A Gift for Nana

by Lane Smith

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

From two-time Caldecott Honor author-illustrator Lane Smith comes an adorable, whimsical story about a little rabbit searching for the best gift for his Nana. This is a sweet, universal story that lands even heavier if you have someone in mind while reading.

Two-time Caldecott Honor author/illustrator Lane Smith tells a whimsical story about a little rabbit searching for the best gift for someone very special.

A thoughtful little Rabbit sets out to find the perfect gift for his Nana. He knows she will love anything he brings her but Rabbit wants this gift to be extra special. As he travels on his quest, Rabbit encounters an assortment of creatures-a crow, a smiling full moon, a stickler (whatever that is), a big fish, and a volcano. Each is certain they offer the best advice but nothing they suggest seems right for his Nana. It's not until Rabbit reaches the highest peak, that he finds exactly what he's been searching for.

The award -winning illustrator of bestsellers including Penguin Problems and Giraffe Problems, brings originality and gentle humor to a story that parents and grandparents will be sharing with their children for years to come.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593430330
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	05/10/2022
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	166,893
Product dimensions:	11.10(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	550L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Lane Smith is the author/illustrator of several award-winning and bestselling books for children. Five of his titles have won the New York Times Best Illustrated Book Award. He is the illustrator of Penguin Problems, Giraffe Problems, and Cat Problems, all by Jory John. Lane Smith lives in Connecticut with his wife Molly Leach, an award-winning graphic designer. Find out more at lanesmithbooks.com

Editorial Reviews

★ 05/30/2022

A rabbit quests to give his Nana a gift, even though it’s not her birthday, nor even “a major hare holiday,” in this wandering picture book. When a crow tells him that the perfect gift isn’t far away, round-headed Rabbit sets off, encountering beings both familiar and less so. (“Does your Nana need a stick?” offers a many-eyed, goblin-like Stickler.) Conveyed in a leisurely pace punctuated by flashes of humor (a big fish in a lake offers some water, adding, “I have saved some in a cup”), the sequences allow Rabbit to reflect on Nana’s special qualities, while orange and magenta splashes and crisp, varied typography enliven a quiet, earth-toned palette. Though Nana doesn’t appear until the very end, the story’s just as much about her as it is about Rabbit, and when he hands over his gift, the intimacy they share makes Rabbit’s devotion easy to understand.Ages 4–8. (May)

Publishers Weekly

06/01/2022

PreS-Gr 2—A quirky and lovely ode to the unconditional love of grandparents and the unexpected delights and challenges of going on a quest. Little Rabbit wants to get his nana a gift, even though it isn't a hare holiday or even her birthday. When Crow tells Rabbit of a perfect gift, Rabbit decides that a quest is in order. Like every good quest, the end result isn't that important, but rather, it is about the interesting encounters along the way and the acquired knowledge. Here, Rabbit meets a stickler, the moon, a whale, and a volcano, all who give him suggestions for a perfect gift. In addition to engaging thoughtfully with the strangers, Rabbit is brave and persistent, even if he does eat part of the gift he finds—a carrot! Rabbit's epiphany comes right at the end when he notices that Nana's house is surrounded by carrots. Smith has a flair for creating phrases that spark a reader's imagination. These may feel cryptic to younger children, but will inspire discussion during read-aloud sessions, and beautifully convey the meandering path of all truly authentic quests. The illustrations are at times moodily atmospheric, and at others, enveloping with comfort. VERDICT Perfect for story hours, for creative writing lessons, and for discussions of intergenerational love.—Sally A. James

School Library Journal

★ 2022-01-25
All gifts are perfect when they come from the heart.

Rabbit goes on a “journey through a green and grand forest” in order to get a gift for his nana even though it is “not even a major hare holiday.” He travels very far in search of the perfect gift and encounters many new friends whom he asks for help. Each of them proffers Rabbit something they can easily make or acquire: The moon offers a “crescent smile,” a whale proposes a glass of water, and so on. Ultimately, Rabbit finds the perfect gift for Nana all on his own, and his nana absolutely adores it. Although the story is a bit predictable, it is amusing—readers will laugh at the anthropomorphic volcano’s explosion and Rabbit’s exhaustion from his journey, among other chucklesome scenes. Smith’s gesso, oil, and cold wax illustrations are exquisite and almost ethereal. The friendly, many-eyed creature referred to as a “stickler” is at once haunting and intriguing. The moon is Tim Burton–esque and seems to glow and pop off the page. Pleased with his choice of gift, Rabbit has the moon’s smile on his face. The predominance of full-bleed double-page spreads accentuates Rabbit’s long quest. The different font sizes, styles, and colors will aid emerging readers with diction when reading aloud but might prove difficult for those with dyslexia. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A cozy story that will transport readers to faraway places. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews

★ "A cozy story that will transport readers to faraway places." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "Conveyed in a leisurely pace punctuated by flashes of humor." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

From the Publisher