Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present facts for kids
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| Author | Charlotte Zolotow |
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| Illustrator | Maurice Sendak |
| Country | United States |
| Genre | Children's picture book |
| Publisher | Harper & Row 1962 |
| ISBN | 978-0064430203 |
Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present is a charming children's picture book. It was written by Charlotte Zolotow and brought to life with illustrations by Maurice Sendak. The book was first published in 1962 by HarperCollins.
This book was recognized as a Caldecott Medal Honor Book in 1963. This means it was one of the best illustrated children's books of that year. Maurice Sendak received seven Caldecott Honors in his career. He later won the main Caldecott Medal in 1964 for his famous book, Where the Wild Things Are. Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present was re-released in 1999. This was part of a project to bring back many of Sendak's works.
About the Story
The story in Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present is told from a third-person point of view. This means a narrator tells you what happens. The book uses simple language. It does not have rhyming words or silly nonsense words. Instead, it often repeats sentence patterns.
Maurice Sendak's illustrations are very important. They show things that the words don't always describe. This helps you understand the story better. The pictures and words work together to tell the full tale.
What Happens in the Book
The story begins when a little girl meets a friendly rabbit. She needs his help to find a special birthday gift for her mother. The book's cover shows the girl asking Mr. Rabbit for his advice. He is sitting on a rock, ready to help.
Mr. Rabbit then takes the girl on a journey. They want to find the perfect present. The little girl tells Mr. Rabbit that her mother loves "red, green, yellow, and blue." Mr. Rabbit first suggests "red underwear." But the little girl quickly says no to that idea!
Next, Mr. Rabbit leads her to an apple tree. The girl agrees that red apples would be a lovely gift. They continue their search for more presents. Mr. Rabbit suggests something yellow. They both decide that bananas would be a perfect yellow fruit.
Together, Mr. Rabbit and the little girl fill a small brown basket. They gather fruits of blue, yellow, green, and red. Finally, Mr. Rabbit walks the girl back home. "Thank you for your help, Mr. Rabbit," the little girl says. "Not at all," Mr. Rabbit replies, "very glad to help." They say goodbye, and Mr. Rabbit wishes her mother a happy birthday. He also wishes her a happy basket of fruit!
