There are certain activities that qualify as "rabbity": hopping, jumping, burrowing, and so on. And the rabbit in this picture book does all of these things, but he also engages in pursuits that are decidedly unrabbity, namely painting and making music. The opening spreads, which depict Rabbit doing his typical rabbit thing, are illustrated by debut author-illustrator Empson as small, dark, minimalist spots. But when readers turn the page onto the fourth spread, they will be delighted to find it brimming with bright abstract art and an ebullient Rabbit clutching a paintbrush. Unfortunately, partway through, Rabbit up and disappears, and all we see on the page are some representative sad floating leaves. Rabbit never returns, which is an unusual ending for a picture book, but he leaves behind a creative legacy. Empson's illustrations, which switch back and forth between black-and-white and full color, chart the emotional course for the book. Rabbit's disappearance d the aftermath ll speak to children about looking on the bright side during times of loss or change, while proving the uplifting nature of art.

A rabbit who likes doing "unrabbity" things (painting, making music) brings joy to the woods; when he disappears, his rabbit friends are bereft but find solace in the art- and music-making supplies that he has left behind. This book's potential value as a resource for children coping with loss is mitigated by its thematic and visual heavy-handedness.

When a creative rabbit disappears after spreading color and music through the woods, other rabbits feel a sense of loss until they discover what he left behind. Rabbit enjoys "rabbity" things, like hopping, jumping, twirling his whiskers, washing his ears, burrowing and sleeping, but he also enjoys "unrabbity" things, like painting and music. Rabbit fills "the woods with color and music," and his happiness spreads everywhere. But when Rabbit disappears, the woods turn "quiet and gray," and the rabbits feel sad--until they find the paints, brushes, chimes, pipes and drums Rabbit left for them. They use Rabbit's gifts to create their own color and music, remember him and feel happy. The repetitive, spare text works beautifully with expressive watercolor illustrations that rely on pattern and color to stress the connection between creativity and happiness. If Rabbit's doing "rabbity" things, his black silhouette appears as a subdued shape in a tiny green grass patch on a pure white background. If he's painting or making music, his black form wields brushes and blows a giant pipe against an energized background that explodes with multicolor splashes and musical notes. After Rabbit disappears, everything's black, white and gray; when the rabbits begin painting and making music, pages teem with whimsical color and pattern. An imaginatively designed lesson in creativity and loss. (Picture book. 3-6)

K-Gr 3 In this deceptively simple tale, Rabbit likes hopping, jumping, twirling his whiskers, and washing his ears just like all rabbits, but he also enjoys unrabbity things. With paint brush held between his ears and another one between his paws, he leaves vibrant bursts of color in his wake. With his wonderful horn, he fills the air with music to the delight of wide-eyed birds. The other black rabbits share his happiness in a woods full of color and music, until one day Rabbit disappears. The gray woods are quiet, and Rabbit's dark hole beckons his sorrowing friends. In that deep, dim place they find Rabbit's legacy-paints and brushes and musical instruments. They think of him, and in time they, too, fill the world with color and music. Stunningly conceived, Epson's black rabbits cavort against white spaces, experience happiness as well as loss, and ultimately claim Rabbit's gifts. The mystery of his disappearance may speak to the sadness children feel when friends or family go away without explanation. Perhaps they will also find gifts left behind that will make their world a better place. This story will grow richer with each reading and will resonate in hearts and minds for years to come. Mary Jean Smith, formerly at Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN