The Man and the Fox

A man tricks a young fox into believing that he will give him a chicken. The fox gets trapped, but through ingenuity and perseverance he manages to escape. This story, which belongs to the rich and ancient storytelling tradition of Central Asia and the Middle East, is presented here as one of a series of illustrated books for the young, retold by the author and educator Idries Shah. These tales are designed to foster thinking skills and perception, and to help children examine their assumptions and think for themselves. The story of the fox suggests ways of looking at difficulties and problems that can inspire children to face such challenges and to overcome them.