Fox Plays Ball

Fox books

by Corey R. Tabor

The mischievous and fun-loving Fox is back in another humorous and surprising I Can Read, from Caldecott Honor and three-time Geisel Award–winning author-illustrator Corey Tabor.

Fox is ready to play ball!

So are Elephant, Rabbit, Bear…and Snail.

But who will win the game?

Genres: Picture Books, Sports, Animals, Childrens, Football, Juvenile, Humor

32 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2024

About the author

Corey R. Tabor grew up in Wyoming, where he once spent the night in a cave by an underground waterfall. He now lives with his wife in Seattle, where he draws and reads and explores. Please visit him at coreyrtabor.com.

from https://www.readbrightly.com/meet-ill...

Reviews

[Ann Haefele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Football at its best ! Corey Tabor has another winner with this book for beginning readers.

[Becky B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fox, Bear, Rabbit, Elephant, and Snail are ready to play ball. But after a extremely solid kick off (possibly too solid), the game to catch the ball is rough and tumble and unpredictable.

This was a delightfully zany game of football. I don't normally like watching football, but if football games always involved elephants whacking the ball out of the county, off a mountain, and the players trying to catch the rebounds off the trees and rocks in the forest, I might become a regular fan. Because this game of football was definitely entertaining. There's a twist in the story which experienced readers will probably be able to predict (I saw it, knowing it would be the ironic and humorous outcome). It would be a good story to introduce young readers/writers to the element of the twist in storytelling. Also a good story for kids to practice making predictions of what they think will happen next in this story and thinking about what led them to pick that choice. Are they basing it off of experience playing/watching ball or other funny stories they've read/seen?

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: Fox is ready to play ball.

My thoughts (preview): May be my favorite book about football! (I'm not a sports fan).

Premise/plot: Fox has starred in plenty of previous books. In this adventure, Fox and his friends play football! But who will win the game? The BEST player may just surprise you!

My thoughts: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Corey R. Tabor's books. Especially his Fox series, but, really I've never been disappointed by his work. This one was a fun, silly sports-theme read. I loved the twist!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Expressive, whimsical illustrations pair with word repetition and simple sentences to create a fun story well-suited for early readers. Tabor selects his words carefully, and the interaction between the text and its illustrations often adds to the story’s gentle humor. The variety of page layouts and illustration perspectives will keep readers engaged until the last page.

Recommended as a purchase for ages 4-7.

[SOYAMRG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Expressive, whimsical illustrations pair with word repetition and simple sentences to create a fun story well-suited for early readers. Tabor selects his words carefully, and the interaction between the text and its illustrations often adds to the story’s gentle humor. The variety of page layouts and illustration perspectives will keep readers engaged until the last page.

Recommended as a purchase for ages 5-7.

S.P.
Children Services Librarian

[Miss Pippi the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fox is back with his friends to play football. Everyone wants to win the game. Lots of movement and in the end, everyone is a winner!

2025 storytime theme: football / sports

Reviewed from a library copy.

[Kelly]

Good subject for a book, fun characters, and unexpected ending. Lots of repetition good for young early readers.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fox and friends are about to play a game of football and which of the five friends will win the game. This is Avery beginning level reader. Loved the various helmets the animal friends wore.

[Angela Critics · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another win for Fox - or in this case, for Snail. You can't go wrong with Tabor's Fox series!

[DaNae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun installment from our favorite Fox. Although I’m not sure which iteration of football is in play. 🤪

[Cara Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful primer for beginning readers featuring fox and his animal friends.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chuckles all the way through this simple story.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fox plays American football with Elephant, Rabbit, Bear, and Snail. How will this game turn out?

This reminded me of the turtle and hare story.

[TJE · Rating 3 out of 5]

good but not best in series

[Marcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Need to reread

[Rachel Laskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great fox book. My son loved the characters going for the ball. As a little boy he is all about playing with any type of ball.