Module3: My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohman

Summary

My Friend Rabbit is a humorous tale about a rabbit who gets himself into trouble in the easiest of ways. He tries to help his friend Mouse get his toy airplane, which is stuck in a tree. The methods Rabbit employs to try to get the plane will make the reader giggle.

Bibliographic Citation

Rohmann, E. (2002). My friend rabbit. Brookfield, CT: Roaring Book Press.

Impressions

This is a great book for young children to read. The illustrations really shine in this book and almost make the reader forget about the text. Each page has a black border which gives a snapshot or picture type of feel to the book. The story is enjoyable and the characters are appealing.

Reviews

A simple story about Rabbit and Mouse, who, despite Rabbit's penchant for trouble, are friends. When Rabbit launches his toy airplane (with Mouse in the pilot seat at takeoff) and it gets stuck in a tree, he convinces his friend that he will come up with a plan to get it down. He does so by stacking animals on top of one another (beginning with an elephant and a rhinoceros) until they are within reach of the toy. The double-page, hand-colored relief prints with heavy black outlines are magnificent, and children will enjoy the comically expressive pictures of the animals before and after their attempt to extract the plane. The text is minimal; it's the illustrations that are the draw here.-Kristin de Lacoste, South Regional Public Library, Pembroke Pines, FL Reviewed May 1, 2002- School Library Journal

Mouse, the narrator who flies a red and yellow biplane, tells listeners that his friend Rabbit “means well,” but that trouble always follows him. Then comes a smart, sassy object lesson on how much trouble Rabbit brings. The fun of this is in the spacing and sequencing of the heavily ink-outlined drawings. After Rabbit has thrown Mouse’s beloved biplane into a tree, one full page consists of tiny Mouse staring up, ink accents marking his exasperation. On the facing page, Rabbit darts off, promising a solution. The next double-spread shows an anxious Mouse as Rabbit drags one enormous tail into view. The space fills with a massive elephant. Then Rabbit pulls in, among others, a rhino, a reindeer, and a duck (followed, of course, by ducklings). Now, the two-page spread must be turned vertically to reveal a giant pyramid of animals, topped by a squirrel holding Mouse, who reaches for the biplane--then the mass topples. Rage-filled beasts turn on Rabbit. Mouse, flying in on his recovered plane, saves Rabbit from their clutches and claws. Tremendous physical humor delivers a gentle lesson about accepting friends as they are. — Connie Fletcher
Reviewed May 15, 2002-Booklist


Library Settings

This is a great book for a storytime program. The story will provide lots of giggles for young children hearing the story. While reading the book, the storytime presenter can ask children which animals Rabbit picks to help him get Mouse's plane out of the tree. Puppets could also be used during the program. This book is a great addition to any juvenile collection.