Foxes: Living on the Edge cover

Foxes: Living on the Edge

Author: Henry, J. David

Reading Metrics

Grade Level Upper Grades (UG 9-12)
Book Level 9.2
Points 4.0
Fiction/Nonfiction Nonfiction
Word Count 22239
Points per Word 0.00018
Page Count 142
Points per Page 0.028169
Series Wildlife

Description

In this exploration of North American wildlife, Henry examines the lives of foxes across the continent. The book covers their social behaviors, diverse habitats, feeding habits, and the remarkable adaptations that help them survive. From urban environments to remote wilderness areas, readers discover how these clever canids have carved out their niche in ecosystems from coast to coast.

Quick Summary

From the first page, Henry pulls you into the cunning world of North American foxes, weaving field observations with vivid storytelling that makes even the most technical facts feel like a field-journal adventure. Readers get a front-row seat to fox families navigating city outskirts, desert dunes, and snowy forests, discovering how they communicate, hunt, and raise their kits using tricks that would make a spy proud. The writing balances humor and respect, so animal lovers who enjoy a bit of wit will find themselves chuckling while learning about the real-life superpowers of foxes. Upper-grade students who think they don't like non-fiction will be surprised how quickly they get absorbed, especially when Henry drops surprising stats like the distance a fox can hear a mouse under a foot of snow. Parents will appreciate that the focus stays on natural behavior and science, with only a few brief hunting scenes described in a factual, educational way, making it a solid choice for classroom or home reading. If you've ever been fascinated by the cleverness of animals and want a read that feels more like an adventure story than a textbook, this fits right alongside titles like "The Secret Life of Mammals" for its blend of narrative and research.