Winter Moon Song

K-Gr 3—Brooks has combined a fictional folktale about the rabbit in the moon with a story about the rabbits' tradition of singing an ages-old special song "to lighten up the darkest month of the year with a trail of magic." A "youngish" rabbit, "not big enough to be noticed in any significant way," has prepared to sing "the thrilling piece of music called 'Winter Moon Song'" with the rabbit choir at the gathering place in the burrow. Having heard the tale of the rabbit in the moon and participated in the hour-long program, the young rabbit is suddenly inspired to lead the singing of the song outside under the winter moon, starting a new tradition. Both the fictional folktale and the story that surrounds it lack ethnicity and purpose. There are no ties to a specific country, people, or religion; no problem to be solved; no truths or values for children or contest between good and evil. In the pourquoi-like tale of the rabbit in the moon, a small rabbit, recognizing the Great Mother, Creator Rabbit shivering in the snow, jumps into her stewpot of boiling water ("I must save her or she will die!"), and the Creator Rabbit flings him to the moon ("Oh no, I must save my creation or he will die!"). Soft watercolor and black-ink scenes—most in white, blues, and smeary grays—create a perfect background for the story. Successful adaptation of a folktale is a difficult task; creating a meaningful original tale, even more challenging. Brooks's attempt just does not satisfy.—Susan Scheps, formerly at Shaker Public Library, OH