Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Flossie and the Fox by Patricia C. McKissack, ill. Rachel Isadora
Boy. I was so certain. I was so very, entirely certain that we had covered this old title by Patricia C. McKissack on our podcast already. And yet, AND YET, we have never read it. That ends today. Originally published in 1986, we dive into this book’s roots in oral storytelling, Isadora’s career, and why it is that foxes always get a bad break in picture books. Just looking at our past podcast episodes, we have never done a Rachel Isadora, but we’ve definitely done McKissack (Goin’ Someplace Special and Mirandy and Brother Wind). Today we consider this tale of tricking the trickster with a good old-fashioned existential crisis.
Listen to the whole show here on Soundcloud or download it through iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Play, PlayerFM, Audible, Amazon Music, or your preferred method of podcast selection.
Show Notes:
CORRECTION!! I say at one point that Patricia C. McKissack wrote Wee Winnie Witch’s Skinny, but that was (to my shame) Virginia Hamilton. My incredible bad. Very sorry, folks.
Are you, like Kate, perturbed by poor fox representation in books for kids? This Bibliocommons list of Fabulous Foxes is well worth inspecting.
“No one was ever eaten by a fox. Not effectively anyway.”
The threat of the dog represented as just a shadow? Effective!
The shot of this dog from this angle? That’s no hound. I know hounds, sir. This, sir, is no hound.
The choice of making Flossie look just this young (five or six, honestly) is such an interesting choice. Normally, the kids tricking villains are portrayed as significantly older. We like the youth.
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Kate Recommends: The ‘Burbs streaming on Peacock
Betsy Recommends: Season one of Arcane, streaming on Netflix
Filed under: Fuse 8 n' Kate
About Betsy Bird
Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Kirkus, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on BlueSky at: @fuse8.bsky.social
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I love this book, and I’ve recorded it as a puppetshow. It’s slow cadence with Flossie’s misdirections drive the fox mad; the kids really enjoy that, lol. I’d share the recording for others to use, I’m quite proud of it, but there’s no way to attach it here. You only need 4 puppets to do this story: Mother/Flossie/Cat/”J.W. McCutchin’s miserable mutt!” . There are other opportunities to add squirrels/other forest animals and/or props if you want.
Oh, I love that! (and you can bet I’ll be reading it on our next recording). Man, misdirection is the absolute best with small kids, right? Particularly when someone who is supposed to be in an adult role pitches a hissy fit.