Little Rabbit's Christmas

by Harry Horse

Overview

It's time for irrepressible Little Rabbit to celebrate Christmas and discover the opportunities and challenges of independence.

On Christmas morning, a much-coveted red sled is waiting under the tree for Little Rabbit, courtesy of the Christmas Rabbit. He cannot wait to try it out and show it off to his friends. Each one begs him for a turn, so Little Rabbit goes off in a huff to sled alone.

But when a fast hill and a frozen stream spell trouble for Little Rabbit, he quickly learns the value of friendship and sharing.

Harry Horse hits all the right notes in this gently humorous, reassuring story that depicts how children cope with a big transition. Readers will identify with the Little Rabbit's conflicting desires

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781561455577
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	10/05/2010
Series:	Little Rabbit
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.80(w) x 11.80(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Harry Horse wrote and illustrated many books for children, including the popular Little Rabbit picture books and several middle grade novels. He was also a political cartoonist for several national newspapers in the United Kingdom. He passed away in 2007.

Editorial Reviews

"Brightened with watercolor washes, the ink drawings create expressive characters whose emotions are easy to read. In Little Rabbit, preschoolers will find an everybunny." —Booklist

"Exceptionally nuanced illustrations in Horse's signature pen-and-ink and watercolors of an irresistible animal cast turn an obvious lesson about the importance of sharing into an appetizing holiday story." —Publishers Weekly

★ "The joy of this book is in its delightful visual and textual details. Simple and satisfying pen-and-ink and watercolor artwork draws the eye to Little Rabbit's facial expressions, which include childish wonderment, frustration, and bravado. An enchanting holiday treat for all collections." —School Library Journal, Starred Review

"Delivered in such an attractive package, the story's message goes down as easily as a sled bearing a load of good friends." —The Horn Book Guide

From the Publisher

Exceptionally nuanced illustrations in Horse's signature pen-and-ink and watercolors of an irresistible animal cast turn an obvious lesson about the importance of sharing into an appetizing holiday story. Making his final appearance in the late author/artist's picture book series, Little Rabbit wakes up on Christmas with a child's single-minded interest in obtaining a particular red sled. Horse conveys a whole world of emotion by just tilting the few curves that delineate Little Rabbit's face. Ages 2-6. (Sept.)

Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

Publishers Weekly

PreS-Gr 1-Little Rabbit continues to charm children in this warm and fuzzy tale. When the Christmas Rabbit brings the red sled he's longed for (the one that goes "Whoosh!"), the small animal refuses to let anyone else play with it. Instead he pulls it far up a hill, much too far, so that when he whooshes down again he crashes and the sled breaks. It takes his friends to fix both the sled and his attitude, and everything ends happily. The joy of this book is in its delightful visual and textual details. Simple and satisfying pen-and-ink and watercolor artwork draws the eye to Little Rabbit's facial expressions, which include childish wonderment, frustration, and bravado. An enchanting holiday treat for all collections.-Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

School Library Journal

The fourth entry in this series from England about Little Rabbit is the story of the bunny child's realization that friendship and love are better gifts than any toy left by the Christmas Rabbit. After Little Rabbit spies a spiffy red sled in a store window, he longs to have it for Christmas, and his wish is fulfilled. Like many children, Little Rabbit hasn't learned to share, and he won't let his friends have a ride on the sled. After Little Rabbit crashes and breaks it, his friends come to his rescue and repair his broken sled. The concluding pages show Little Rabbit (lesson learned) and his friends sledding together and then celebrating their friendship around the Christmas tree. The story is gently and simply told, without unnecessary words or comments on Little Rabbit's behavior. His selfishness is subtly indicated through dialogue alone, and the kind actions of his friends also stand, without authorial comment, for young listeners to figure out for themselves. Horse's watercolor-and-ink illustrations are sweetly old-fashioned, and he manages amusing, expressive looks on Little Rabbit's face, especially in the scenes when he doesn't care to share. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews