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 and the rat's caring, thoughtful approach results in an unusual yet perfect way to respect their departed friend. Reviews: "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, August 2014 "It's unusually corporeal ... but it's this very tactile wrestling with death that feels so honest." — Booklist, STARRED REVIEW, July 2014 “A jumping-off point to explore death and compassion.” — Travis Jonker, 100 Scope Notes, July 2014 "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, September 2014 "Honest, secular books for children about death are rare indeed... The Flat Rabbit has joined this short list. I'm glad I gave it another chance." — Catherine Nichols, The Cath in the Hat blog, October 2014 "A masterwork of minimalist storytelling... full of quiet wit and wistful wonder." — Maria Popova, Brain Pickings, November 2014 "I was touched... when shared one on one, this story will resonate with readers of all ages." — Resource Links, December 2014 "A quietly profound new picture book" — Maria Russo, New York Times, November 2014 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. |