Rabbit's Gift

by George Shannon, Laura Dronzek (Illustrator)

Overview

Snow is coming, coming soon, so Rabbit needs to find food fast. Just in time, a turnip turns up, and a second one, too. Who in the woods wouldn't want to tuck away an extra turnip for the long winter? Not Rabbit. He chooses a different path—and starts a wave of generosity that spreads among all his forest friends.

Admired picture-book team George Shannon and Laura Dronzek have created a heartwarming tale about the true meaning of friendship.

Includes an author's note and a chart that translates the Chinese calligraphy in the book.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780547544144
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	11/01/2007
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	912,120
Lexile:	AD590L (what's this?)
File size:	13 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

George Shannon is a popular storyteller and former children's librarian whose many notable picture books include Tomorrow's Alphabet, Lizard's Guest, and White Is for Blueberry. Tippy-Toe Chick, Go!, illustrated by Laura Dronzek, was named a Charlotte Zolotow Award Honor Book. George Shannon lives on Bainbridge Island, Washington.

LAURA DRONZEK is a painter whose work has been exhibited nationally and award-winning children's book illustrator of titles like Tippy-Toe Chick, Go! and White Is for Blueberry. Laura lives with her husband, author-illustrator Kevin Henkes, in Madison, Wisconsin.

Editorial Reviews

…a lovely parable about sharing…
—The New York Times

Julie Just

Winter has arrived, but Rabbit has gotten lucky: he's found an extra turnip in the snowy field. Then it dawns on Rabbit that his friend Donkey may not be as fortunate, so he deposits the second turnip on her doorstep. Donkey, in turn, leaves the turnip for Goat, who delivers it to the home of Deer, who generously but unwittingly returns the vegetable to its original owner. Once again Rabbit knows the right thing to do: he brings all the animals together for a small winter feast. The artist's naif acrylic paintings, rendered in rich, saturated colors, are particularly effective in conveying both the winter chill and the effort involved in paying it forward; Rabbit and Goat push the prized turnip through the snow with their snouts or heads, while the other animals must navigate deep drifts to make their delivery. Shannon and Dronzek (previously paired for White Is for Blueberry) prove once again that they are likeminded talents, able to tackle a potentially treacly subject with understated earnestness and lyricism. Ages 3-7. (Nov.)

Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

Publishers Weekly

PreS-K
This story of sharing and caring for one's neighbors begins as Rabbit goes out to collect food to sustain himself through the coming winter storm. He has some good fortune and decides to give an extra turnip to his friend Donkey. Donkey is away but when she returns home, she finds the turnip and, knowing she has enough to eat, she, too, passes it on. With each consecutive house, the gift is deemed more than enough and eventually makes its way back to Rabbit. He exclaims, "I don't know who to thank . . . .But I know just who to share it with!" This folktale, with versions found in many cultures, is well told and richly illustrated. The appealing acrylic art supports the simple text and enhance the story. This title also includes an author's note and Chinese calligraphy glossary. A terrific seasonal storyhour selection.
—G. Alyssa ParkinsonCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Shannon takes an ancient folktale and shapes it into quite a nice little winter story. Though it's cold and snowy, Rabbit finds not one but two turnips. One is enough for him, so he rolls the other over to Donkey's house and leaves it outside the door for her. Donkey comes home with a potato, and concerned that Goat is always hungry, leaves the turnip for him. Goat has a cabbage, so brings the turnip to Deer; and she, satisfied with her carrot, leaves the turnip outside Rabbit's door. The next day, Rabbit shares the turnip all around. Dronzek makes a lovely border of turnips, with the Chinese ideograms for the names of the animals, as a leitmotif; her shapes are soft, rounded and sculptural and the snow is deep and soft. The animals have expressive faces and move the gift of the turnip around by pushing, butting and rolling. In a graceful author's note, Shannon traces what he can of the misty origins and multiple versions of this story. A low-key but lovely winter tale. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews