reading.
She wrote all the time. There are many scraps of paper where she quickly wrote down a story idea or a poem. She said she dreamed stories and then had to write them down in the morning before she forgot them.
She tried to write the way children wanted to hear a story, which often isn't the same way an adult would tell a story. She also taught illustrators to draw the way a child saw things. One time she gave two puppies to someone who was going to draw a book with that kind of dog. The illustrator painted many pictures one day and then fell asleep. When he woke up, the papers he painted on were bare. The puppies had licked all the paint off the paper.
Margaret died after surgery for a bursting appendix while in France. She had many friends who still miss her. They say she was a creative genius who made a room come to life with her excitement. Margaret saw herself as something else - a writer of songs and nonsense.
Margaret loved animals. Most of her books have animals as characters in the story. She liked to write books that had a rhythm to them. Sometimes she would put a hard word into the story or poem. She thought this made children think harder when they are reading.
She wrote all the time. There are many scraps of paper where she quickly wrote down a story idea or a poem. She said she dreamed stories and then had to write them down in the morning before she forgot them.
She tried to write the way children wanted to hear a story, which often isn't the same way an adult would tell a story. She also taught illustrators to draw the way a child saw things. One time she gave two puppies to someone who was going to draw a book with that kind of dog. The illustrator painted many pictures one day and then fell asleep. When he woke up, the papers he painted on were bare. The puppies had licked all the paint off the paper.
Margaret died after surgery for a bursting appendix while in France. She had many friends who still miss her. They say she was a creative genius who made a room come to life with her excitement. Margaret saw herself as something else - a writer of songs and nonsense.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 12, 2019
A fairly sweet and innocuous bedtime tale is turned into a horror story by Garth Williams' illustrations. Normally, his artwork is a delight - see Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, and a myriad of other children's books - BUT . . . WTF is going on with this one? The fox is drawn quite realistically:
But, then we have this rabbit, who when confronted with danger, chooses to run on two legs like a mischievous gingerbread boy:
And, by the time we get to this nightmarish bear with a human nose:
5
I wanted to toss the book across the room in frustration.
I understand that the book was originally published with different illustrations. Though I haven't seen them, I'd urge you to find a copy of that version. The artwork CANNOT be worse than this stuff.
But, then we have this rabbit, who when confronted with danger, chooses to run on two legs like a mischievous gingerbread boy:
And, by the time we get to this nightmarish bear with a human nose:
5I wanted to toss the book across the room in frustration.
I understand that the book was originally published with different illustrations. Though I haven't seen them, I'd urge you to find a copy of that version. The artwork CANNOT be worse than this stuff.
April 14, 2022
Fox Eyes, illustrated by Jean Charlot
A wandering fox sees many things during the course of his stroll in this picture-book from author Margaret Wise Brown, creator of such childhood classics as Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny . He sees a den of opossums "playing possum," a rabbit frozen in a field, a squirrel hiding his nuts, a bear visiting his store of honey, a dog burying her bone, a toad camouflaged in a tree, and two children awake, when they are supposed to be napping. Although his spying "fox eyes" throw those creatures he has been observing into pandemonium, the fox himself returns home to a peaceful sleep, for, as the narrator informs us, "a fox can never remember the next day what he has seen the night before..."
A fascinating story, one which draws upon the theme of a fox's disquieting effect, in its depiction of how the other animals react to his vulpine spying, Fox Eyes presents an unusual idea, with its conclusion that foxes do not remember what they see, from one day to the next. I don't think I have ever encountered that notion elsewhere, and it made me wonder whether the author was attempting to communicate the idea that foxes, although they have great significance to other species, somehow preserve an independence from and indifference to those others. Whatever the case may be, I found the narrative here only middling, in terms of interest and engagement. The artwork, on the other hand, was striking. I had the good fortune to track down an edition with the original illustrations, done by Jean Charlot. There is also a later edition, from the 1970s, with artwork by Garth Williams.
The visuals here were quite interesting, graphically, with a limited color palette - just maroon, green and black - and stylized figures. The text itself is rendered in the same maroon hue as the fox. Each two-page spread features text and fox on one side, and a full-page depiction of the animals being observed on the other. Many of those depictions have a black or green background, which really makes them stand out. My favorite spread was probably the one with the tree toad:
This is a beautiful book, the first one I have seen that is illustrated by Jean Charlot. I will definitely have to track down more of his work!
