The Tale of Tricky Fox

No, this is not a children's story based on George W. Bush's 1990 stock sale of Harken Energy, but rather an iconographic animated adaptation of The Tale of Tricky Fox (2001), a traditional story for youngsters retold by Jim Aylesworth and illustrated by Barbara McClintock. Believing that "human folks aren't smart like me," Tricky Fox concocts the ultimate insider's trading scheme to turn an unappetizing log into a succulent pig. Here's the gambit: conning an elderly woman into letting him spend the night, Tricky feigns tiredness, and asks his hostess to watch over his sack without looking inside (which, naturally, she does). The following morning, after Tricky has surreptitiously removed the log, he pitches a fit that someone has stolen his "loaf of bread." His host says, "but you didn't have…" and bites her tongue; rather than embarrass herself, she offers to replace Tricky's bread. Our sly fox moves on to the next mark the following night, with his sights set on converting the loaf of bread into a chicken, and so on. Eventually, Tricky Fox makes the mistake of trying to put one over on a teacher, and learns that humans can be tricky too. Narrated by Frances Sternhagen, and featuring a foot-tappin' soundtrack by Wayne Abramavel, this entertaining yarn is recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (R. Pitman)