PreSchool-Grade 1-- This brief retelling of a Native American tale has a familiar structure and a satisfying ending. When Coyote sees Rabbit race by, he thinks there must be hunters in pursuit, so he scoots off too. Moose sees Coyote dash past, Wolf sees Moose, Bear sees Wolf, and all flee the imagined danger. At last they stop, exhausted, and ask Rabbit why they're running. "Why were you running." Rabbit replies, "I have no idea. But me --I was late for dinner!" Tanaka tells the action-packed, cumulative tale in a matter-of-fact manner with a minimum of detail. Gay's fluidly brushed, lighthearted watercolor cartoons feature simply rendered animals (Coyote looks more like a fox) with large eyes and comical exaggerated expressions a la Janet Stevens. The simplicity and logic will not be lost on even preschool audiences. A good story-hour choice. --John Peters, New York Public Library
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Kirkus Reviews
Via a French adaptation, an amusing cumulative tale from the Pacific Northwest. Seeing Rabbit scoot by, four larger animals conclude that they should run, too--only to discover that Rabbit's reason for speed (he's late for dinner) has nothing to do with them. Gay deftly captures every nuance of the foolish pursuit in broad brush-strokes that recall oriental painting. Simple, comical, satisfying. (Picture book. 3-7) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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