We know, we know; transformation is kind of a heavy theme for a children's book about tangling one's tongue. But like Kafka before him, Dr. Seuss is exploring the idea of transformation in Fox in Socks—albeit in a little more subdued fashion. Knox doesn't have the fastest tongue in the west. At least, he doesn't think so. Once the game starts getting difficult, he kind of shuts up and lets Fox push him about a bit. But by book's end, Knox has had enough, and he gives tongue twisting a go, only to lay down the biggest, baddest tongue twister in the book. This brings about a transformation in Knox as we see him instantly become more confident. Not because he succeeded, mind you, but because he tried.
Questions and Answers
Questions Your Super-Young Adult Might Ask and How You Might Respond:
Q: What's wrong with Knox's tongue?
A: Nothing. He just lacks the confidence to try the tongue twisters.
Q: Why doesn't he have any confidence?
A: Probably because Fox keeps telling him these things are easy when they are anything but. Showboaters can be very passive when pushing you about.
Q: How did Knox make up that tongue-tangler at the end?
A: You never know what you can do until you try.
Q: Is that cliché the best you can come up with?
A: Yeah…