cover image The Year of the Rabbit: Tales from the Chinese Zodiac

The Year of the Rabbit: Tales from the Chinese Zodiac

Oliver Chin, illus. by Justin Roth, Immedium (Consortium, dist.), $15.95 (36p) ISBN 978-1-59702-023-7

Rosie Rabbit reveals she's more than the sum of her unusually long ears in this jaunty but meandering tale, second in this Chinese zodiac–centric series. When a mother and son catch Rosie in their garden, the boy, Jai, decides to keep her in a barn hutch, along with other zodiac animals. When Rosie's parents rescue her, Jai and his dog follow, but are hunted by a crouching tiger. Rosie's bravery (and an absurd turn of events involving a dragon) save the day. The thread of Rosie's misfit nature carries through only weakly, and despite plenty of action, the story's point is murky. Ages 4–8. (Jan.)