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Fox the Tiger
Fox wishes he were a tiger. Tigers are big and fast and sneaky. So he decides to become one!
Soon Turtle and Rabbit are joining in the fun. But will Fox want to be a tiger forever?
Soon Turtle and Rabbit are joining in the fun. But will Fox want to be a tiger forever?
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2018
158 people are currently reading
399 people want to read
About the author
Corey R. Tabor
36 books100 followersCorey R. Tabor grew up in Wyoming, where he once spent the night in a cave by an underground waterfall. He now lives with his wife in Seattle, where he draws and reads and explores. Please visit him at coreyrtabor.com.
from https://www.readbrightly.com/meet-ill...
from https://www.readbrightly.com/meet-ill...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 301 reviews
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March 6, 2021[Book #30 for my grad school Children's Lit class]
May 6, 2019
Although I was certainly and definitely not expecting all that much (if any) potential reading pleasure from Corey R. Tabor's Fox the Tiger (its 2019 Theodore Seuss Geisel Award notwithstanding), I indeed am happy (as well as rather majorly surprised) to say and admit that Fox the Tiger is with both the author's featured narrative and her accompanying illustrations sweetly delightful, often humorous and also imbued with important messages regarding self acceptance and not wishing to be someone that one is not (perhaps presented a bit overtly at times since Fox the Tiger is a beginning reader book but still never in any manner overburdened with too much didacticism and pedantry). A fun and engaging early reading experience that also gently introduces the differences between actualities and wishes (conditionals) and also constantly and with engagement practices basic verb forms and conjugations, I definitely have found Fox the Tiger much enjoyable (even if indeed the author's printed words are by necessity always simply constructed) and would as a foreign language teacher also strongly consider and suggest Fox the Tiger as a great language learning tool for beginning level ESL classes (as indeed, much of Corey R. Tabor's presented text focuses very distinctly and openly on English language verbs and their various conjugations). Highly recommended and indeed a perfect combination of both delight and instruction!
July 14, 2019
Winner of the 2019 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for easy reader books, Fox the Tiger highlights the benefits of having a robust imagination, while reinforcing that even when you're just being yourself, you are special. Fox decides he wants to be a tiger while reading a book about the majestic jungle cats. They're large, speedy, and light on their feet. Why wouldn't he want to be one? Fox paints black stripes down his back and tail and tells his friends to call him "Tiger." Tiger loves being strong and swift, and his friends don't hesitate to get in on the act.
Turtle paints racing stripes on his shell and says he wants to be called "Race Car." Rabbit fits a cardboard box shaped like a computer monitor on his head and becomes "Robot." Tiger, Race Car, and Robot amuse themselves acting like the things they wish to emulate, but playtime is cut short by rain. Tiger and Race Car's stripes wash away, and Robot's cardboard robot head gets soggy and falls apart. Fox is back to his unadorned self, but that's not so bad. Some animals wish they could be as quick and cunning as a fox, so he must be more special than he thought. We all have strengths that can only be properly appraised through the eyes of others.
Fox the Tiger teaches a basic lesson, but it's a good way to learn to read, and that's what the Geisel Award seeks to celebrate. It doesn't pack the punch of a Dr. Seuss book, but rarely is that standard of achievement attained. Corey R. Tabor's writing is as winsome as his artwork, and there's no telling how many kids will learn to read courtesy of Fox and his friends.
Turtle paints racing stripes on his shell and says he wants to be called "Race Car." Rabbit fits a cardboard box shaped like a computer monitor on his head and becomes "Robot." Tiger, Race Car, and Robot amuse themselves acting like the things they wish to emulate, but playtime is cut short by rain. Tiger and Race Car's stripes wash away, and Robot's cardboard robot head gets soggy and falls apart. Fox is back to his unadorned self, but that's not so bad. Some animals wish they could be as quick and cunning as a fox, so he must be more special than he thought. We all have strengths that can only be properly appraised through the eyes of others.
Fox the Tiger teaches a basic lesson, but it's a good way to learn to read, and that's what the Geisel Award seeks to celebrate. It doesn't pack the punch of a Dr. Seuss book, but rarely is that standard of achievement attained. Corey R. Tabor's writing is as winsome as his artwork, and there's no telling how many kids will learn to read courtesy of Fox and his friends.
