Characters: Sister Fox, Molly Miz Grasshopper, Miz Duck and Miz Goose. The opponents are Mistah Slickry Sly-fox, Rooster and Mistah Bear.

Setting: The American South

Theme: Clever females and their intelligence to overcome obstacles and tricks.

Genre: Tales from southern states; Trickster tales and Folklore tales.

Summary: The enemies try to play the “trickster” game themselves, but the sisters are able to see through the plotting and turn the tables to their own benefit. This collection of trickster tales is from the American South and the main characters are female animals.

Golden quote: “What happened reminded Miz Molly-and all her kin-that they’d better keep their wits about them at all times. There are many different kinds of bait a trickish creature can use to hook someone, whether he’s a got a fishing pole or not.”

Audience: Children ages 5 to adult (especially girls)

Curriculum ties: In geography students are able to make a map of the American South and trace the location of the tales. History students can compare and contrast trickster tales from the American South with Native American Trickster tales. They can look for similarities and differences from both groups.

Personal response: This collection of trickster tales is great because it give female readers an opportunity to find characters like Miz Duck and Miz Goose which become their heroines because they can relate to them. Most of the time trickster tales are written with male character and at the end the clever ones are males which make this genre less accessible for girls to be interested, but this collection changes that stereotype.

Mistah Fox's funeral -- Mista Fox and Molly Hare go fishing -- Toad, the grasshopper and the rooster -- Mistah Hare, Mistah Mink and Miz duck -- Miz Goose deceives Mistah Bear -- Mistah Bear tends store for Mistah Fox -- Mistah Fox and Sis' duck -- Foxes and the hot potatoes.

I would use this book in a folktale unit and I would have my students discuss the differences between these versions and the original versions.