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A Fox Found a Box
When his radio breaks, a little fox finds that the forest is filled with its own rhythm and music-- drip drops and chirp chirps --in this picture book that gently introduces the concept of mindfulness.
A little fox is digging for food when--OUCH! What is that?--the fox finds a box! When the fox brings the box home to his animal friends--and turns a funny-looking knob--the box starts to sing, and music fills the forest. Everyone agrees that it feels nice. Day and night, they listen to the box's songs, until, one day, it goes quiet. No matter what they try, they just can't get the box to sing again. The animals stop swishing their tails and flapping their wings.... But, in the silence, the fox hears the drip-drop rhythm of melting icicles and the thump thump of a beaver's tail and comes to realize music is everywhere. The noises of the forest and the animals build into a symphony, until, eventually, everyone joins together in a joyous dance party.
From the author of fan favorite Douglas, You Need Glasses! , here is a wonderful celebration of music--and appreciating the little things that have surrounded you all along.
A little fox is digging for food when--OUCH! What is that?--the fox finds a box! When the fox brings the box home to his animal friends--and turns a funny-looking knob--the box starts to sing, and music fills the forest. Everyone agrees that it feels nice. Day and night, they listen to the box's songs, until, one day, it goes quiet. No matter what they try, they just can't get the box to sing again. The animals stop swishing their tails and flapping their wings.... But, in the silence, the fox hears the drip-drop rhythm of melting icicles and the thump thump of a beaver's tail and comes to realize music is everywhere. The noises of the forest and the animals build into a symphony, until, eventually, everyone joins together in a joyous dance party.
From the author of fan favorite Douglas, You Need Glasses! , here is a wonderful celebration of music--and appreciating the little things that have surrounded you all along.
40 pages, Library Binding
First published October 29, 2019
136 people want to read
About the author
Ged Adamson
30 books71 followersGed Adamson is a British picture-book author and artist. He has worked as a cartoonist, a storyboard artist, and a composer for television and film. He grew up in Liverpool and now lives in London with his partner, Helen, and their son, Rex.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
April 5, 2021
A fox whilst looking for food finds a box in the snow that turns out to be a radio. All the animals try to figure out what it is and they turn it on somehow and start to enjoy the music that plays on the radio. Then the box stops playing the music and they try everything they can to hear the music once more until they realize that the forest makes it's own music and they start to enjoy that.
A cute story telling us that there is music in all sorts of things that we can enjoy if only we stop and notice it. At least that's what I think the story's lesson is. I like the art too.
4 stars
A cute story telling us that there is music in all sorts of things that we can enjoy if only we stop and notice it. At least that's what I think the story's lesson is. I like the art too.
4 stars
June 25, 2021
Hunting in the snow one day, the eponymous fox in author/illustrator Ged Adamson's sweet picture-book discovers an odd box. Bringing it back to the cave where he and his animal friends meet up, the fox discovers that the box can sing, and that it produces wonderful music - music that makes the animals feel many different ways. When the box eventually stops working, it feels like catastrophe, but then the animals begin to notice the sounds of the world around them, and realize that there's been music everywhere they are...
A Fox Found a Box is the second title I have read from Adamson, following upon his Douglas, You Need Glasses! , about a dog with vision problems. I found it quite appealing, appreciating the simple story, with its message about music and its ability to make us true listeners, as well as the lovely artwork, done in pencil, colored pencil and watercolor. I tracked this down because the depiction of foxes in children's books is an interest of mine, and I was not disappointed on that score either. Although this is clearly one of those woodland fantasies where all the animals are friends, as opposed to predator and prey, there were some moments - the way the fox nosedives into the snow while hunting, for instance - that felt very real. Recommended to picture-books readers looking for sweet animal tales, or for stories about being an observant watcher and listener, in the world around us.
A Fox Found a Box is the second title I have read from Adamson, following upon his Douglas, You Need Glasses! , about a dog with vision problems. I found it quite appealing, appreciating the simple story, with its message about music and its ability to make us true listeners, as well as the lovely artwork, done in pencil, colored pencil and watercolor. I tracked this down because the depiction of foxes in children's books is an interest of mine, and I was not disappointed on that score either. Although this is clearly one of those woodland fantasies where all the animals are friends, as opposed to predator and prey, there were some moments - the way the fox nosedives into the snow while hunting, for instance - that felt very real. Recommended to picture-books readers looking for sweet animal tales, or for stories about being an observant watcher and listener, in the world around us.
January 4, 2020
This is more of a clunky metaphor and an admonishment to tech-obsessed kids than anything else.
A fox finds a radio while searching the snow for food. The animals figure out how to get the radio to play music, and soon they're listening to it all the time. But one day, the radio won't work anymore. The animals try to get the radio to play music again, but it won't. Then the fox realizes that the forest makes a sort of music of its own. Soon, all the other animals can hear it, too. Then they're happy again.
The metaphor... doesn't quite work. Why would the animals have to discover that the forest makes music? Why didn't they already know that? They had the radio for less than a season, and yet they somehow got totally brainwashed by that one piece of technology? I don't buy it. The metaphor is cute and all, but there's a difference between a creature that's immersed in nature for its whole life and one that's brought up surrounded by smartphones and streaming video services. The latter would be expected to have a problem appreciating nature. The former? Not so much.
The pictures are cute, and the story starts out adorably with the fox flinging himself into the snow headfirst to look for food. But the metaphor is way too clunky, and the story just left me scratching my head.
A fox finds a radio while searching the snow for food. The animals figure out how to get the radio to play music, and soon they're listening to it all the time. But one day, the radio won't work anymore. The animals try to get the radio to play music again, but it won't. Then the fox realizes that the forest makes a sort of music of its own. Soon, all the other animals can hear it, too. Then they're happy again.
The metaphor... doesn't quite work. Why would the animals have to discover that the forest makes music? Why didn't they already know that? They had the radio for less than a season, and yet they somehow got totally brainwashed by that one piece of technology? I don't buy it. The metaphor is cute and all, but there's a difference between a creature that's immersed in nature for its whole life and one that's brought up surrounded by smartphones and streaming video services. The latter would be expected to have a problem appreciating nature. The former? Not so much.
The pictures are cute, and the story starts out adorably with the fox flinging himself into the snow headfirst to look for food. But the metaphor is way too clunky, and the story just left me scratching my head.
November 12, 2019
I enjoyed the illustrations but can’t quite understand why the woodland animals needed a radio dying in order for them to be able to see the beauty around them. (Perhaps a deeper message for humans)
December 2, 2019
Super cute - do kids even know what radios are though?
January 26, 2025
This book landed between 4 and 5 stars and I decided to round up because this is a book I'd be happy to own for a few reasons. It would be a nice get the wiggles out and dance with the animals and then settle in and read the rest of the book to quiet down for bed. Second, I enjoyed the cute illustrations and good text layout. Thirdly, I liked the message that music, tech, whatever it is has a place and is fun! But also, quiet, observing and enjoying nature also has a place and is fulfilling in its own unique way.
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December 13, 2019When fox finds a mysterious music-producing box in the forest, he and the other forest animals rock out until the box stop making music and they start listening to the sounds of the forest all around them. This is a fun music-centered story and has beautiful wintery foresty illustrations.
August 8, 2020
Fun story about listening to the sounds of nature.
March 18, 2021
It is a wonderful short story for the kids at home and at school. The art fits perfectly and it brings such joy to read the few pages of this story.
January 10, 2024
If this doesn’t make you want to walk through a forest, I don’t know what will! 😊💚
January 12, 2021
I liked the illustrations. And I liked the different ways the music was portrayed. "Rock Out" was bright and fun.
I did not care for the story after the radio died because it seemed odd to me that the animals wouldn't have been aware of the sounds of nature before they found the radio.