A wandering fox sees many things during the course of his stroll in this picture-book from author Margaret Wise Brown, creator of such childhood classics as Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny . He sees a den of opossums "playing possum," a rabbit frozen in a field, a squirrel hiding his nuts, a bear visiting his store of honey, a dog burying her bone, a toad camouflaged in a tree, and two children awake, when they are supposed to be napping. Although his spying "fox eyes" throw those creatures he has been observing into pandemonium, the fox himself returns home to a peaceful sleep, for, as the narrator informs us, "a fox can never remember the next day what he has seen the night before..."
A fascinating story, one which draws upon the theme of a fox's disquieting effect, in its depiction of how the other animals react to his vulpine spying, Fox Eyes presents an unusual idea, with its conclusion that foxes do not remember what they see, from one day to the next. I don't think I have ever encountered that notion elsewhere, and it made me wonder whether the author was attempting to communicate the idea that foxes, although they have great significance to other species, somehow preserve an independence from and indifference to those others. Whatever the case may be, I found the narrative here only middling, in terms of interest and engagement. The artwork, on the other hand, was striking. I had the good fortune to track down an edition with the original illustrations, done by Jean Charlot. There is also a later edition, from the 1970s, with artwork by Garth Williams.
The visuals here were quite interesting, graphically, with a limited color palette - just maroon, green and black - and stylized figures. The text itself is rendered in the same maroon hue as the fox. Each two-page spread features text and fox on one side, and a full-page depiction of the animals being observed on the other. Many of those depictions have a black or green background, which really makes them stand out. My favorite spread was probably the one with the tree toad:
This is a beautiful book, the first one I have seen that is illustrated by Jean Charlot. I will definitely have to track down more of his work!
February 26, 2019
Fox Eyes, illustrated by Garth Williams
"There was once a spy, a red fox who came to spy on the opossums." So begins this tale of a fox who observes the animals around him over the course of the day, throwing all of them into a panic, as they imagine what this vulpine character might do with the knowledge of their various hiding places. The fox, in the meantime, forgets all about what he has seen, sleeping peacefully that night...
Originally published in 1951, with artwork by Jean Charlot, Margaret Wise Brown's Fox Eyes was republished in 1977, with new artwork by Garth Williams, celebrated for his illustrations for the Little House books, and such titles as The Cricket in Times Square . Although a lovely book, one with delightful depictions of the entire animal cast, somehow this later edition didn't quite match the earlier one for me, in aesthetic appeal. I'm surprised by this, as I usually greatly appreciate and enjoy Williams' work, but there was just something so unusual and striking about Charlot's original illustrations, that this edition couldn't compare. Tastes vary, of course, and this is still a charming version, if it is the only one the readers can obtain. Recommended to young fox lovers, and to Garth Williams fans.
"There was once a spy, a red fox who came to spy on the opossums." So begins this tale of a fox who observes the animals around him over the course of the day, throwing all of them into a panic, as they imagine what this vulpine character might do with the knowledge of their various hiding places. The fox, in the meantime, forgets all about what he has seen, sleeping peacefully that night...
Originally published in 1951, with artwork by Jean Charlot, Margaret Wise Brown's Fox Eyes was republished in 1977, with new artwork by Garth Williams, celebrated for his illustrations for the Little House books, and such titles as The Cricket in Times Square . Although a lovely book, one with delightful depictions of the entire animal cast, somehow this later edition didn't quite match the earlier one for me, in aesthetic appeal. I'm surprised by this, as I usually greatly appreciate and enjoy Williams' work, but there was just something so unusual and striking about Charlot's original illustrations, that this edition couldn't compare. Tastes vary, of course, and this is still a charming version, if it is the only one the readers can obtain. Recommended to young fox lovers, and to Garth Williams fans.
March 5, 2009
Fox Eyes, by Margaret Wise Brown, was a very unsettling book with only a flash of humor at the end. It tells the story of a fox who spies on the other animals, all of whom he lets know that he is watching them. The other animals are hugely frightened by the watching fox. This bothered me so much I doubted the wisdom of reading it to my daughter who, while lacking words to speak, understands a great deal.
I liked the book for myself, however, in the same way that I like other books that set my spine on edge for one reason or another. Adults, take note! Read this book on a dark autumn night when the wind is blowing, and enjoy the experience of being a little unsettled.
I liked the book for myself, however, in the same way that I like other books that set my spine on edge for one reason or another. Adults, take note! Read this book on a dark autumn night when the wind is blowing, and enjoy the experience of being a little unsettled.
