Fantastic Mr Fox was published in 1970. It is a short, pacey adventure story about a clever fox who outwits three horrible farmers. Ideal for Years 2–4.
Mr Fox lives with his wife and four children in a hole beneath a tree. He provides for his family by stealing from the farms of three mean farmers: Boggis (fat and greedy, keeps chickens), Bunce (short and fat, keeps ducks and geese) and Bean (thin and mean, keeps turkeys and makes cider). The three farmers decide to catch Mr Fox. First they wait outside his hole with guns. Then they try to dig him out with shovels, and then with mechanical diggers. Mr Fox tunnels deeper and deeper underground with his family.
When the fox family is near starvation underground, Mr Fox hatches a brilliant plan. He tunnels secretly into each of the three farm storehouses in turn, stealing enough food for a great underground feast. He invites all the other burrowing animals to share the food. The farmers are left sitting outside the hole, still waiting — getting cold, hungry and wet — while the animals feast underground in safety.