FICTION

Spring Hare

by Eugene YELCHIN
illus. by Eugene Yelchin. 32p. Holt. Jan. 2017. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781627793926.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 1—An adorable hare and a little girl bounce on a trampoline as high as they can. The rabbit jumps so high that he's able to soar through the sky, with the little girl close behind in various modes of air transportation. The presentation is wordless, but there is a lot of detail to talk about as well as minor challenges (birds, hot-air balloons) that the hare has to overcome to continue his upward journey into the stratosphere. The hare hitches a ride on a shooting star to come back down to Earth and join his friend back on the trampoline. Illustrations have been traditionally drawn, then cut to create a collage feel; seeing individually cut blades of grass, trees, drops of rain, and stars seems to add to the imagination of the piece. Young viewers will want to spend time poring over the pictures and constructing narratives. Although the book is not as seasonal as the name or cover would imply, it does feature a bright blue and green palette that might work for a spring storytime.
VERDICT A warm and fanciful journey suitable for one-on-one and small group sharing.
Reviewed by Peter Blenski, Greenfield Public Library, WI
Yelchin presents a whimsical wordless tale brimming with energy. The story begins with a sequence of panels depicting a red-haired girl and a curious rabbit enjoying a romp on a trampoline. One particularly big bounce sends the child into the sky, leaving the watchful rabbit below; however, the rabbit soon springs up into the clouds after its friend. A series of progressively fanciful scenes unfolds, including: a hitched ride on a biplane, a run-in with a hot-air balloon, a race across a rainbow, and a trip to outer space, where Rabbit and the spacesuit-clad girl are finally reunited. A ride on a shooting star sends the rabbit back down to Earth, where the girl has landed on the trampoline. Readers may be left puzzled -- did the outrageous events actually occur, or were they figments of the characters' imaginations? Close looking might uncover a hint or two. Panoramic double-page spreads, along with a range of textures and a vibrant color palette, result in an immersive and buoyant bounce of an adventure. patrick gall
 , Dec 01, 2016

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

BLOGS

Holiday Gift Guide: Six Inclusive MG Fantasies, a guest post by Marieke Nijkamp
by Amanda MacGregor
BOOKS

Gracie Under the Waves
by Park, Linda Sue
BOOKS

Make My Wish Come True
by Lippincott, Rachael & Alyson Derrick
BOOKS

My Weird School Special: Hip, Hip, Hooray! Every Day Is a Holiday!
by Gutman, Dan
BOOKS

Ramadan on Rahma Road: A Recipe Storybook
by Gutta, Razeena Omar & Faaiza Osman
BOOKS

Big Changes for Plum!
by Phelan, Matt
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?