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In this light-hearted children’s book, Fin and Fang are two playful, mischievous fox brothers who set out one morning to play a prank on Bear. Fang devises an “epic” plan to set up a spider web trap for Bear to get stuck in and decides to trick him into thinking his beloved friends, the bees, are in trouble. Fin knows that Fang’s pranks usually end up less “epic” and more like “epic fails,” and he worries they might be provoking Bear too much. But when Fang’s trick turns out to be a reality, both brothers work with Bear to save the bees and even learn a lesson about caring for their friends in the process.
The author’s note states that the purpose for this book is to help teach children homophones—in this case, the difference between “bear” and “bare.” The narrative organically weaves in the use of “bare” often enough for children to see its context, especially contrasted with Bear, the animal character. The use of homophones is so subtle that children may need to read with an adult to pick up on the lesson. Vocabulary that may be challenging for young readers is italicized and included in a glossary at the end.
Outside of the book’s pedagogical mission, the story is also wholesome and fun. The accompanying illustrations are delightful and full of detail. While children can enjoy the plot as young as four years old, the age that will most likely understand the story and the vocabulary best is closer to eight. The book offers some clever references, such as Fang’s “Foxbook” page or his “Pineapple” smartphone, that will also keep older readers engaged.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review