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Cover of The Travels of a Fox: A Gentle Retelling
Folktales & LegendsPicture bookLevel 3Ages 3–5

The Travels of a Fox: A Gentle Retelling

English · 20 pages · 585 words · 5 min read

A gentle retelling for listeners ages 3–5 of the traditional American chain tale “The Travels of a Fox” from Clifton Johnson’s The Oak-Tree Fairy Book: a fox leaves his bag at one house after another and says, “Then be careful not to open the bag,” but every housewife peeps, so the bumblebee in the bag becomes a rooster, a pig, an ox, and a little boy, until the last woman puts her house dog in the bag instead.

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Original work by
Traditional; edited by Clifton Johnson
Adapted by
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The opening of The Travels of a Fox: A Gentle Retelling, free to read.

  1. Illustration from page 2 of The Travels of a Fox: A Gentle Retelling

    A Fox had a bag, and whatever was in it, he meant to keep. Scratch, scratch! Behind an old stump he dug up a bumblebee. Buzz! Into the bag it went, and off he trotted.

  2. Illustration from page 3 of The Travels of a Fox: A Gentle Retelling

    Knock, knock at the first door! “Can I leave my bag here while I go to Squintum’s?” “Yes,” said the woman. “Then be careful not to open the bag,” said the Fox.

  3. Illustration from page 4 of The Travels of a Fox: A Gentle Retelling

    Buzz, buzz, hummed the bag. Nearby, a rooster pecked. “I will look and see,” said the woman. Out shot the bumblebee. Snap went the rooster’s beak!

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