The Flat Rabbit

Product Description When a dog and a rat come upon a rabbit flattened on the road in their neighborhood, they contemplate her situation, wondering what they should do to help her. They decide it can’t be much fun to lie there; she should be moved. But how? And to where? Finally, the dog comes up with an inspired and unique idea and they work together through the night to make it happen. Once finished, they can’t be positive, but they think they have done their best to help the flat rabbit get somewhere better than the middle of the road where they found her. Sparely told with simple artwork, The Flat Rabbit treats the concept of death with a sense of compassion and gentle humor — and a note of practicality. In the end, the dog’s and the rat’s caring, thoughtful approach results in an unusual yet perfect way to respect their departed friend. Grade: 3 Fountas & Pinnel: N Lexile Measure: AD 610L Common Core State Standards: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.3,3a,5,5a,5b,5c CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.3.4,4a CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1,3,4,5,6,7,10 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.3,3a,3b,3c,3d,5,6,8,10 From School Library Journal Gr 1–3—Spare illustrations by the author are the highlight of this quirky picture book dealing with the death of a neighbor. Pen-and-ink and watercolor pictures in blue and brown show a pot-bellied dog and a kinky-tailed rat contemplating a dead rabbit lying in the street, clearly flattened by a large vehicle. The two ponder what they should do with the dead animal: "Where could they move her? And what if somebody found her and ate her?" Deciding on a plan to send her to a better place, they tape her to a kite and sail her aloft. Readers might cringe as the rat and dog gently peel the dead rabbit, pink tongue lolling, off the pavement. Although the author may have intended to spark readers' compassion, the bizarre decision about what to do with the rabbit is odd and may have trouble finding an appreciative audience.—Maryann H. Owen, Children's Literature Specialist, Mt. Pleasant, WI Review -Booklist Editors' Choice, 2014 -A Brain Pickings Best Picture Book of 2014 -A 100 Scope Notes Wildest Children's Book of 2014 "As perfectly, honestly childlike in its approach as Margaret Wise Brown and Remy Charlip's classic The Dead Bird, this title should provoke both thought and discussion." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review "It's unusually corporeal . . . but it's this very tactile wrestling with death that feels so honest." — Booklist, starred review "A quietly profound new picture book" — Maria Russo, New York Times "The dog and the rat have found a good way to honor the life of a being who’s now gone. They’ve gotten to work making something fantastic and original." — New York Times“A jumping-off point to explore death and compassion.”— Travis Jonker, 100 Scope Notes"A masterwork of minimalist storytelling... full of quiet wit and wistful wonder."— Maria Popova, Brain Pickings"Run, don't walk, to get a look at [The] Flat Rabbit. Be sure to look both ways before crossing the street ... The text and the artwork, which are deadpan (pun intended) and charming, are open to many interpretations."— Hicklebee's Bookstore, San Jose, CA"A masterwork of minimalist storytelling...full of quiet wit and wistful wonder."— Brain Pickings About the Author Bardur Oskarsson is a Faroese children’s writer, illustrator, and artist. He has won several literary awards and his works have been translated into Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic, French, German, and English. He lives in the Faroe Islands, Denmark. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. "Good grief! Would you look at her!" said the rat when she spotted the rabbit. "Um... yes. I was just wondering what she was doing there," replied the dog, a bit startled. It had been so quiet until the rat came along. "She is totally flat," said the rat. For a while they just stood there looking at her. "Do you know her?" "Well," said the dog, "I think she's from number 34.