The Flat Rabbit

by Bardur Oskarsson (Illustrator)

Overview

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’s and the rat’s caring, thoughtful approach results in an unusual yet perfect way to respect their departed friend.

Grade: 3
Fountas & Pinnel: N
Lexile Measure: AD 610L
Common Core State Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.3,3a,5,5a,5b,5c
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.3.4,4a
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1,3,4,5,6,7,10
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.3,3a,3b,3c,3d,5,6,8,10

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781771470599
Publisher:	OWLKIDS BOOKS
Publication date:	09/09/2014
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD610L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

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. He lives in the Faroe Islands, Denmark.

Editorial Reviews

…a quietly profound new picture book…It evokes [Margaret Wise Brown's] The Dead Bird in its straight-on view of the fact of death, as well as in its understanding of the power of an elegiac ritual. Befitting its thoughtful approach to its subject, The Flat Rabbit is a nicely unhurried book, too, with its small, stick-like figures set against lots of empty space and a watery, muted palette of blue, rose and tan.

The New York Times - Maria Russo

08/04/2014
Bittersweet subject matter is handled with dark Scandinavian wit as a scraggly cartoon dog and rat regard a flattened rabbit lying in the street. Author-illustrator Oskarsson, who hails from the Faroe Islands, is discreet about how the rabbit has arrived at her two-dimensional state, but her shocked expression and outstretched limbs make the scene funny rather than grisly. "I think she's from number 34," says the dog. "I've never talked to her, but I peed on the gate a couple of times, so we've definitely met." The rabbit's plight moves the dog and the rat to act. They carefully remove her from the road, and, after a night of hard work, produce a kite, tape her to it, and send her aloft: "The kite was now so high up in the air they almost couldn't see the rabbit on it anymore." The rat takes a turn on the kite with her, and the last image shows the town from above. It's a touching scene of liberation from gravity, Earth, and city living—though also a startlingly abrupt ending for the story. Ages 4–up. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

-Booklist Editors' Choice, 2014
-A Brain Pickings Best Picture Book of 2014
-A 100 Scope Notes Wildest Children's Book of 2014

"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

"It's unusually corporeal . . . but it's this very tactile wrestling with death that feels so honest."
— Booklist, starred review

"A quietly profound new picture book"
— Maria Russo, New York Times

"The dog and the rat have found a good way to honor the life of a being who’s now gone. They’ve gotten to work making something fantastic and original."

— New York Times

“A jumping-off point to explore death and compassion.”
— Travis Jonker, 100 Scope Notes

"A masterwork of minimalist storytelling... full of quiet wit and wistful wonder."
— Maria Popova, Brain Pickings

"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

"A masterwork of minimalist storytelling...full of quiet wit and wistful wonder."
— Brain Pickings

From the Publisher

10/01/2014
Gr 1–3—Spare illustrations by the author are the highlight of this quirky picture book dealing with the death of a neighbor. Pen-and-ink and watercolor pictures in blue and brown show a pot-bellied dog and a kinky-tailed rat contemplating a dead rabbit lying in the street, clearly flattened by a large vehicle. The two ponder what they should do with the dead animal: "Where could they move her? And what if somebody found her and ate her?" Deciding on a plan to send her to a better place, they tape her to a kite and sail her aloft. Readers might cringe as the rat and dog gently peel the dead rabbit, pink tongue lolling, off the pavement. Although the author may have intended to spark readers' compassion, the bizarre decision about what to do with the rabbit is odd and may have trouble finding an appreciative audience.—Maryann H. Owen, Children's Literature Specialist, Mt. Pleasant, WI

School Library Journal

★ 2014-07-16
Upon seeing a flattened rabbit on the road, a dog and rat try to honor her in this secular story about compassion and respect. Walking along, a dog notices something; a rat stops, too. As they stare at a carcass in the street, a halting, awkward conversation ensues. Together, the dog and rat contemplate the rabbit's existence—and what to do for her now. With a plan in place, the two gently peel the rabbit off the road and bring her to the dog's house, where they work all night long. In the morning, they reveal a kite, with the rabbit attached. After much effort, the kite is airborne, and as it soars, they wonder if the rabbit is enjoying herself. Not sure of the answer, they let go, and the kite flies aloft, up and over the city. The artist's pencil, pen and watercolor illustrations are raw and spare. Done in a faded, pastel palette, they thoughtfully convey different perspectives from both the visual and narrative standpoints. Although they depict a gruesome subject (roadkill), there's nothing grotesque about the images. Spot illustrations on the left-side pages give context to the animals' environment or foreshadow events to come. Oskarsson offers a pleasing vision of the afterlife, as the dog and rat try to give the rabbit a gift—an experience it didn't have during its lifetime.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. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews