Rabbit's Gift [Hardcover]

George Shannon (Author), Dronzek (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2007 | Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

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

About the Author

GEORGE SHANNON is a teacher, librarian, writer, and storyteller. His children's books include Lizard's Song, Climbing Kansas Mountains, and The Secret Chicken Club. He lives on Bainbridge Island, Washington.

LAURA DRONZEK, a painter whose work has been exhibited nationally, is the award-winning illustrator of Tippy-Toe Chick, Go! and White Is for Blueberry, both also written by George Shannon. She lives with her husband, author-illustrator Kevin Henkes, in Madison, Wisconsin.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books (November 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152060731
• ISBN-13: 978-0152060732
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 10.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #849,169 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

It feels as though I have always been wrapped in stories and books. My parents read to me, and I in turn read to younger brothers. Family economics meant we couldn't own many books, but going to the library was as common as going to the market. I still have the books I received as gifts. They include two "Little Golden Books" that were savored in childhood, and have served as talisman ever since. THE BUNNY BOOK by Patsy and Richard Scarry (1955) and RABBIT AND HIS FRIENDS by Richard Scarry (1953).

Like all children I created stories as part of play. And, like some children, I was soon identified as one who "days dreams too much." I began writing stories when they were given as assignments in elementary school. By seventh grade I was writing even when there was no assignment. My dream of making books became so vivid, I submitted my first "formal" picture book manuscript to a publisher when I was sixteen. Eleven more years of school, work, reading, writing and luck finally brought about LIZARD'S SONG, my first children's book to be accepted.

Looking back, it seems especially appropriate that LIZARD'S SONG was my first book. Even though I had been writing for years, I always felt everyone else's life held better ideas for stories than mine did. I thought there was nothing about me that was interesting enough to make a good story. But I finally learned what Lizard teaches Bear. My best stories come when I tell or sing about what makes my home. What I love. What I fear. Things that have happened to me, and things I hope will happen. Things I like about me. Things I dislike about me. Things I understand, and things that still confuse me. So even though I am not a lizard, squirrel, chicken or rabbit, when you read my books you'll find little bits of what my heart calls home.

Picture books have been my professional focus now for 40 years. Reading them. Writing them. Sharing them with children. Teaching workshops and classes on writing them. Oh yes, and buying them. Lots of them. And now, blogging about them, and helping other writers.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rabbit's Gift - A wonderful treasure!, December 13, 2007

By 

Shannon Evans "My Writing Mentor" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rabbit's Gift (Hardcover)

George Shannon's Rabbit's Gift, a modern retelling of the "giving" fable, is a treat for readers and listeners of all ages. The spirit of the original story is cleverly revealed by the re-gifting of a turnip by well-intentioned community of animals. The classic unfolding of the story of the self-less generosity of these forest friends is a special treat to be shared.

Rabbit's Gift is a wonderful parable of the power of giving. Through the eyes of the adorable forest creatures so wonderfully illustrated by Laura Dronzek, the audience sees that while he is not responsible for the happiness of others, one's actions do deeply impact all those who come in contact with them.

In Rabbit's Gift, a new family tradition is born. The easy conversational writing style, the logical flow of the story, and the twist to the original story makes this book a new classic. Shannon does a marvelous job of telling a complex story in simple language that is meant to be shared.

Rabbit's Gift is the perfect gift; to share this book with the little listener is to give the gift of one's time. George Shannon has created a rich allegory that redefines the importance of giving to a whole new generation of readers and listeners. Rabbit's Gift, is that rare special treat that simply must be savored and shared.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Rabbit's Gift, January 17, 2008

By 

Ruth (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rabbit's Gift (Hardcover)

Rabbit's Gift

This is a wonderful story about generosity. Our club bought this book to donate to various elementary schools in our area. Amazon was very quick to mail these out.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Heartwarming Book about the Joy of Giving, March 3, 2010

By 

The Book Nosher (Bainbridge Island, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rabbit's Gift (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful picture book that shows the beauty of giving in a way that even the youngest of readers will appreciate. Based on an ancient folktale, which possibly originated in China, this story nestles its way into your heart leaving you with a warm feeling after you've closed the book.

The story begins with Rabbit in search of food on a cold and snowy day. He soon finds two turnips, and he rolls them home. As he nibbles away on one, his thoughts turn to his friend Donkey, and he wonders if she has enough to eat. So he pushes the turnip up the hill to Donkey's house and leaves it by the front door. As he leaves, his tracks are covered up by the falling snow. When donkey discovers the turnip, she realizes that she has enough to eat, but perhaps Goat doesn't, and she decides to bring the turnip to him. The story goes on like this, with each animal gifting the turnip to another animal friend. The turnip is eventually returned-full circle-to Rabbit, who knows exactly what to do with it. The last picture shows Rabbit, Donkey, Goat and Deer sharing the turnip.

The illustrations by Dronzek are simple and engaging. There's just enough detail so that even the youngest reader will be drawn to the page. One interesting thing she did is draw the Chinese symbol for each animal when they are first introduced.

But it's Shannon's telling of the story which is so pitch perfect. The language is refreshingly simple, making it a great read aloud. I can see that this will be one of those books that children will want to hear over and over and over again.