May 4, 2019
This certainly deserved the Geisel Award! Fox thinks it would be much more interesting and adventurous to be a tiger. So Fox dresses up in a tiger costume and becomes Tiger. Other animals approach and greet "Tiger" as Fox but Fox informs them of their mistake. Fox's idea gives the friends ideas on costumes to don and change their name. After rain destroys the costumes and game, Fox is despondent until another playmate, Squirrel, makes it clear how much Squirrel would like to be a fox. Other friends agree that Fox is a wonderful friend and Fox is happy again.
The ode to creativity and imagination was wonderful by itself. What put this beyond a typical reader was the positive compliments Fox got when down by the friends. I also appreciate that this is not gender specific. I do not see any pronouns denoting male or female so this can be used by all kids.
Finally, a book that can be of use by all; male or female as well as any ethnicity! Addendum: Just went through my review and removed gendered pronouns since it rather destroys the point I was making here! We really need to come up with gender nonspecific pronouns! I know many use 'their' and 'they' but those are meant to be plural, not refer to a single person. A societal debate to have some day.....
The ode to creativity and imagination was wonderful by itself. What put this beyond a typical reader was the positive compliments Fox got when down by the friends. I also appreciate that this is not gender specific. I do not see any pronouns denoting male or female so this can be used by all kids.
Finally, a book that can be of use by all; male or female as well as any ethnicity! Addendum: Just went through my review and removed gendered pronouns since it rather destroys the point I was making here! We really need to come up with gender nonspecific pronouns! I know many use 'their' and 'they' but those are meant to be plural, not refer to a single person. A societal debate to have some day.....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2019
It took winning a Geisel Medal for me to read this one, but I'm very glad I did.
Too often you find early readers being so full of controlled text that it has no story line. Here's an example of one that gets it right.
Too often you find early readers being so full of controlled text that it has no story line. Here's an example of one that gets it right.
January 28, 2019
A perfect Geisel winner! My first grade class agrees.
April 1, 2019
I enjoyed reading the other two books Tabor “fox” books (Fox and the Jumping Contest and Fox and the Bike Ride), just last month. So I was so happy when my library contacted me to let me know the latest book was ready for me to borrow. In this adventure, Fox decides that “Tigers are the best.” However, after attempting to become a tiger with his friends, Turtle and Rabbit, things don’t turn out exactly as planned. Nevertheless, Squirrel comes along to show us that the grass is always greener syndrome is alive and well. And life is truly best when we embrace who we really are. What a great book to initiate discussion about our individual strengths and what we like about one another! The artwork was completed with pencil, watercolor, and crayon, then assembled digitally. This title has won the Theodore Seuss Geisel Award (2019) and the Cybils’ Early Reader award (2019)! For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
January 30, 2019
I was at the Youth Media Awards on January 28, 2019, sitting right behind the members of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award committee when this was announced as the winner. So, I decided to see if it was available from my public library-- and checked out the eBook on the spot. (I wonder what the people sitting behind me thought as I started reading it on my laptop.) This eBook was the narrated version, so I re-read it later with the sound.
I can see how the pictures and repetition would make this fun for beginning readers. I really liked the turtle and rabbit as well-- but in the end, who validated their identity? It was also very cute that in the end, the fox was painting himself all the "foxy" color instead of stripes.
I can see how the pictures and repetition would make this fun for beginning readers. I really liked the turtle and rabbit as well-- but in the end, who validated their identity? It was also very cute that in the end, the fox was painting himself all the "foxy" color instead of stripes.
September 7, 2023
First sentence: "I wish I were a tiger," says Fox. "Tigers are big. Tigers are fast. Tigers are sneaky. Tigers are the best." Fox has an idea.
Premise/plot: Fox the Tiger won the Theodore Seuss Geisel Award for 2019. In this I Can Read early reader, Fox has an IDEA that becomes contagious. He wants to be a tiger...so he paints on some stripes. He then goes out to face the world as a tiger...or does he? Will his paint fool anyone?
My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one. It was FUN. I am glad that Fox's idea is so contagious. I loved seeing what would happen next. (For example, the turtle decides to become a RACE CAR and paints the number 4 on his shell.) I loved the text and story. I loved the illustrations. I loved the humor--and the heart.
Premise/plot: Fox the Tiger won the Theodore Seuss Geisel Award for 2019. In this I Can Read early reader, Fox has an IDEA that becomes contagious. He wants to be a tiger...so he paints on some stripes. He then goes out to face the world as a tiger...or does he? Will his paint fool anyone?
