Hare And The Tortoise [Hardcover]

Helen Ward (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Retells the events of the famous race between the boastful hare and the persevering tortoise. Includes a key to the various animals pictured in the illustrations.

--This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4-Ward uses this tale as a vehicle for her absorbing pictures of animals from around the world. The spare text allows the illustrations to tell the part of the story she's added: that the animals, who have come from far and wide to see the race, conspire to slow down the hare and let their considerate friend win. This change destroys Aesop's moral of perseverance and creates unwarranted sympathy for the hare. It also allows readers to concentrate on the conglomeration of creatures that Ward has assembled in the beautiful and scientifically precise ink-and-watercolor illustrations. The book is excellently designed, with a generous use of white space and large-type lines that literally bend to the motion in the pictures and the pacing of the story. The narrative is fluid, though the voice in the telling is not as strong as the voice in the paintings. Copious endnotes on the species depicted (as compared to the lack of any notes about the retelling) indicate that this is intended to be a visual treat for animal lovers, and not a book for those looking for Aesop.
Nina Lindsay, Oakland Public Library, CA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

From Booklist

In this age of satirical versions of fables and fairy tales, a straightforward, elegant, witty retelling of an old favorite such as "The Hare and the Tortoise" comes as a particular pleasure. The focus of this large, spacious picture book is real animals, from the two title characters to the many that come to see the race. With black ink outlines meticulously delineating the creatures' fur and markings, Ward's watercolor-and-gouache paintings show each animal as both warmly cuddly and realistic. In this version of the story, the very fast hare wreaks havoc with his tearing around. When he trips over the tortoise and tumbles into a thorny bush, he calls the tortoise slow-witted and stupid. "The tortoise did not say what he thought of the hare. Instead, he challenged the hare to a race." As always, the hare's overconfidence and recklessness cost him the win. The brief story, with its large, easy-to-see pictures, makes a fine story hour choice for younger children. For older ones, there's more fun at the back of the book. In tiny print, Ward provides a key and some chatty background information on all the animals portrayed in the story, making the volume a treat that animal lovers can return to again and again. Susan Dove Lempke --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Millbrook Press (March 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761309888
• ISBN-13: 978-0761309888
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #439,460 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous illustrations, engaging retelling of a classic., October 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hare And The Tortoise (Library Binding)

Helen Ward's illustrations are fabulous and she has retold this classic charmingly and engagingly. I am more and more impressed by Australian illustrators and writers. This is a must have.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Should have won an award, October 1, 2001

By 

"moo_jen" (Clermont, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hare And The Tortoise (Hardcover)

I cannot believe this is not an award winning book. I have read many children's books lately, and to me this ranks right up there with the Caldecotts and other award winners. The illustrations are wonderful, depicting the animals realistically yet with very expressive almost human faces. The story has some nice humorous twists to it, and I found it very entertaining. There is even an educational aspect to it, as it includes an index of sorts to the animals depicted and a little information about them. I think any child would be delighted with this book, and might even be inspired to further reading about animals.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A children's dream come true, October 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hare And The Tortoise (Library Binding)

The book is truly a dream come true for many children. I myself found the book to be soothing to a rejected child who is always to slow and never wins. This just goes to show that good sportsmanship and willingness makes the grade. I know that someday when I children that I will read this book to them rather they are the fastest most athletic kid in the class or the slowest and last picked kid in the class