Fantastic Mr. Fox

If any of you have read Roald Dahl, you might have read or heard of his book, Fantastic Mr. Fox. My parents somehow have (had?) a cassette recording of Dahl himself reading the book, and I have very fond memories of listening to it on car trips, among other classics like The Muppet Album and the Smothers Brothers.


For those unfamiliar with the story, Mr. Fox saves his wife and children as well as the other forest creatures from the dastardly attempts of three farmers--Boggis, Bunce, and Bean--to catch him (although he unfortunately does lose his beautiful tail in the process). At the end, Mrs. Fox tells her children, "Your father is a fantastic Mr. Fox." This has become an endearing saying between my parents (my dad always rejoindering that my mother is a fantastic Mrs. Fox).

Several years ago, in honor of her fantastic Mr. Fox, my mom presented my dad with a fox puppet. Although becoming a bit bedraggled as time has passed, Mr. Fox continues to hold a cherished place in our family. The grandkids ask for him on nearly visit, and Clara is no exception.

Clara wasn't too sure of Mr. Fox when she was younger, but now she adores him.

Mr. Fox doesn't talk. Somehow he decided my dad was cool enough to be his interpreter, so he whispers things in my dad's ear and then my dad passes the message or question on to the captive audience.

I'm not sure if Clara thinks he's real, but the magic certainly is.