Happy Valentine’s Day!
It’s Perfect Picture Book Friday.
Here’s my selection:
What Noise Does a Rabbit Make?
Written By Carrie Weston
Illustrated by Richard Byrne
Andersen Press USA, 2013
Fiction
Suitable for: Ages 2- 5
Themes/Topics: Animals, Sounds, Cumulative story
Opening Line: In the still of the night, just before dawn, slowly and silently … the meadow filled with rabbits.
Synopsis: As the sun came up, “COCK-A-DOODLE-DO!” trumpeted the rooster, and then all at once the farm rang out with the noises of the other animals. Amid the ruckus, Raggety-Taggle quietly nibbled the grass and wondered just what noise does a rabbit make?
Link to Resources: Tagging game, Rabbit craft and coloring activities, Discuss what noises animals make.
Why I like this book: Poor Raggety-Taggle is too busy trying to discover his noise to see a cat ready to pounce. The rabbit runs for his life and well the entire barnyard is noisy and in chaos. The toot of the tractor’s horn makes everyone stop. The story returns full circle with a surprise about the rabbit’s noise.
I really like this story. I discovered the book during an online discussion about the viral YouTube Video What Does The Fox Say? being published as a children’s book. Author Marcie Colleen wrote about this on The Children’s Book Academy Blog. While I haven’t read the book version of the fox video, I ran to the library waiting for this book to arrive. I was delighted by the storyline, the noises, and the fun.
I also had another interest in this book. The story sounded vaguely familiar to me. Oh yes, to my own manuscript drafted in June 2012 called “What Noise Does a Snail Make?” Collective sigh. Don’t you love that.
My story was created in a summer class. It has logged a dozen or more revisions, 25 critiques (no joke I’ve shared with regular critique groups, Big Sur critique groups, with our local SCBWI Schmooze critique meetings, and a paid critique). I revamped the 35-word manuscript last fall with a new name and filled it out with 98 words. It has it’s own high energy involving a rolling armadillo and an action scene with the snail and turtle colliding.
I didn’t have to shake off the “oh no!” factor of this news when I read the rabbit book. Enzo and I have read it multiple times. The farm illustrations are lovely. The story is perfect in it’s simplicity.
While I didn’t like finding similar titles to my snail book in 2013, I found some really good picture books to read and I’ll count What Noise Does a Rabbit make among them. As for my friend Snail, well he has something to say, so I’ll let you know how 2014 treats him.
For more PPBF selections, visit Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog.
I’m so bummed for you that you’ll have to shelve your snail book (at least for a few years…then you can start submitting it again), but this book does sound adorable.
And you probably don’t want to know how I discovered this, but young/baby rabbits scream like a little girl.
Happy Friday!
I think I know how you discovered this, Probably the same way I did. And it is not nice, huh?
Clara, I discovered the published book through a 12x discussion about the Fox book. So, just a surprise, especially when I read the book. It always seems silly to compare your work to a published book, but sometimes … it is.
Teresa, I don’t want to know how you know about their screams. I’m sensing a little Pioneer Woman theme from you and Cathy on this Friday!
What noise DOES a rabbit make? Seriously! Now I want to know 🙂 Sorry about the similarity in mss – I hate when that happens! But I’m sure you have your own unique twist that will make your snail story special and salable! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go find this book so I can answer that burning question 🙂
Hope you find the title and find the answer Susanna! Thanks.
SNAIL will clearly be the sequel to RABBIT. I have faith in you!
I’m with Teresa – you really don’t want to hear the sound a rabbit does make, nor to know the reasons why they make it!
Cathy, I’m getting a pioneer theme from you and Teresa today! I don’t really want to know. Hubby did a Peace Corps project with rabbits. Oh, the stories.
Like your choice. You must be looking forward to spring. Yes, I have faith in you too. With some tweaking, Snail will find its way.
Thanks Patricia!
This sounds like a really cute book and I can’t wait to read it. thanks so much for introducing it to us. I loove the rabbits name.
so sorry to hear about your snail book. I had that happen to a monster book I wrote and got critiques on. A similar book was out. so discouraging. I’m not sure what to say to you about it because I’m still disappointed. 🙂
I’m over the discouragement part now. Just onto the moving ahead part. I’m always surprised at how many books have similar titles, etc.
I’ve heard rabbits scream, and it isn’t cute picture book material. I’m intrigued to know what the answer is in the book! (And I wonder if Ylvis was “inspired” by this book??)
I’m sure Ylvis was like me … just came up with a sound story. 🙂 No screaming in this book, well, not from rabbits anyway.
We have owned two house rabbits – and I know the disgruntled noises they can make – but I want to read this to see if I’ve missed anything. As for SNAIL – it will be YOUR unique inspiration and experiences that will bring us a wonderful, delightful story to read….I can’t wait!
Thanks Laura Anne!
Sounds adorable!
It is!
I, too, know what rabbits say! And it’s not pretty! On the other hand, I have never heard a snail say anything at all. Unless you crunch the shell. CRUNCH! The noises in a farmyard are quite varied and pretty interesting sometimes. As are noises in the woods. And noises on the river. I’ll look for this bunny book and see what it has to “say!” Thanks!
Hope you find it an enjoy the surprise!
Oh no, great minds think alike, huh?.. This has a very very slight ring to one of my ms too. Lets hope our themes, twists etc… make ours unique enough to fly! It looks very cute, must check it out, thanks Stacy!
Yes. Great minds!
So sorry about your snail. A similar thing happened to one of my manuscripts and I was fit to be tied.
I know. Of course, this is a fun story, so I enjoyed reading it.
the rabbits around here are very quiet, so I’ll need to read this book to find out their secrets.
As for snails, they can be quite noisy, I’ve heard – evidenced by a book called “the sound of a wild snail eating”.
I have the “wild snail” on my to be read list.
Good luck with your book! 😀
Thanks Erik.
The title is quite intriguing. What noise does the rabbit make? Or the snail? I see the rabbit’s nose twitch and shift. Quiet, though. Hope to see your snail book some time!
The rabbit is quiet in this book. 🙂
I want to read this book!!! I love cumulative tales and I’m in love with the name, Raggety-Taggle. My library doesn’t have it but I’ve requested it through interlibrary loan and I can’t wait until it gets here.
Good luck with your snail book!
Penny it is a great name.