Foolish Rabbit's Big Mistake [Hardcover]

Rafe Martin (Author), Ed Young (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 12, 1991

As all the animals panic and flee at little rabbit's announcement that the earth is breaking up, a brave lion steps in and brings sense to the situation.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In PW 's words, "Swirling shapes in hot colors emphasize the tensions in this fable and reveal another dimension of Young's painterly skills. The closeups of the lion's piercing eyes and great claws stand out among a series of remarkable scenes." Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3 A retelling of a Jataka precurser of Chicken Little and Henny Penny. A foolish rabbit under an apple tree dreams that the earth might breakup. When the predictable crash jars him from sleep, he assumes the worst and spreads his news throughout the jungle. Only a lion, viewing the consternation from a lofty resting place, interrupts the animals' flight towards a fatal precipice. The lion forcefully directs the animals to examine the facts of the matter, then prevents the animals from tearing the rabbit "to pieces" when they find out how gullible they have been. Suitable tone and economy of language reflect the author's storytelling experience, although his modern dialogue occasionally doesn't suit the story. Still, storytellers will be pleased to find that they can tell this moral tale of fear, gossip and forgiveness as written. Independent readers, and all the rest who like their stories with pictures, will be astonished by Young's illustrations. Van Gogh-like use of colors make the animals' frightful adrenalin level easy to believe: shadows may be purple or green or blue, but never just gray. The lion's paw stamped on the solid ground in emphasis and as proof that the earth is not breaking up fills a double spread. Ominous, murky shadows are balanced by phosphorescent color combinations which heighten dramatic tension. So effectively do they do this that the normal, naturalistic color palette used in the concluding picture of the first apple tranquilizes a little of the fear that we all carry with us. This dramatic presentation of a dramatic tale is recommended for all of us, grown or not, who have anything in common with the foolish rabbit. Dana Whitney Pinizzotto, The Parish Day School of the Church of the Transfiguration, Dallas
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (June 12, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399217789
• ISBN-13: 978-0399217784
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 9.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,238,909 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Folklore at its best; an unfamiliar version of a classic., November 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Foolish Rabbit's Big Mistake (Hardcover)

For fans of folklore, this book is a treasure trove. It contains the ancient echoes of the familiar story of Henny Penny or Chicken Little, but with a kinder, more positive ending, in which no animals are eaten by any other animals. The illustrations are vivid and evocative. My favorites are one VERY close-up view of a lion and another of his paws as he stamps the ground. There is also a delightful one of a honey-eating bear staring cross-eyed at some bees. I have used this book for years in my storytelling with young children, particularly when I am leading them to compare different versions of a story. It has also been wonderful as story material for creative dramatics with young children.