Crazy Like a Fox: A Simile Story [Paperback]

Loreen Leedy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2009 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Similes set off an exciting chase scene in an adventure in language arts. Rufus the fox is up to something. He runs across the meadow as fast as lightning, sneaks up to Babette like a thief in the night, and roars like a lion. Babette, mad as a hornet, chases Rufus all over town. But is Rufus being chased or is he actually leading Babette to a surprise destination? Rufus sure is crazy--crazy like a fox! Sure to make the reader as happy as a clam, this bright simile story also includes a clear explanation of similes and shows how to include similes in a story.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2—Rufus, a spunky fox in suspenders, rudely startles his friend Babette, a lamb, by roaring "like…a lion." She gets "mad…as a hornet" and chases him, and he eventually leads her to her surprise birthday party. Leedy relates this narrative entirely through similes. Her illustrations emphasize the comparisons as each protagonist is amusingly transformed from one object into another. Children may participate by guessing the upcoming change at each page turn. Apart from the main narrative, animal spectators offer up alternative descriptions of events as they unfold. Leedy includes an explanation of this figure of speech and an invitation for readers to create their own similes. Her vivid illustrations, filled with movement and wide-eyed creatures, will entertain readers. A pleasing addition to any collection.—Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the School & Library Binding edition.

Review

Her illustrations emphasize the comparisons as each protagonist is amusingly transformed from one object into another...A pleasing addition to any collection. --School Library Journal

Not everyone can take the most well-known and cliched similes in the English language and turn them into a story that will hold the interest of young readers, but Leedy has done just that. --Kirkus Reviews

The similes dance all over the pages of this colorfully illustrated book... An explanation of similes is given as the book opens and there are suggestions for kids to create new similes. --Children's Literature

Her illustrations emphasize the comparisons as each protagonist is amusingly transformed from one object into another...A pleasing addition to any collection. --School Library Journal

Not everyone can take the most well-known and cliched similes in the English language and turn them into a story that will hold the interest of young readers, but Leedy has done just that. --Kirkus Reviews

The similes dance all over the pages of this colorfully illustrated book... An explanation of similes is given as the book opens and there are suggestions for kids to create new similes. --Children's Literature

*"The brilliantly colored digital illustrations cleverly depict the similes....As welcome as springtime to teachers, aspiring writers and any who appreciate wordplay." (Kirkus Reviews (starred review) )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 31 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House; Reprint edition (July 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823422488
• ISBN-13: 978-0823422487
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 10.8 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,041 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #7 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Reference & Nonfiction > Language Arts > Composition & Creative Writing

More About the Author

I've been writing and illustrating picture books for children for over twenty-five years. Though I majored in art in college, at the time I wasn't sure what kind of artist to be. Fortunately, it turned out that combining words and art to create picture books was a perfect career for me. Most of my books center around a particular topic such as fractions, the solar system, writing, and so on. The characters and story lines help put the subject matter into a meaningful context for young readers.

After growing up mostly in Delaware, I moved to central Florida a couple of decades ago, and currently live with my husband Andy on a three acre property with hawks, herons, and horses (the horses live next door.) We love the rustle of the pines in the breeze, the screeching of sandhill cranes flying overhead, and the chattering of many small birds that come and go as they please.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classroom Necessity, July 1, 2010

By 

Kelly - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Crazy Like a Fox: A Simile Story (Paperback)

I am an elementary school teacher and have been teaching similes for years, but never so successfully as I have since buying this book. The kids really love it! The cartoonish pictures are humorous and give kids a visual to remember each simile. Reading this book helps build vocabulary and descriptive language. I had to explain some of the similes but the kids loved it so much they begged to read it on their own during silent reading. Toward the end of the year, some students even started using similes when writing their creative stories. This is one of the best educational books ever and I wish I would have found it years ago.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Second, no THIRD Grader Seal of Approval!, May 28, 2009

By 

Joni Caldwell "reikijoni" (Knoxville, TN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crazy Like a Fox: A Simile Story (School & Library Binding)

This book is about a fox named Rufus and a sheep named Babette, who Rufus is chasing, yet who is catching whom?

Cleverly written, this story follows the tale of two critters with many encounters and a surprise ending.

My son gives it his Third Grader's Seal of Approval as he says he learned many expressions while laughing all the way. Excellent for story time as well as independent reading, with great artistic pictures, this is a gift-worthy book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Crazy Like a Fox by Loreen Leedy, July 10, 2011

By 

educator - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Crazy Like a Fox: A Simile Story (Paperback)

This book lends itself to enhancing students' knowledge and skills in using figurative language. The colorful pictures attract my second language learners, who are also from low socio-economic communities, with limited background knowledge. My students love the book, and often ask me if they could borrow it. The first couple of weeks I took the book to my class, I encouraged them to read in pairs so one of them could guess the phrase on the next page. When I read the book to my five year old son, he just couldn't have enough. For a couple of days he read it aloud several times, carrying it all around the house. My son and students feel validated whenever they guess the right word or phrases that complete the simile. I am actually thinking of buying more copies to distribute to kids.