Natalie Russell is a uniquely talented writer and illustrator
with exceptional printmaking skills. She lives in Scotland and
studied printmaking and illustration at Dundee University, where
she now teaches. Natalie has written two picture books for
Bloomsbury featuring Hamish the Highland Cow, and continues to
showcase her skills as a gifted storyteller in this, her first book
for Macmillan - and her screen-printing debut.
She is also the author of Brown Rabbit in the City, Rabbits in the
Park and Rabbits in the Snow.
K-Gr 3-In the city, Little Rabbit has "her own place to stay, her favorite cafe, and so many things to see and do." But one evening while gazing at the moon, she wonders if there might be another rabbit somewhere to share the things she enjoys. Relaxing in the park away from city bustle one day, she follows the sounds of music and discovers guitar-playing Brown Rabbit. The two have such a good time together that Little Rabbit forgets her former life and stays on. But distant city lights remind her of all the things she loves, and, despite Brown Rabbit's attempts to dissuade her, she announces she must go home. She is no longer lonely, however, for the two rabbits have found a way to continue their friendship. The screen-printed illustrations appear in alternating spreads and panels on colored grounds. A lamppost sporting directional signs to the park and the city on the title page foreshadow Little Rabbit's decision. The two rabbits are simply outlined pillowlike figures, their tall ears moving to express both delight and wistfulness. Unlike Aesop's mice, these two manage to share the delights of one another's environments without sacrificing their own lifestyles. A charming friendship story.-Marianne Saccardi, formerly at Norwalk Community College, CT Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
A demure bunny discovers that friendship, no matter how warm, cannot lure her away from the life she loves. Little Rabbit adores the city ("She had her own place to stay, her favorite cafe, and so many things to see and do"), but wonders if there is someone out there "just like her." Then she meets Brown Rabbit. Brown Rabbit lives in the park and plays the guitar; for a time, they are happy together ("They made each other laugh, and Little Rabbit was happy to have found a new friend"). But Little Rabbit begins to miss the city, and nothing Brown Rabbit offers ("He even stood on his head") can change that. The resolution is constructive: Little Rabbit returns to the city, and Brown Rabbit soon arrives for a visit. Russell's full-bleed prints, in milky aquas, olives and pinks, mix childlike and sophisticated elements. Little Rabbit and Brown Rabbit are drawn as simple outlines, Pat-the-Bunny style, while buildings are more carefully drafted, with shadowy customers glimpsed through windows. Children (and adults) will appreciate this gentle take on the often-perplexing conflict between satisfied independence and the joys of companionship. Ages 3-up. (May) Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
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