My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one. It was FUN. I am glad that Fox's idea is so contagious. I loved seeing what would happen next. (For example, the turtle decides to become a RACE CAR and paints the number 4 on his shell.) I loved the text and story. I loved the illustrations. I loved the humor--and the heart.
November 5, 2019
No one else seems to be talking about this topic, so I guess I'll bring it up... Is this book supposed to be a trans allegory? Because it seems like it is, and it's a problematic one. It seems like the moral is supposed to be "You can pretend to be whoever you want, and get other people to play along with it, but it'll never be true." Even if the moral wasn't intended to apply to trans people, it just really, really feels like that's what it's about, and I'm not okay with that. When I picked it up I assumed it wasn't a recent title, so I was ready to give it the benefit of a doubt -- "it's just an old book about how everybody's special and you should be yourself" -- but it's very very recent, so it's hard to see how the author (and editors, and so on) didn't see this.
May 15, 2019
Really enjoyed this easy reader.
Fox thinks tigers are the best and paints strips on himself. Some friends see what he has done and follow suit. Turtle becomes a race car and rabbit becomes a robot. The rain sends Fox's friends home, but Fox is sad, until squirrel comes and by and says "Foxes are the best.!
Fox thinks tigers are the best and paints strips on himself. Some friends see what he has done and follow suit. Turtle becomes a race car and rabbit becomes a robot. The rain sends Fox's friends home, but Fox is sad, until squirrel comes and by and says "Foxes are the best.!
September 28, 2019
This was a delight of an early reader book! So often they are so controlled that they aren't as interesting or they're predictable, but this one gets it right and is so much fun to read. We need more enjoyable early readers like this!
January 18, 2019
It's fun to pretend and use our imaginations, but who we are is great, too!
March 30, 2019
I wish there were more early readers that get it right like this one.
February 26, 2020
Picture book - Easy-to-Read (Geisel)
Won the Geisel award
Ages Preschool – 3
This book is about a young fox, who all he wants is to be a tiger. Eventually the fox realizes that he will never be a tiger and that being himself is better than trying to be something he's not!
This book fits in the easy-to-read category because it is a simple read. It is for a very young age, however I do think somebody would need to be reading the book to the young children. The level of this book is very low and should be easy enough for young children to read.
I absolutely love the use of illustrations within this book. I noticed the lines used in the illustrations. They make a statement for the fox, wanting to be a tiger. This book shows how even if you look like something, you may not always be able to be it. It also emphasises that you must embrace who you are and how you look.
I think this book is very age-appropriate, and it shows kids that the best thing for yourself, is to be yourself. If I had a very young age group of kids, I would want to read this as a read aloud in my group. If possible I may additionally utilize it as a guided reading book, but I would have to discuss that with my team.
Won the Geisel award
Ages Preschool – 3
This book is about a young fox, who all he wants is to be a tiger. Eventually the fox realizes that he will never be a tiger and that being himself is better than trying to be something he's not!
This book fits in the easy-to-read category because it is a simple read. It is for a very young age, however I do think somebody would need to be reading the book to the young children. The level of this book is very low and should be easy enough for young children to read.
I absolutely love the use of illustrations within this book. I noticed the lines used in the illustrations. They make a statement for the fox, wanting to be a tiger. This book shows how even if you look like something, you may not always be able to be it. It also emphasises that you must embrace who you are and how you look.
I think this book is very age-appropriate, and it shows kids that the best thing for yourself, is to be yourself. If I had a very young age group of kids, I would want to read this as a read aloud in my group. If possible I may additionally utilize it as a guided reading book, but I would have to discuss that with my team.
April 20, 2020
This story is about a fox who wants to become a tiger, so much so that he changes himself to fit the profile! Later int he book fox meets a squirrel who tells him that he thinks being a fox is much cooler than being a tiger, and all the reasons squirrel likes foxes so much are the exact reasons fox hated being a fox! In the end fox goes back to being a fox, and accepts who he is. I think this story would be a great addition to the classroom as it helps students understand that each one of them is unique and no one else is quit like them, self love is everything!
December 10, 2024
I think the theme of this book is really empowering and can be liked by any ages. I like that it shows children that even though we want to change ourselves to fit in, being ourselves is more important. I like the way the author uses a fox and tiger to convey this instead of human beings. I believe that many students would benefit from this story since it would teach students about self love at a young age and in this generation there isn't as many outlets that display this message.
February 16, 2021
Featured in a grandma reads session.
One of the best secrets of life is to "act as if". . . .you want to be a tiger? Make it so, No. 1. Make it so.
Charming book taking a deeply held desire through its process, start to finish. A sad ending? Nah. Not so much. Just makes one ready for the next deeply held desire to get on deck. Break out a new color of paint, and costumes to try out.
All ears were mine for this one. Chuckles all around at the end.
One of the best secrets of life is to "act as if". . . .you want to be a tiger? Make it so, No. 1. Make it so.
Charming book taking a deeply held desire through its process, start to finish. A sad ending? Nah. Not so much. Just makes one ready for the next deeply held desire to get on deck. Break out a new color of paint, and costumes to try out.
All ears were mine for this one. Chuckles all around at the end.
September 4, 2025
Legit adorable book about a fox that wants to be something better and stronger than him—a tiger. He does his best to pretend he is something he’s not. Even his friends get involved with their imagination. Then at the end when fox thinks he’ll never be cool, squirrel raves about him. How badly fox is in awe of tiger, squirrel is in awe of Fox!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2020
The Fox wishes that he was a Tiger and wants to become one so he takes this journey but learns along the way that the best thing to be is organically yourself.
A. This is an easy read due to the large lettering and while there is a use of words they are small words and minimal.
B. The color in this book while subtle takes great use of blues and greens to draw in the younger audience to engage them while reading.
C. This is such a fun read along for a younger class or even for a student to begin reading on their own!
A. This is an easy read due to the large lettering and while there is a use of words they are small words and minimal.
B. The color in this book while subtle takes great use of blues and greens to draw in the younger audience to engage them while reading.
C. This is such a fun read along for a younger class or even for a student to begin reading on their own!
October 28, 2020
The message in this book is about wanting to be someone you're not until someone else appreciates who you are. Starting with fox, a few animals dress up (it's not Halloween, but could be). Rain washes away their costumes and brings sadness until squirrel comes along with fox appreciation. The illustrations are cute and it's easy to read. Alena and I enjoyed it.
April 3, 2024
What a precious little book about being yourself. I agree, Turtle, foxes are the best.
November 4, 2024
Cute I Can Read book!
August 16, 2019
Cute enough but there's something just a bit off, I think. However even after two separate reads I'm still not sure what it is, so judge for yourself.
August 8, 2020
Simple and genius!
February 25, 2021
3.5 stars, who says a fox cannot be a tiger? This is a cute early reader story about Fox, Turtle, and Rabbit who try out different identities. In the end, will they return to their former selves or embrace their new identities?
July 19, 2022
Great book, Lex read it all to me!
April 16, 2019
At the beginning of the book, there is a fox that wants to be a tiger because tigers are fast, sneaky, and big. So he decided to paint himself like a tiger. At the end of the book, it started to rain and the paint washed off, so he was back to being a fox. Then a squirrel showed up and he said that he wanted to be a fox because foxes are fast, sneaky and big, This idea of foxes made the fox feel joy towards himself. I really like this book because, it is colorful, interesting, and it teaches a very good lesson.
It helps children to be themselves because they are special. This book does a great job of using images to show what the words don't say. This book is also easy for children to read, so I am giving it five stars.
It helps children to be themselves because they are special. This book does a great job of using images to show what the words don't say. This book is also easy for children to read, so I am giving it five stars.
September 11, 2021
Copyright 2018
Geisel Award Book
Picture Book/ Learning Readers Book
Fox is a Fox that decides one day he wants to become a tiger because tigers are fast and sneaky, before he knows it his friends want to join in with him.
This book was fun to read, it would be a good book to use in the classroom for my students who are just starting out their journey on reading, as the text is failry simple and uses big print. It also would be a good book for teaching a lesson that we can be anything we want to be when we set our hearts to a certain goal.
Geisel Award Book
Picture Book/ Learning Readers Book
Fox is a Fox that decides one day he wants to become a tiger because tigers are fast and sneaky, before he knows it his friends want to join in with him.
This book was fun to read, it would be a good book to use in the classroom for my students who are just starting out their journey on reading, as the text is failry simple and uses big print. It also would be a good book for teaching a lesson that we can be anything we want to be when we set our hearts to a certain goal.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 301 reviews