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Foxie, The Singing Dog
Whether bringing to life the legends of the mightiest Greek and Norse gods in their widely beloved collections of myths, or retelling Chekhov’s tale of a little lost dog as they do in Foxie, the d’Aulaires excelled at the arts of storytelling and illustration. Foxie’s tale, wonderful to look at and delightful to read, is certain to charm both young children and early readers.
Poor Foxie! With her “head like a fox and her tail like a cinnamon roll” she is adorable enough to charm anyone. But all her young master wants to do is tease her—and he isn’t very good at remembering mealtime either. One day his pranks go too far when he lures his dog out onto the busy city streets with a tasty bone and loses her. Foxie is soon rescued by a roly-poly circus-animal trainer who spots her flair for singing and adds her to his act, alongside a piano-playing cat and a strutting rooster. Opening night is full of surprises, though, and Foxie is overjoyed when she hears a familiar voice in the audience, calling out her name.
Poor Foxie! With her “head like a fox and her tail like a cinnamon roll” she is adorable enough to charm anyone. But all her young master wants to do is tease her—and he isn’t very good at remembering mealtime either. One day his pranks go too far when he lures his dog out onto the busy city streets with a tasty bone and loses her. Foxie is soon rescued by a roly-poly circus-animal trainer who spots her flair for singing and adds her to his act, alongside a piano-playing cat and a strutting rooster. Opening night is full of surprises, though, and Foxie is overjoyed when she hears a familiar voice in the audience, calling out her name.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1949
About the author
Ingri d'Aulaire
47 books173 followersIngri d'Aulaire (1904-1980) was an American children's artist and illustrator, who worked in collaboration with her husband and fellow artist, Edgar Parin d'Aulaire. Born Ingri Mortenson in Kongsburg, Norway, she studied art in Norway, Germany and France, and met Edgar Parin d'Aulaire when she was a student in Munich. They married in 1925, and immigrated to the USA shortly thereafter, settling in Brooklyn in 1929. After pursuing separate careers initially, the couple turned to illustrating children's books together, releasing their first collaborative effort, The Magic Rug, in 1931. They settled in Wilton, Connecticut in 1941, and lived there until their deaths in the 1980s. Awarded the 1940 Caldecott Medal for their picture-book biography of Abraham Lincoln, the d'Aulaires published other children's biographies, as well as some notable works on Greek and Norse mythology. (source: Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 28, 2010
Foxie is a little small dog that gets his name because he looks like a fox. One day after losing his boy in the city, he is taken in by a man who has a striped cat and a rooster. When the man plays the piano at night, Foxie begins to howl and it seems he is singing along. The man trains Foxie to "sing" and the other animals to do tricks, and soon declares that they are ready for the stage. They all go to a big room full of people where they present their act: Foxie the singing dog, accompanied by the man on the piano and the dancing cat and rooster. There is a standing ovation and suddenly Foxie spots his boy in the crowd. He leaps from the stage, climbing over the heads of the audience members, until he reaches his boy and jumps into his arms! A sweet reunion!
Edgar Parin D'Aulaire, the author's husband is the illustrator. His pictures are delightful! I love the expressions on the boy and Foxie's face, as they first see each other across the crowded room. The only color is used on boy and dog ... the rest of the crowd is sketched in pencil (soft gray). You can see funny looks on faces in crowd, as the small dog hops over and steps on a few heads, but the gray crowd is not in Foxie's scope of vision. He makes a beeline to his boy. The color used for the boy and dog makes it seem that nothing else matters. Everything surrounding them sort of fades to gray when they are reunited. I also really liked the sketches of the cat, who seems to be a bit jealous of Foxie. The cat is also very expressive and gets angry when Foxie tries to eat some of her food. This striped cat reminded me of my cat Kenmore.
Edgar Parin D'Aulaire, the author's husband is the illustrator. His pictures are delightful! I love the expressions on the boy and Foxie's face, as they first see each other across the crowded room. The only color is used on boy and dog ... the rest of the crowd is sketched in pencil (soft gray). You can see funny looks on faces in crowd, as the small dog hops over and steps on a few heads, but the gray crowd is not in Foxie's scope of vision. He makes a beeline to his boy. The color used for the boy and dog makes it seem that nothing else matters. Everything surrounding them sort of fades to gray when they are reunited. I also really liked the sketches of the cat, who seems to be a bit jealous of Foxie. The cat is also very expressive and gets angry when Foxie tries to eat some of her food. This striped cat reminded me of my cat Kenmore.
August 15, 2017
This is one book that although it came out in the 1970s originally came to bug me just in general with how wrong it felt throughout the whole reading. Although I know the times were different and things were perceived differently it wasn't right that little Foxie was always hungry, had a sharp metal can by her doghouse and then had an abusive boy-master who liked to tease her with food (this would definitely be one person that I wouldn't recommend to have a pet) even when more than likely he knew that she was hungry.
Furthermore it was his neglect and mistreatment that led poor Roxie to have to deal with the troubles that were found further in the book. And even though she finally got a good happy end it was kind of dampened by the fact that she returned to her abuser since she still loved him....
The illustrations were a reminder of the old style illustrations and so it was a so-so medium for me. All in all it was a cute rendition if you would have need for a modern-day episode of the Town Musicians of Bremen but one that I wish hadn't been reprinted or if so at least had updated illustrations to go with the story instead of what they had from its original publishing.
Furthermore it was his neglect and mistreatment that led poor Roxie to have to deal with the troubles that were found further in the book. And even though she finally got a good happy end it was kind of dampened by the fact that she returned to her abuser since she still loved him....
