A Gift for Nana

February 15, 2022
Preschool-Grade 1 It's not a special occasion, but Rabbit wants to give his grandmother a gift in this gentle tale perhaps inspired by the classic Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present. The love between the young rabbit and Nana is evident in the way he describes her smile and how she talks to him. Rabbit, meeting a crow who says the "perfect gift" is not far away, sets out to find it. During his journey, he receives gift suggestions from the moon, a whale, a stickler (a multi-eyed fantasy creature), and a volcano. The quest is harder than he imagined but worth it because the gift is for Nana. The vivid orange endpapers provide a clue when Rabbit climbs a tall peak to access the perfect--carrot! Mixed-media illustrations playfully capture Rabbit's perseverance. The visual perspective takes a wide view as Rabbit talks to large things like the moon and the volcano, then shifts to close-up when Rabbit delivers the gift, highlighting the two characters and the love they share.

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Starred review from May 30, 2022
A rabbit quests to give his Nana a gift, even though it’s not her birthday, nor even “a major hare holiday,” in this wandering picture book. When a crow tells him that the perfect gift isn’t far away, round-headed Rabbit sets off, encountering beings both familiar and less so. (“Does your Nana need a stick?” offers a many-eyed, goblin-like Stickler.) Conveyed in a leisurely pace punctuated by flashes of humor (a big fish in a lake offers some water, adding, “I have saved some in a cup”), the sequences allow Rabbit to reflect on Nana’s special qualities, while orange and magenta splashes and crisp, varied typography enliven a quiet, earth-toned palette. Though Nana doesn’t appear until the very end, the story’s just as much about her as it is about Rabbit, and when he hands over his gift, the intimacy they share makes Rabbit’s devotion easy to understand.Ages 4–8.

June 1, 2022

PreS-Gr 2-A quirky and lovely ode to the unconditional love of grandparents and the unexpected delights and challenges of going on a quest. Little Rabbit wants to get his nana a gift, even though it isn't a hare holiday or even her birthday. When Crow tells Rabbit of a perfect gift, Rabbit decides that a quest is in order. Like every good quest, the end result isn't that important, but rather, it is about the interesting encounters along the way and the acquired knowledge. Here, Rabbit meets a stickler, the moon, a whale, and a volcano, all who give him suggestions for a perfect gift. In addition to engaging thoughtfully with the strangers, Rabbit is brave and persistent, even if he does eat part of the gift he finds-a carrot! Rabbit's epiphany comes right at the end when he notices that Nana's house is surrounded by carrots. Smith has a flair for creating phrases that spark a reader's imagination. These may feel cryptic to younger children, but will inspire discussion during read-aloud sessions, and beautifully convey the meandering path of all truly authentic quests. The illustrations are at times moodily atmospheric, and at others, enveloping with comfort. VERDICT Perfect for story hours, for creative writing lessons, and for discussions of intergenerational love.-Sally A. James

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2022
This tenderhearted adventure follows young Rabbit through a series of fanciful encounters in search of the "perfect gift" for his grandmother. Rabbit is unsure of what to get Nana until a crow shares the location of a just-right present. As Rabbit embarks upon his journey, he gets gift suggestions from the moon, a multi-eyed forest creature, and a "big big fish," all of which Rabbit politely dismisses. Tension builds when Rabbit provokes a moody volcano and sneezes into a spooky cave, experiences that only reinforce the youngster's affection for his grandmother ("Nana would probably say a comforting something or other about now"). The quest ends at the top of a steep peak capped with a single carrot; Rabbit undermines his own success, however, when he stops on the way back for a nibble of the very present he'd worked so hard to find. The half-eaten carrot still proves to be the perfect gift for Nana "because it came from him." Themes of familial love, appreciation, and gratitude resist saccharine cliche thanks in large part to Smith's subversive sense of humor and offbeat writing. The mixed-media illustrations are textured and atmospheric, with rich, cool greens, browns, and blues -- visually punctuated by a spectacular double-page spread of an erupting volcano in vibrant magenta and yellow. A wide horizontal trim size emphasizes the length of Rabbit's journey, while Leach's distinctive book design shines through thoughtful text layouts that lead readers effortlessly across the pages. Patrick Gall

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from February 15, 2022
All gifts are perfect when they come from the heart. Rabbit goes on a "journey through a green and grand forest" in order to get a gift for his nana even though it is "not even a major hare holiday." He travels very far in search of the perfect gift and encounters many new friends whom he asks for help. Each of them proffers Rabbit something they can easily make or acquire: The moon offers a "crescent smile," a whale proposes a glass of water, and so on. Ultimately, Rabbit finds the perfect gift for Nana all on his own, and his nana absolutely adores it. Although the story is a bit predictable, it is amusing--readers will laugh at the anthropomorphic volcano's explosion and Rabbit's exhaustion from his journey, among other chucklesome scenes. Smith's gesso, oil, and cold wax illustrations are exquisite and almost ethereal. The friendly, many-eyed creature referred to as a "stickler" is at once haunting and intriguing. The moon is Tim Burton-esque and seems to glow and pop off the page. Pleased with his choice of gift, Rabbit has the moon's smile on his face. The predominance of full-bleed double-page spreads accentuates Rabbit's long quest. The different font sizes, styles, and colors will aid emerging readers with diction when reading aloud but might prove difficult for those with dyslexia. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A cozy story that will transport readers to faraway places. (Picture book. 4-7)

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January 1, 2022
Design by Molly Leach. This tenderhearted adventure follows young Rabbit through a series of fanciful encounters in search of the "perfect gift" for his grandmother. Rabbit is unsure of what to get Nana until a crow shares the location of a just-right present. As Rabbit embarks upon his journey, he gets gift suggestions from the moon, a multi-eyed forest creature, and a "big big fish," all of which Rabbit politely dismisses. Tension builds when Rabbit provokes a moody volcano and sneezes into a spooky cave, experiences that only reinforce the youngster's affection for his grandmother ("Nana would probably say a comforting something or other about now"). The quest ends at the top of a steep peak capped with a single carrot; Rabbit undermines his own success, however, when he stops on the way back for a nibble of the very present he'd worked so hard to find. The half-eaten carrot still proves to be the perfect gift for Nana "because it came from him." Themes of familial love, appreciation, and gratitude resist saccharine cliche thanks in large part to Smith's subversive sense of humor and offbeat writing. The mixed-media illustrations are textured and atmospheric, with rich, cool greens, browns, and blues -- visually punctuated by a spectacular double-page spread of an erupting volcano in vibrant magenta and yellow. A wide horizontal trim size emphasizes the length of Rabbit's journey, while Leach's distinctive book design shines through thoughtful text layouts that lead readers effortlessly across the pages.

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)