March 13, 2024
3.5 stars? A fox causes consternation by spying on the secrets of his neighbors. The weird cover art is almost indicative of the tone, here: Williams's illustrations are desaturated neutrals and shadows shot through with the distinctive red of the fox, a delightful contrast; but his fidelity is slippery, a little comic, a little uncanny, despite the fluffy, soft textures. MWB's depiction of the world and its secrets is evocative in that simple, precise, playful way she has: "Even his rabbit smell was frozen to no smell, as he crouched there, invisible as something that does not move or smell or look like much." Her endings are often surprising, and this is no exception. An inadvertent trickster, the foolish, cunning fox settles down with his secrets and forgets them posthaste. A weird one! It feels a little off-kilter, but intentionally so.
I wish I could read the Charlot edition, since I loved his work so much in Two Little Trains; from the few spreads I could find, it has a totally different atmosphere, minimalistic line illustrations of the secrets, the fox's changing face a bold, saturated splotch of color in reaction to each one.
I wish I could read the Charlot edition, since I loved his work so much in Two Little Trains; from the few spreads I could find, it has a totally different atmosphere, minimalistic line illustrations of the secrets, the fox's changing face a bold, saturated splotch of color in reaction to each one.
August 1, 2019
I had the opportunity to visit with a friend and check out a few boxes of children's books she had kept from her childhood and her son's. The books are quite old and many are out of print, so it was a wonderful chance to revisit with some stories I read when I was young and to discover others I'd never seen before.
August 25, 2020
This book is a children's book that would be best read to 1st graders-5th graders. The story follows a fox that spy's on the other animals. Teachers could use this in a lesson and have students pick an animal from the book and list at least three interesting facts about the animal.
December 24, 2022
It's about a fox that spies on other animals. It's cute and the animal drawings are excellent. But when it comes to giving the animals emotional faces, it's a little creepy, like this cover. Anyway, it's a nice book.
February 19, 2025
I love this book! I'm not sure why, but the style that this story was written in really appeals to me. It almost has a wistful, mysterious aura about it. I would have this book in my classroom for the educational aspect of it, as well as for the fact that it is a nice story about animals.
February 10, 2018
A fun childrens book for fans of Margaret Wise Brown and Garth Williams.
July 3, 2019
An interesting story, with beautiful Garth Williams illustrations, except for a disturbingly human face on the bear.
August 26, 2023
A precious classic for young soul, magic art!
February 29, 2024
Cute story, but I'm not convinced Garth Williams has ever seen a bear before.
April 3, 2024
My daughters favorite.. Whiskerchew!
January 24, 2026
I got this book because I love the art of Garth Williams... but the artwork wasn't enough to save the book. I'll pass it on, but we were not impressed.
November 10, 2019
What a stupid book. The eeriness of it lends itself to an interesting conclusion, but instead it's hokey. Along the way is poor writing: ". . .as he crouched there, invisible as something that does not move or smell or look like much," and annoying repetition. Then there are the children casually not sleeping. Being casually disobedient (never really addressed). Then all the animals panic and, well, I don't want to spoil the ending. But it doesn't live up to the rest of the story's tone. It's disappointing. And the illustrations are a little crazy-eyed.
March 11, 2011
If you are a Margaret Wise Brown (Goodnight Moon) lover, then Fox Eyes will not disappoint. It is a lovely little story about a fox who sees everything and knows all of the animals' hiding places and secrets. But he is an aging fox, so there is only one problem to his knowing all their secrets: "...the fox could never remember the next day what he had seen the day before.... (Turn the page)
But no one knows that but the fox." :)Charming illustrations.
But no one knows that but the fox." :)Charming illustrations.
December 10, 2015
I think this book is okay, didn't really like it or found a point to it. It is about a fox who is peaking at what everyone is doing around him. They all feel like he is going to do something bad or take something away from him so they become paranoid but the fox goes about his business and ends up falling asleep. I would not read this book to kids because the book is long and children can lose their focus.
October 4, 2016
The subject (a fox) and the illustrator (Garth Williams) make this book appealing on the surface. Unfortunately, the story itself plods along, with no real humor or purpose. It's a typical "animal wanders around and meets other animals" tale, but with none of the whimsical magic needed to make it memorable.
July 14, 2008
Whiskerchew! A sweet classic from the author of Goodnight Moon. A relaxing bedtime read with a cute concept -- the fox who sees everything.
January 14, 2011
this book is abuot
May 9, 2012
Most of the animals run away from the fox. W.
October 28, 2012
I have the 1977 edition of this hardback back with the illustrations by Garth Williams.
A neat look back at Margaret Wise Brown's work and why her books are a mainstay in children's literature.
A neat look back at Margaret Wise Brown's work and why her books are a mainstay in children's literature.
February 20, 2014
One of the funniest books I've ever read. I'm not sure how this one slipped under the radar for so long.
January 21, 2016
Fox is everywhere. He sees where everyone hids and hids their special items. What will the animals do?
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews