About the Author
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings was an American writer born in 1896. She lived in a rural area of Florida, surrounded by forests and wildlife. This helped her write stories about nature, animals, and simple village life. Her most famous book is The Yearling, which won a big award called the Pulitzer Prize. Rawlings loved the outdoors and often wrote about how people connect with animals and the wild. She passed away in 1953, but her stories still teach us about kindness and the beauty of nature. This story, "This is Jody’s Fawn", comes from her book The Yearling.
What’s the Story About?
This story is a heartwarming tale about a young boy named Jody who lives in a small, simple home in the Florida woods with his parents. It’s set in a wild, green forest full of deer, birds, and other animals. Jody’s family is poor and works hard on their farm, growing corn and hunting for food to survive.
One day, Jody’s father, Penny, goes hunting and kills a mother deer to feed the family. Jody feels very sad when he sees a tiny baby deer, called a fawn, left alone near the dead mother. The fawn is shaking with fear and hunger, crying softly for its mom. Jody’s heart breaks—he can’t stop thinking about the lonely little animal. He wonders if it will die without milk or care.
Jody talks to his father about it. At first, Penny says they can’t keep the fawn because life in the woods is tough, and they must focus on their own survival. But Jody begs and explains how the fawn has no one else. Finally, Penny agrees to help. They go back to the spot, and Jody gently picks up the scared fawn. It’s light like a feather and trembles in his arms. They name it "Fodder-wing’s Fawn" at first, but soon it becomes Jody’s own pet, called "This is Jody’s Fawn."
Back home, Jody’s mother is not happy at first. She worries the fawn will eat their food or bring trouble. But Jody feeds it fresh grass, berries, and even some milk from their cow. The fawn starts to trust Jody. It follows him everywhere, like a loyal dog—nibbling on leaves, playing in the yard, and sleeping near the house at night. Jody teaches it tricks, like coming when he calls, and it becomes his best friend. Through this, Jody learns to care for something small and helpless, and it brings joy to their hard daily life.
The story shows how one act of kindness can change everything. There’s excitement when the fawn grows a bit and starts jumping around playfully. But there’s also a lesson about the circle of life in the wild—animals hunt to eat, and sometimes sad things happen. In the end, Jody grows closer to his family, and the fawn teaches him about love, responsibility, and the magic of nature.
(Think of it like this: Imagine finding a lost puppy in the rain. You’d want to help it, right? That’s Jody’s adventure—full of worry, fun, and warm feelings.)
Who’s Who in the Story
- Jody Baxter: The main hero, a curious and kind-hearted boy of about 12. He lives with his parents in the woods and dreams of having a pet. He’s brave enough to care for the fawn and feels its pain deeply.
- Penny Baxter (Father): Jody’s dad, a strong hunter and farmer. He’s practical and teaches Jody about the hard rules of nature, like killing for food. But he’s also loving and agrees to Jody’s wish in the end.
- Mrs. Baxter (Mother): Jody’s mom, who keeps the home running. She’s strict and worried about extra mouths to feed, but she softens when she sees Jody’s happiness.
- The Fawn: The baby deer, small and spotted with big eyes. It’s scared at first but becomes playful and attached to Jody, like a new family member.
- Fodder-wing: A neighbor boy mentioned in the story (not seen much). He’s a friend who loves animals and inspires the fawn’s first name.
Themes and Moral
Main Themes
- Kindness to Animals: The story shows how caring for helpless creatures, like the lonely fawn, makes us better people. Jody’s love teaches us to see animals as friends, not just food.
- Family Bonds: In tough times, Jody’s family talks and supports each other. The fawn brings them closer, turning a sad moment into shared joy.
- Life in Nature: The wild forest is beautiful but harsh—deer eat plants, people hunt deer. It teaches balance: we must respect animals while surviving.
- Growing Up: Jody learns big lessons about loss, care, and letting go. He changes from a dreamy boy to someone responsible.
Moral: The key lesson is: One small act of compassion can heal a broken heart and bring happiness to many. Like Jody, we should think about others’ feelings, even animals’, and help when we can. It reminds us that in a busy world, kindness is the simplest way to make life better.
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
Here are some key words and phrases from the story. I’ve explained them in easy, everyday language, like chatting with a friend. Use them in sentences to remember!
- Fawn: A baby deer, usually with white spots on its fur. (Example: The fawn hid under the bush, looking cute and scared.)
- Doe: A female deer (the mom in the story). (Example: The doe ran fast through the trees to protect her baby.)
- Bucks: Male deer with big antlers (horns). (Example: Bucks fight with their antlers during the rainy season.)
- Trembled: Shook with fear or cold, like shivering. (Example: The little girl trembled when thunder boomed outside.)
- Mournful: Very sad, like crying inside. (Example: Jody gave a mournful look when he saw the dead deer.)
- Loll: To hang loosely or relax lazily. (Example: The dog lolled its tongue out on a hot day.)
- Nuzzled: To rub gently with the nose, like showing love. (Example: The puppy nuzzled my hand for a treat.)
- "This is Jody’s Fawn": A fun phrase Jody uses to claim the deer proudly, like saying "This is my new buddy!" (Example: When friends visited, Jody said, "This is Jody’s Fawn—come play!")
- Circle of Life: The idea that everything in nature is connected—birth, death, and new starts. (Example: In the forest, the circle of life means plants grow, animals eat, and life goes on.)
- Heartstrings: Feelings of deep love or sadness that tug at your heart. (Example: The sad movie pulled at my heartstrings and made me cry.)
Practice these by reading the story aloud—they’ll stick in your mind like a favorite song!