The Rabbit Listened

by Cori Doerrfeld

Hardcover, 2018

Status

Available

Call number

813.6

Collections

Children's Books, Flint/ Genesee

Publication

Dial Books (2018), Edition: Illustrated, 40 pages

Description

"When Taylor's block castle is destroyed, all the animals think they know just what to do, but only the rabbit quietly listens to how Taylor is feeling"--

User reviews

LibraryThing member zenobia158

I LOVE this book. When a (minor) traumatic event happens to a small boy, different animals tell him to express his grief a certain way. Only the rabbit lets him find his own way to express his emotions, in his own time, by sitting near him and listening. The sweet dreamy pictures perfectly match

the innocence of the story.

Show Less

6 more

LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26

When Taylor's marvelous block construction is sent tumbling to the ground, the little boy is intensely distraught, and none of the solutions proposed by the string of animals who visit with him do any good. Taylor doesn't want to talk with the chicken, shout with the bear, remember with the

elephant, or do any of the other things suggested. It is only when a silent, soft little rabbit comes and sits beside him, offering comfort but no advice, that he slowly regains a better outlook...

Pairing a poignant, perceptive story with soft, pastel-colored illustrations, The Rabbit Listened is a lovely picture-book, one which captures the intense emotions of young childhood, when a tumbling block tower can indeed seem like an earth-shattering calamity, and which highlights the idea that oftentimes sympathy and a willingness to listen are more helpful to those in distress, than brainstorming and offering advice. Recommended to anyone looking for simple but powerful stories about the emotional lives of children, and about how to respond to someone in distress.

Show Less

LibraryThing member sweetiegherkin

Taylor creates an amazing structure out of building blocks but a swooping of birds knocks it all down. Understandably upset, Taylor is not comforted as various animals come by and tell him to be angry, knock down someone else's building, laugh about it, pretend it never happened, etc. Finally, a

rabbit comes by and just sits next to Taylor in comfort.

This is a lovely book about feelings, especially dealing with negative ones. While the other animals mean well, the rabbit shows readers how sometimes all someone needs is a friend who will be there and listen. This is a good lesson/reminder for all of us that sometimes we don't need to fix the problem or steamroll our opinions but instead just need to let time pass and be there while it's passing.

The illustrations are fairly basic (little background setting or details) but are very beautiful and convey the emotions described in the book well, reinforcing those concepts for young children.

Show Less

LibraryThing member Salsabrarian

A very accessible picture book for kids about showing empathy for others in pain.

LibraryThing member missbrandysue

This emotional, yet simple story has you reflecting on every little bump in the road. When a young boy’s block tower falls he is visited by many animals who try to advise him on how to react. He chooses none of them. Finally, a rabbit cuddles up to him and the boy is able to cope in many

different ways. The story ends with a powerfully positive message. I ugly cried because something about this 32-page picture book touches the soul, and had me reflecting on many of the hurdles I’ve faced, or many I’m currently facing today. A perfect book for social emotional learning, restorative practices, and class circle meetings for ALL ages.

Show Less

LibraryThing member lycomayflower

Lovely picture book about a boy whose building blocks project gets knocked over and all the animals who suggest how he ought to deal with that. And... the rabbit listened. Excellent, I would think, for talking to kiddos about having big feelings yourself, how you'd like others to help with that,

and what you might do if you see someone else struggling with feelings.

Show Less

LibraryThing member ms_rowse

I read this to my homeroom class and they loved it. Great book to teach true empathy.

Fewer