The illustrations were a reminder of the old style illustrations and so it was a so-so medium for me. All in all it was a cute rendition if you would have need for a modern-day episode of the Town Musicians of Bremen but one that I wish hadn't been reprinted or if so at least had updated illustrations to go with the story instead of what they had from its original publishing.
January 21, 2009
This book is a retelling of a tale by Chekhov which I am not familiar with. Something to look into, definitely.
I liked this tale of Foxie. The little boy who owns Foxie doesn't treat her very well, loves to tease her. One day it goes too far and Foxie becomes lost. She is picked up by an entertainer and though he is kind, she misses her true home. A very satisfying and redeeming ending.
Love the D'Aulaire's artwork as usual!
I liked this tale of Foxie. The little boy who owns Foxie doesn't treat her very well, loves to tease her. One day it goes too far and Foxie becomes lost. She is picked up by an entertainer and though he is kind, she misses her true home. A very satisfying and redeeming ending.
Love the D'Aulaire's artwork as usual!
July 17, 2015
This book was first published in 1976 and the copyright was renewed in 2004.
"Fox-ie!" cried a shrill voice. "The little dog with a head like a fox and a tail like a cinnamon roll woke up with a start. "
And thus begins the charming tale of a wonderful little dog who seems always to be hungry. She is teased by her master with a tasty bone that she salivates over and wants so badly. He dangled the bone in front of her but it is tied to a string and she is unable to obtain it. This frustrates her to no end and try as she might he will not give it over to her. Finally he stuffs the bone into his back pocket and skips off down the street forgetting all about his famished little dog's needs.
Foxi decides to track him and secure her bone so she follows after him. Unfortunately she ends up lost amidst crowds of busy, scurrying people. She encounters a haughty, pompous black poodle who definitely thinks she is undignified, and a loud, noisy marching band that grates on her nerves and causes her to whine, wail, turn round and round, and howl at the top of her lungs.
Poor Foxie is beside herself, confused and cannot find her way back home. Darkness and rain sets in adding to her misery. She huddles in a doorway too exhausted and exasperated to carry on. A kind man finds her when he opens his door and takes her in and gives her shelter and plenty of food.
Foxie encounters a big, inhospitable striped tomcat and an amicable rooster who also reside with the man in his home. The man creates a musical troupe with his motley crew of animals. The cat plays the piano by pawing the keys, the rooster stretches his neck and crows with all his might and the man plays his flute. Foxie joins in howling in response to the music simulating a "singing" dog to round off the performance.
Is this the life that Foxie is destined for? Does she miss her old master even though he was uncaring and unkind to her? Will she be reunited with her previous owner ever or will she be content to be a participant in an animal circus and perform on stage for all the curious onlookers?
The illustrations are wonderful. They could tell the story visually all on their own. They empower the text and bring the reader into the narrative so brilliantly. I know all age levels will love this story. I highly recommend the book.
"Fox-ie!" cried a shrill voice. "The little dog with a head like a fox and a tail like a cinnamon roll woke up with a start. "
And thus begins the charming tale of a wonderful little dog who seems always to be hungry. She is teased by her master with a tasty bone that she salivates over and wants so badly. He dangled the bone in front of her but it is tied to a string and she is unable to obtain it. This frustrates her to no end and try as she might he will not give it over to her. Finally he stuffs the bone into his back pocket and skips off down the street forgetting all about his famished little dog's needs.
Foxi decides to track him and secure her bone so she follows after him. Unfortunately she ends up lost amidst crowds of busy, scurrying people. She encounters a haughty, pompous black poodle who definitely thinks she is undignified, and a loud, noisy marching band that grates on her nerves and causes her to whine, wail, turn round and round, and howl at the top of her lungs.
Poor Foxie is beside herself, confused and cannot find her way back home. Darkness and rain sets in adding to her misery. She huddles in a doorway too exhausted and exasperated to carry on. A kind man finds her when he opens his door and takes her in and gives her shelter and plenty of food.
Foxie encounters a big, inhospitable striped tomcat and an amicable rooster who also reside with the man in his home. The man creates a musical troupe with his motley crew of animals. The cat plays the piano by pawing the keys, the rooster stretches his neck and crows with all his might and the man plays his flute. Foxie joins in howling in response to the music simulating a "singing" dog to round off the performance.
Is this the life that Foxie is destined for? Does she miss her old master even though he was uncaring and unkind to her? Will she be reunited with her previous owner ever or will she be content to be a participant in an animal circus and perform on stage for all the curious onlookers?
The illustrations are wonderful. They could tell the story visually all on their own. They empower the text and bring the reader into the narrative so brilliantly. I know all age levels will love this story. I highly recommend the book.
June 14, 2010
This is a reprint from the New York Review Children's Collection of a book originally published in 1976. While I didn't think much of the story, I very much enjoyed the d'Aulaires' soft, colorful illustrations. They certainly know how to draw cute animals! I don't think it was one of their better books, though.
February 25, 2010
I accidentally read Foxie. It was just sitting there and I started thumbing through the pictures and then I fell in to the story. Poor little lost dog, finds a temporary home and is then reunited with his boy.
April 30, 2008
Love the cover, love the character of Foxie, love most of the drawings... but the illustrations of people are a little weird. And not in a good way.
Want to Read
June 2, 2010Part of The New York Review Children's Collection.
February 3, 2013
The illustrations, lithographs, are stunning!
December 6, 2015
This one sort of made me sad.
May 17, 2014
Charming! One of the best little kids' books ever.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews