Fox Tale Soup
By Tony Bonning
Illustrated by Sally Hobson
Simon & Schuster, $16
ISBN 0689849001

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Cunning country fox is a crafty cook

On a long winter's night, after the kiddies have been fed and tucked in their bed, read the story of Fox Tale Soup to them. It's important to make sure their tummies are full first, or you might find yourself being dispatched to the kitchen to conjure up some succulent stone soup.

What? How do you make soup from a stone? It's the type of trick question a cunning red fox uses to outwit a bunch of stingy barnyard animals and slake his hunger.

Scottish author Tony Bonning teams up with illustrator Sally Hobson to serve up a satisfying retelling of a traditional folktale intended for youngsters 4-8. As the story unfolds, a tired, starving fox stops at a farm gate. "Can you spare a little food for a hungry traveler?" Fox asks.

One by one the cow, donkey, goat and hens refuse. "Go away!" says Old Dog. But Fox isn't discouraged and politely asks for water to make some soup. "Sheep who is slightly kinder than the others" brings him some water.

Then Fox builds a fire and pulls a gray cooking pot and big spoon from his bright blue backpack. He places the pot over the roaring fire and adds the water. Next, Fox carefully chooses a stone and drops it into the water, announcing, "That should make a fine pot of stone soup." Of course, the other animals are curious and gather closer as Fox stirs and tastes the mixture, declaring it delicious but not quite right.

"I think it needs a touch of salt and pepper," Fox says, as Sheep trots off to fetch the seasoning. Once more Fox declares it "delicious but not quite right."

Each of the animals eagerly makes a contribution to the soup when an ingredient is asked for by Fox. Cow brings a turnip, Donkey returns holding a carrot by the greens from his mouth, Goat offers a cabbage impaled on one of his horns, and the four hens run across the barnyard carrying bowls of corn between their outstretched wings.

"At last, the stone soup was just right. They all shared it . . . down to the very last, delicious drop."

Fox Tale Soup is a gentle reminder of the values of teamwork and cooperation. Bonning brings a peaceful, harmonious sense of balance to the time-tested trickster story as Hobson focuses on each animal's role and rounds out the recipe with some colorful eye-candy.