The Tortoise and the Jackrabbit / La tortuga y la Liebre (Multilingual Edition) [Paperback]

Susan Lowell (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

The Tortoise and the Hare with a southwestern flair. Tortoise, living comfortably in her home on Slow Lane, awakens one morning feeling good and challenges cocky Jackrabbit to a race. Patiently bumping her way through the desert landscape, Tortoise heads for the finish line as Jackrabbit cheerfully skips--and sleeps. Roadrunner, Tarantula, Gila Monster and even a Javelina or three cheer them on. Irresistible fun for the young and old alike.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

As in their The Three Little Javelinas, Lowell and Harris revivify a timeworn tale with a Southwestern setting and a dash of wit. The tortoise here is a bespectacled, parasol-toting marm. Her cocky rival-a singing ("Long, low, LEAP, ho!") jackrabbit-springs into the air to flaunt his speed. "Tortoise looked patiently up at him with her old, old eyes. 'Let's race,' she said." A jumble of directional signs tucked under his wing, Roadrunner marks the course through a desert filled with the appropriate flora and fauna. Indeed, with repeated readings, the safari-style ecological subtext may overtake the amusement of the race itself. Precise and punchy, Lowell's undated prose turns hip alongside Harris's comical characterizations. The race ends with an endearing laugh at Tortoise eating her victory bouquet; the book ends with an author's note concerning the current threats to desert creatures. A merry blend of play, allegory and environmentalism. Ages 3-up.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3?Lowell gives the familiar fable the same Southwestern spin she gave "The Three Little Pigs" in The Three Little Javelinas (Northland, 1992). Tortoise challenges Jackrabbit to a race across the desert; they pass saguaro cacti and mesquite trees, purple sand verbena and desert dandelions, and encounter creatures such as Elf Owl, Scorpion, Tarantula, and Javelina. The spare text is lively and begs to be read aloud. Pronunciation is given in parentheses after unfamiliar words, and while this is helpful, the placement is a little distracting. A note about endangered wildlife of the desert is appended. Harris's acrylic-and-watercolor paintings, reminiscent of Wallace Tripp's work, are full of humor and energy. Tortoise is a staid, elderly female with a hat, gloves, reticule, and lace-edged anklets. Jackrabbit sports green suspenders over a red plaid shirt that covers a slight paunch. The artist uses a range of muted colors that evokes the dry beauty of the area. Even libraries that already own collections of Aesop's fables or Janet Stevens's The Tortoise and the Hare (Holiday, 1984) will want to consider this version for its sprightly, fresh approach.?Donna L. Scanlon, Lancaster County Library, PA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Cooper Square Publishing Llc; Bilingual edition (June 30, 2004)
• Language: Multilingual
• ISBN-10: 087358869X
• ISBN-13: 978-0873588690
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 9.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,001,867 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 The Tortoise and the Jackrabbit, July 2, 2000

By 

Carrie A. Bauer - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Tortoise and the Jackrabbit (Hardcover)

Susan Lowell has adapted the classtic story of the Tortoise and the Hare perfectly for desert readers. As a kindergarten teacher in Arizona, I love reading this story to my students because it is relevant for them. They love listening to it!

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully illustrated, great twist on classic fable, September 15, 2011

By 

A. Bowman - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Tortoise and the Jackrabbit (Hardcover)

This is a great twist on the classic fable of the tortoise and the hare. For those who live or spend time in the southern part of Arizona (Sonoran Desert) this is a great tale. It uses all of the desert critters found here, a Gila Monster, a scorpion, a rattlesnake, a coyote, a tarantula, even a family of quail, and of course the desert tortoise and the jackrabbit to tell the story. The illustrations are beautiful and full of things to look at and talk to your kids about. It is drawn as though the characters were in an Old West town and this was the event of the day. It even has a buzzard circling overhead as though it is the play-by-play announcer. From the moment it came into the house, it has been a favorite of my kids. I highly recommend it and will be giving it as a gift to quite a few people.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Tortoise and the Jackrabbit, June 19, 2011

By 

Shyrel Crawford - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Tortoise and the Jackrabbit (Hardcover)

My niece and nephew enjoyed this book very much. I love to purchase books through Amazon.com because, they are always a good price and I love that they show me other books I might be interested in, based on what I have ordered in the past.