Reviews for Year of the Rabbit

The sixth (of a projected 12) in a series of illustrated tales designed to demonstrate traits characterizing those born under each sign of the Chinese zodiac. Rosie, an amiable rabbit with oversize ears, is captured after raiding a garden, escapes and ends up befriending her young captor, Jai, after cleverly rescuing him from a tiger. In labored efforts to crank up reader interest, the author folds in Disney references, including a character named Uncle Remus and even a "zip-a-dee-doo-dah!" Roth depicts his brightly colored figures (all of whom, except for the humans, are zodiacal animals) in an unpleasant, flat-bodied, cartoon style that features exaggerated poses and wide-open eyes and mouths. (The illustrations even look loud.) A topic that can be adequately covered in one volume—such as, for instance, Catherine Louis' What the Rat Told Me: A Legend of the Chinese Zodiac (2009)—thins considerably when stretched out over a dozen, but there's a natural draw here for children born in the corresponding years (1999 and 2011 in this case). (afterword) (Picture book. 5-7)

 

Rosie Rabbit reveals she's more than the sum of her unusually long ears in this jaunty but meandering tale, second in this Chinese zodiac-centric series. When a mother and son catch Rosie in their garden, the boy, Jai, decides to keep her in a barn hutch, along with other zodiac animals. When Rosie's parents rescue her, Jai and his dog follow, but are hunted by a crouching tiger. Rosie's bravery (and an absurd turn of events involving a dragon) save the day. The thread of Rosie's misfit nature carries through only weakly, and despite plenty of action, the story's point is murky. Ages 4-8. (Jan.)