Review: “Rabbit’s Gift” by George Shannon and Illustrated by Laura Dronzek
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.
When the snow piles up outside, there’s nothing better than sharing a meal with friends.
(Summary taken from back and inside cover)
Rabbit’s Gift is a picture book by George Shannon and illustrated Laura Dronzek. It is an adaptation of a folktale that can be found in Chinese, Japanese, French, and Spanish retellings. The story of the book is that Rabbit has been gathering food and has extra. He thinks that his friend Donkey could use it so he brings it to where Donkey lives, but Donkey wasn’t home so he leaves it there. Donkey comes upon the turnip and then delivers it to Goat’s home, who drops it off at Deer’s place, which completes the unknown circle by placing it in front of Rabbit’s home. Rabbit finds the turnip again and is surprised and then brings all of the animals together to share the turnip. The book has beautiful art that features Chinese characters of each animal on the border. The last page has all the characters again with their definitions as well as a short explanation about the folktale. Shannon has adapted a story that has been found in many cultures and variations that teaches the simple moral of sharing and thinking about others.
The book can be used as a tool to aide in the development of a child’s social and moral skills. The book encourages children to share with their friends and think about their needs once their own are met. I think it’s a nuanced understanding of sharing that is important to teach children and parents. A child is being taught that they can and should share when they have extra and when they are able to. Sharing is not being forced nor is it harming one to share with another. The book also encourages the notion of doing something without expecting a reward. Rabbit and the other animals think of their friend, bring the turnip to where they live, leave it there, and the snow hides their tracks. Children are often rewarded or scolded for behaviours and will act to receive attention; it’s important for them to see positive actions being done without reward to encourage that in the child as when they grow up they will not be rewarded for every good action.
Rabbit’s Gift is a great book for children ages 3-5. Parents and educators can frame the telling of the story around a theme such as sharing or friendship but can also use it around certain times of year like Thanksgiving or Christmas. Or it can be used when discussing other cultures and/or folktales because of the roots of the story. An extension activity that one could use would be to bring in stuffed animals of each animal and allow children to facilitate the story with props. This could lead into a larger discussion of sharing and good deeds and allow children to relate the story and action of sharing to their own lives. Another could be to teach the children how to write out the Chinese symbols.
Overall, Green Reader highly recommends reading this book to your child for entertainment and education. The story is timeless and the art is beautiful!