I did not care for the story after the radio died because it seemed odd to me that the animals wouldn't have been aware of the sounds of nature before they found the radio.
January 20, 2020
This story does not work for me. And will children even recognize a radio with an antenna? Those of you who find the positives of this title, please comment.
February 23, 2020
A Fox Found a Box by Ged Adamson. PICTURE BOOK. Schwartz & Wade (Random), 2019. $18. 9781984830531
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
While fox is looking for food, he finds instead a box - a box that makes sounds. Those sounds make the forest animals feel things - good things! Then one day the box stops working, no matter what the animals try. In the silence, however, they find the natural music of the forest.
Without being heavy handed, Adamson’s story promotes the beauty that is found within the kind of silence that allows us to hear the sounds of nature. I don’t know if this will encourage people to turn off the ever-present noise machines, but the book is lovely.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
While fox is looking for food, he finds instead a box - a box that makes sounds. Those sounds make the forest animals feel things - good things! Then one day the box stops working, no matter what the animals try. In the silence, however, they find the natural music of the forest.
Without being heavy handed, Adamson’s story promotes the beauty that is found within the kind of silence that allows us to hear the sounds of nature. I don’t know if this will encourage people to turn off the ever-present noise machines, but the book is lovely.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
February 11, 2020
A fox finds a radio when searching for food under the snow. Through trial and error, he turns it on and the animals dance and enjoy time together. As readers may anticipate, the batteries eventually die leaving the "box" silent. They then discover the music in the natural world around them.
Cute illustrations bring the animals to life. Simple to follow text for elementary level readers. Message to listen to the world around you comes through.
Cute illustrations bring the animals to life. Simple to follow text for elementary level readers. Message to listen to the world around you comes through.
March 23, 2019
Definitely will be stocking this one. Lovely illustrations and a sweet message about the wonders of nature, music all around.
March 10, 2021
This is very cute story with charming illustrations but I do wonder how well it would connect with kids today who are unlikely to have a box radio at home.
January 14, 2020
I love the sweet, charming illustrations. It makes an interesting point about how technology can actually distract us from all the beauty and wonder around us.
December 7, 2019
As is the case for many readers, I find it amusing to ponder what might happen if animals were more like humans or vice versa, and it's interesting to think about what they might do when they encounter some artifact from our world. In this picture book, that's exactly what happens. A fox happens upon a battery-powered radio buried in the snow while foraging for food. He somehow manages to turn it on, and the other animals are charmed by the song of music the emits from its speakers. The notes evoke various emotions in the animals, and some of them even begin to dance. But when it runs out of power, nothing the animals do can help bring the box or the music to life again. The fox even curls around it in an attempt to warm it up, but nothing works. Eventually, though, the animals realize that there is plenty of music all around them in the sounds of nature, and all they need to do is be quite and listen. They even start to pay attention to colors in addition to sounds, and allow the music to soothe them to sleep. This understated story is supported by softly-colored illustrations featuring animals with expressive faces. The use of pencil, colored pencil, and watercolor for those illustrations seems to have been a good choice. It has been said that music has charms to soothe the savage beast, and this book seems to think that the adage applies to the gentler creatures of the world as well.
December 12, 2019
This is a charming book that I have already used in story time. A fox finds a box, and upon fiddling with a dial, the box starts to make music. Fox and his friends love the feeling of moving to the rhythm of the music. They experience relaxation, sadness and even the exhilaration of rocking out: “It felt nice.” When the music eventually stops, they have to come to terms with the silence. I loved everything about this story: the playful pencil and watercolor art, the lovely snowy forest setting, and especially the treatment of mindfulness in the face of no media input. Kids will enjoy being knowledgeable about what the box is (a radio) and why the music stops. Grownups will enjoy sharing the animals’ awareness of all the wonderful things around them in nature that can also spur joy.
