The Classic Tales of Brer Rabbit from Stories Collected by Joel C. Harris Retold by David Borgenicht Illustrated by Don Daily

The detailed facial expressions and clothes on the animal characters on the cover drew me to open this book and read it. This collection of folk tales included seven folk tales that each seemed to try compete in the way that they related stories about Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, and other characters including turtles, wolves, and opossums. In each folk tale the animal characters tried to outwit each other in playing tricks on one another. Brer Rabbit seemed to be the most mischievious in six of the tales and the most clever. He managed to trick Brer Bear into hanging in his trap for him, fooled the fox into dropping into a well, foiled Brer Wolf's plot to lure him into Brer Fox's trap, proved himself the fool in his race with Brer Turtle, stole the Fox's chickens, and tricked the Fox into releasing him from the Tar-Baby. Several of the full-bleed illustrations invited the reader to be part of the scene and to feel like one of the characters in the story. For example, the illustration showing Brer Rabbit and Brer Turtle getting ready to race at the starting line positioned the perspective of the reader standing next to Brer Crow by the fence looking on with the other animals. Each folk tale started off with a richly colored and wooden alphabet letter starting the text on the page. This technique complimented the wooden fences and signs pictured throughout the story. The dialogue among the animal characters was generally congenial and polite which added to the charm of the narrative. For example: '"Howdy, Brer Rabbit," said Brer Bear, tilting his head to look Brer Rabbit in the face. "How are you doing this fine morning?" "Very fine, Brer Ber, very fine..."' Each of the folk tales described in cunning ways how the animals politely fooled each other into situations the others would not have expected. Brer Fox was one character who always seemed to get "the short end of the stick." Brer Rabbit tricked his way out several predicaments with Brer Fox. This collection of folk tales would be very effective in generating "what if.." conversations among students in small groups in the classroom. The tales seem to invite an in depth study of characterization.