This fable was so descriptive! I like that some of the words were words that my 7 year old didn't know (like trudged), so we got to discuss what these new words meant. I would definitely add this book to my child's library. I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Beautifully illustrated, this children's book is a cautionary tale of the perils of laziness. Not the happiest tale, but a tale that teaches the importance of teamwork and co-operation.
This was a bit too much like The Tortoise and The Hare for my liking.

It was a little too dark for my nephews but others will enjoy the story.

#TheLazyRabbit #NetGalley

I was unable to download the book, due to personal reasons, during the download time, so I never got to download to read. If you can let me download,. we will happily review asap.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Too dark for kids. I think they just won't get it.

This one was a little too young for my students, but a little too old for my son, so I was kind of stuck in the middle there. But even still, I didn’t realize it was a Grimm fairytale until I got into it. So, a little darker than expected, but still good.

Another dark children's book comes from the author and illustrator duo Wilkie J. Martin and Tanja Russita, this time about <em>The Lazy Rabbit</em>. It's one of those stories you'll definitely want to make sure you're reading to older children--especially with the way the dark moment was illustrated--but one that, ultimately, has a pretty important message to send. Granted, most people today will never find themselves in that exact situation but the fact of the matter is that the truth that laziness is very likely to result in bad things happening to you, or even others.

In this case, the rabbit himself, I think is the true villain of the story. Though some may argue it would be the fox, though really the fox is only acting in his own nature. Ultimately, it is the rabbit whose actions truly result in the mildly graphic and obviously disturbing end and message. Laziness does not pay off and while, in this case, it did not hurt those around the rabbit, the truth is that it very well may have. This book relies heavily on that of the Grimm fairytales and is equally dark in its nature.

The watercolor illustrations are adorable and scary all at once, really bringing readers into experiencing the dire and tragic circumstances of the tale. I would say, unquestionably, that this is not a book to read to any young children who scare easily and rather is something more suited for older kids who understand a bit more about the world. As an educator, this would not be the kind of book I would read to someone else's kids, however.

<em>I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</em>

This review will go live on the Reader Fox blog on May 30, 2020.

A fairly dark and depressing children's book.
The Lazy Rabbit has heavy on bottom text; making this a good for dyslexia or children learning to read (although not as pretty as other font choices it works well here). However the difficulty of the words chosen is likely far past most children, even I didn't know what a 'gorse bush' was until I looked it up. I know we want children to expand their vocabulary but it seemed excessively hard to read. I would recommend adults pre-read this one to make sure they know all the words and can read it to the child. If you were looking to purchase a book for a new reader to practice with this is probably not a great choice.

The Lazy Rabbit is a fairly dark (and depressing) book in which the lazy rabbit ends up in an untimely death. There is even water colour red across the page to symbolize the death of the rabbit. It reminded me of the old Aesop tales in which someone who doesn't follow the rules or do the smart thing inevitably looses. I had many books like this as a child that were the original tales including: Ariel cutting off her fin, the rabbit loosing everything in a race, etc. To me books like this are a good way to start teaching little ones that the world is not all butterflies and rainbows. The morale here is that the rabbit shouldn't have been so lazy; then maybe he would have survived..

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

The Lazy Rabbit is a Grimm style fable about a rabbit and a vole. They venture out together and when it starts to become dark vole suggests they find somewhere to sleep and light a fire to stay safe. Rabbit collects a small amount of wood then says he needs to sleep. Vole is worried the there is not enough wood so he wakes rabbit but rabbit tells him to leave him alone and goes back to sleep. The fire starts to die so vole ventures off alone to gather wood. While he is gone the fox sees his chance and eats the lazy rabbit. Foxes eat rabbits!

We’ve Disneyfied all the old stories and fables. Even in Disney movies plenty of animals and people die. The witch falls to her death in Tangled. Kids love to be scared and I think they know the difference between a story and real life.

I enjoyed the story and the watercolour illustrations were whimsical. I think as a parent you know your child and whether or not they will be traumatised by a fictional fox eating a fictional rabbit.

This is a Grimm Fairytale like fable and even though I know my 6 year old grandson would be very upset with this book, I still like it. When I was teaching we did a unit on fables and this one would have fit in well. Yes, the rabbit is eaten, but Bambi's mother gets killed as well as Simba's father, so people need to calm down. I liked the idea that rabbit got his due in the end. In the animal world, it is survival of the fittest, so this is realistic. I would recommend an older audience, 8 being the youngest. I loved the illustrations, they are beautiful, colorful watercolors. So, overall, a good book about a fable, make sure you have the right audience. I would recommend this one to public and school libraries. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

My twelve-year old son and I read and reviewed this book together. It definitely has the feel of a Grimm Fairy Tale, and we enjoyed it very much. The illustrations are so beautiful. We love the colorful watercolors. The story is a little dark, but in true fable style, justice was served to the lazy lazy rabbit.

Thanks so Witcherly Books and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy! We appreciate the opportunity to read another book by Wilkie J. Martin and to enjoy the illustrations of Tanja Russita!

The rabbit and the vole are traveling together through a barren land. The rabbit wants to stop for the night but the vole says they need wood for a fire to keep them safe from bandits at night. The vole ends up carrying most of the sticks because the rabbit is lazy. They start the fire and then the vole starts discussing taking turns sitting up to refresh the fire. He also suggests they need more wood. The rabbit says they don't need more wood, they have plenty and he's going to bed.

The Witcherley Book Company and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It has been published and you can get a copy now.

The vole can't get the rabbit to stand watch so he sleeps at two-hour increments and keeps feeding the fire. But when it starts to rain the fire starts to go out and he's got to go get more wood. While he's gone, a fox sneaks into camp and takes the rabbit.

It doesn't pay to be lazy...

Everything that adults may remember from their own reading experiences around animal fables and the meanings they contain.
Although aimed at 6-8 year olds, I liked straightaway that this is a grim tale. This isn’t a Disney world where everyone gets along and forgets the food chain.
The Vole and the Rabbit team up as they need to travel through dangerous countryside and alone they could be fair game for bandits.
The Vole shows ingenuity, common sense and practical commitment to ensure their safety. Resting somewhere safe and building a fire.
The Rabbit demonstrates less positive attributes. Selfishness, short sightedness and pure laziness. He is content to allow others to keep him safe, watch the fire and gather more wood.
This is an ideal story with three different animals to talk about. Good and bad qualities, teamwork and vigilance in the face of potential hazards and danger.
It reads well and is beautifully illustrated by sketches enhanced by watercolours. The text is clear and well set out for young readers to follow. It is not a baby book and will encouraged these school age children to read alone and feel more grown- up.
The moral is not over played and the outcome is not telegraphed, so it will surprise will be felt and the reasons for the ending understood.
A perfect book from a publisher who is intent on expanding and encouraging young minds.
The author has created a modern tale with a nod to this rich heritage and made it fresh and appealing.

Okay, yes, so I have a somewhat twisted sense of humor. Which is why I loved this. I read his first book a couple of months ago and was laughing so hard I had to share it with the rest of my family. Wilkie Martin has succeeded again. The illustrations are great, even the detail of the blood trail. I would strongly recommend that sensitive children NOT read this. But for the right sort of kid, this could be hilarious. The description says that it is Grimm like and it certainly is that. While I would say that this should be for a slightly older age range than 5-7 (6-8 at minimum), it really would depend on the kid. I could see a 10-year-old being completely disturbed by this and a 5-year-old loving it. So I would say it should be up to the discretion of the parents. As I was reading this, the thought occurred to me that the humor reminded me of some Brit-coms. Once I realized the publisher was from the UK, it made more sense to me. I can definitely see it being received differently over there. Still, I loved this and am very curious about what else the author will come up with.

Special thanks to #WitcherleyBooks for giving me a heads-up about this book, and also to #WilkieJMartin and #NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the strangest children's story I have ever come across. I received this book as an eARC from the publisher via netgalley in return for an honest review.

If I take this book by its face value I consider it to be so biased, dogmatic and moralistic that not even its precursors can contest with the story as it is told in this book.

Fun and lovely illustrations. Great to see a picture book aimed at slightly older children with a good story and moral line.

A dark tale in the style of Brothers Grimm.
The lazy rabbit doesn't want to help Vole, his companion, leaving Vole to do all the work. Lazy Rabbit meets his end at the paws of the Red Fox.
The water color illustrations also had a dark feeling.

Those who only gave this a one star review based on violence and blood have never read the original French fairy tales. They were raised on the Disneyized sanitized HEA versions. This is not one of those. While I was hoping it may have a more uplifting moral value, like the rabbit had a bad scare and like Ebeneezer Scrooge have an awakening, this is more real to life. There is no happy ending for the Lazy Rabbit.
Having read it on a black and white kindle I can not give an accurate commentary on the illustrations.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy to read and review

I requested this for the audio sample, which was very good, the narrator had a lovely voice that suited the illustrations and tone of the book.

I went on to read the full book and while I apricate that it is trying to tell a message, I felt it was too violent for children. I personally don't want to read my son a bed time story that has a trail of blood in the illustrations and talks of 'seizing him by the throat'.

Yikes!

The rabbit gets eaten by the fox, and there is a blood trail in the illustrations!

I totally understand that this fits into a pattern similar to Aesop's fables, but Wowza! I kept telling myself that the rabbit would get away, but the text clearly states the fox "got the rabbit by the throat!" When I read that line, I thought, "Yep, they definitely 'went there.'"

Although the illustrations are well done and the story has a clear message against laziness, this is not one I would read to my young children. It crosses the line of violence for me. Plus, I do not want to be the one explaining the blood trail to my six-year-old during our bedtime reading routine!

I will be picking another book.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Another dark tale from Wilkie J Martin.
The lazy rabbit is as the title states - about a lazy rabbit who doesn't want to help his companion and leaves him to do all the work.
What happens to the rabbit is very grousom and not a tale I enjoyed. I haven't shared this with my little one as I know it would upset her.
These books have a very Brothers Grimm feel to them, which isn't a taste everyone in this era has.