March 16, 2020
After fox finds a radio buried in the snow, he takes it back to his animal friends and they all learn to enjoy the different sounds it makes - music to their ears! This only lasts as long as the batteries do, and then the box falls silent. The animals are sad until they begin to notice all of the natural sounds of the forest around them, which then "sing them to sleep" each night. Perhaps the unusual music is what makes the animals notice/appreciate nature's music even more? It seems more likely that the animals already appreciate these noises and that *this* story is more for the people reading it (who might want to take a moment to listen to the world around them).
April 11, 2019
From the author of the Douglas, You Need Glasses books comes the story of a fox who finds a radio, but doesn't know what it is. Chances are younger readers may not know either! Fox discovers that it 'sings' and suddenly all his forest friends learn the power of music to affect their feelings and emotions. When the batteries die, they realize that music is everywhere, they just need to take the time to listen.
January 11, 2020
Pretty illustrations, nice story that doesn't push a lesson about moving on or breaking a tech habit to enjoy nature, but it could be a good discussion prompt. There are lots of good questions for a one-on-one read, starting with what is that box anyway, and why does it stop working?
Recommended for ages 3-6.
Recommended for ages 3-6.
February 10, 2020
From the title you would assume it would rhyme. It did not. A fun idea about when an animal finds and old radio and somehow they learn to dance but when the radio stops working they learn to appreciate the sounds around them. Music is all around us and the animals end up appreciating that.
Scwartz and Wade Books 2019
Scwartz and Wade Books 2019
August 5, 2020
This book was a tremendous hit with my son who loves all things foxes. This story inspires youngsters to listen to the world around them as a way of connecting to the natural music Mother Earth provides. We loved every page with its cozy, colorful illustrations and the main character, Fox, was endearing to the end :-)
April 26, 2022
Cute pictures with an easy to read story, perfect for kids 2-5yrs.
A little fox finds a strange box in the ground, & it makes noise? Fox & friends enjoy listening to the box. One day the box quits working, and slowly Fox & friends begin to notice the sounds all around them. The world makes its own music, if we're quiet enough to hear it.
A little fox finds a strange box in the ground, & it makes noise? Fox & friends enjoy listening to the box. One day the box quits working, and slowly Fox & friends begin to notice the sounds all around them. The world makes its own music, if we're quiet enough to hear it.
July 25, 2022
This is one of those stories about wild animals finding a human object and how they come to understand and appreciate it, or that's the way it starts out. It doesn't stay that way though. It turns out to be a story about that most writerly of practices, noticing. Wasn't expecting that, but there it is. Way to go. Didn't see it coming and then there it was. Cute book.
August 9, 2022
3.5- This would've been a solid four, but for the ending. Animals find a radio in the forest and enjoy listening to music until the battery dies. They try to get the music back, but can't. Then they notice music in the nature around them and make their own music. Maybe it was a little too cheesy? It didn't fit with the first half of the book (IMO).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2022
Lovely picture book with sweet illustrations and a good message: stop and take the time to listen to the beautiful world around you. Kids might need a lesson in what the "box" is though -- an old style radio. Now if the fox had found an iPhone...
Ages: early elementary
Themes: music, technology, forest animals
Ages: early elementary
Themes: music, technology, forest animals
June 30, 2023
Wonderful winter story of a fox finding a radio while hunting in the snow. Al the woodland creatures are enjoying the music until the radio stops working. It is so cute to see the animals trying to figure out how to help the box sing again. Finally the friends discover that the forest is full of it's own music. Enjoy.
July 9, 2023
Cute pictures with an easy to read story, perfect for kids 2-5yrs.
A little fox finds a strange box in the ground, & it makes noise? Fox & friends enjoy listening to the box. One day the box quits working, and slowly Fox & friends begin to notice the sounds all around them. The world makes its own music, if we're quiet enough to hear it.
A little fox finds a strange box in the ground, & it makes noise? Fox & friends enjoy listening to the box. One day the box quits working, and slowly Fox & friends begin to notice the sounds all around them. The world makes its own music, if we're quiet enough to hear it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews