This Is What You See
The opening page shows a fox, socks, a box and Mr. Knox. The fox, socks and box pretty recognizable and identifiable, but what of Knox? The only reason the reader knows the yellow creature at the bottom of the page is named Knox is because the text says so and the only reason the reader knows it is a name is because the K is capitalized. From this opening page, Seuss sets the rules for how images and text work together. This is what you see because this is what the text tells you this is what you see. Basic linguistics here, but from this simple foundation all of language is constructed.
Dangerously Enticing
Flip open the cover and the first piece of imagery that confronts the reader is a pair of gloved hands holding a sign reading “Take it slowly. This book is dangerous.” Not even Sam-I-Am uses such powerful marketing techniques and that guy is a successful peddler of green food that shouldn’t be green. It has been said that the single most powerful word in the world of advertising is “Free.” When it comes to kids, however, that might not be true. Maybe “Dangerous” is a much more tempting word.
Gaming
Another word that carries big meaning among kids is “games.” Playing games is, of course, the official job of kids. Some games carry more significance than others, however. Seuss plays upon this by permeating the book with imagery that suggests learning can be a game. Mr. Fox, especially, is fond of referring to his tongue twisters as fun and games even as they are, in reality, a lesson being taught by Seuss. Kids are learning when they have this book read to them because, later, they go back and read the book themselves. Planting the seed that learning can be a game is powerful imagery, quite obviously.
Twisted Tongues
Of course, the predominant use of imagery in the book is that which is conveyed through the verse. That verse is presented as a challenge for readers to speak out loud which, of course, has almost certainly resulted in an inconceivably large number of demonstrations which only serve to intensify and heighten the book’s appeal for the kids who are listening and watching. And, indeed, one can be fairly proud if they actually manage to get through the entire book speaking it out loud without tripping over their tongues:
“Through three cheese trees
three free fleas flew.
While these fleas flew,
freezy breeze blew.”
