Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner

This book, originally published in 1980 has become a modern classic and favorite read aloud for many teachers and families. I have read this book many times over the years, but never an edition with this cover art.  Don’t Judge A Book by Its Cover!  This book is one book that every elementary student should read or have read aloud at least once.

This book is based on a Rocky Mountain legend.  Little Willie hopes to pay the $500 in taxes on his grandfather’s farm that are due with the winnings from a dog sled race he enters.  Stone Fox has his most daunting opponent has never lost a race. Will a young boy and his dog, Searchlight, outperform the best sled racers in the country and save the family farm? This story, like its hero, little Willy, has all the ingredients of a winner…right down to the unforeseen drama at the finish line.

After recommending this book to one ASIJ family this week, they emailed me after finishing the book.  Here is a bit of the email I received:

“I think your choice was perfect. This book helps my child’s emotional development and also gave us a great experiment as a family.”