This was okay. I was not ready at all for what type of ending I got, it was a little more gruesome then I thought a children's book would be. A tale to warn of laziness, being unprepared and the consequences of both. Could have been better.
#Netgalley

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This was not what I expected. Told in fable form, it is the story of Rabbit and Vole on a journey. While Vole works hard, collecting firewood, lazy Rabbit wraps up in blankets and sleeps. His laziness eventually costs him his life, in a very grisly way. After he was eaten I expected him to somehow return, jumping out of fox's stomach by some magical means. Nope, didn't happen. Rabbit is dead and stays dead. This is too morbid for a children's book in my opinion, and would never have read it to my kids. The only thing that saved it from being a one-star was the great illustrations, however, I did not enjoy the trail of watercolor blood left behind after Fox dragged Rabbit to his lair (and used his pelt as a pillow).

So the moral of the story. Don’t be lazy. Come and rabbit set off to travel together to avoid getting eaten by bandits. Rabbit is lazy and due to it get into trouble while little Vole does all the work. Rabbit eventually gets caught because she/he would not help get more firewood leaving poor Vole alone and sad. I don’t know if I’d read this to very you g children but it teaches a good moral.

An okay tale and beautifully illustrated but way too gruesome for a child's book as you even see a trail of blood and part of a rabbits body.

I really disliked this title. The cover leads you to believe that this story is going to be a cute read, but it is anything but that. The rabbit isn't likable, but what happens to it is harsh and shouldn't be in a children's picture book. I understand that this title is trying to teach life lessons, and lessons of what nature is really like, and that's fine. However it shouldn't be wrapped in a cute cover because I think it's misleading. Also, I think that this book will scare a lot of kids. It's very harsh, graphic, and final. It's not a book I would ever buy, or recommend. I'm sorry.

*thank you to Netgalley, The Witcherley Book Company and Wilkie J. Martin for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*


1 star.

Ohh my god, No! From page one, I did not like the artwork details but I did like that water colouring was used. The story, well you can hardly tell from page one. About half way through I thought the story was boring, it hadn't captured my attention but the illustrations were starting to grow on me. I'd bumped my star rating up to two stars.

But then THAT thing happened and I want to say what but it's a spoiler but I do need to say that it's awful. Bluntly, it took away all my stars for this and I would refuse to pass this book on.

For sensitive children, this is a book to stay away from. Far away.

I did not enjoy this at all and I would not recommend it.

Cole and rabbit travel together to stay safe from bandits hunting them however as their fire burns low and danger lurks rabbit can't be woken...



As a children's picture book I don't recommend for animal loving children like my cousin's as there's death of animals involved however it does teach about how laziness has consequences even though they're more harsh in this book and the illustrations were done well to show the story.



Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Oh my this book is dark. I didn't really get into at first and my first thought was that I probably wouldn't share this with my kids. But as the story progressed, I couldn't help but think this is supposed to be an allegory for marriage. A sad dysfunctional marriage. Ok, maybe my husband is a little too much like rabbit than I'd like to admit. But the blood trail and Fox's new rabbit fur pillow, are so off tone to the rest of the story. This book says it is for readers 6-8 so that's a bit older than most picture books anyway, I guess that age audience would appreciate it. However I can see a lot of traumatized younger kids reading this book and not understanding the message and only seeing blood.

Also the message isn't really true. Lazy people who get others to do their work for them often win in the end. I think we sometimes just feel so put upon that we'd like to see others face the consequences of their actions. In this I guess we hope to see our spouses murdered in their sleep? Not sure anyone is a winner here.

I will admit though, if this is an allegory for beleaguered wives lamenting their husbands getting their comeuppance, well it's satisfying.

Beautifully illustrated, this children's book is a cautionary tale of the perils of laziness. Vole and Rabbit embark on a journey through the night. Rabbit is too lazy to help Vole collect dry firewood to keep them warm and safe, and leaves all the work to the hardy Vole. As the night deepens and the rain begins, Vole asks Rabbit to help him venture further afield to collect more firewood. But Rabbit is too lazy and 'needs his beauty sleep'. Vole reluctantly leaves Rabbit to brave the night in a search for dry wood. But, in the meantime, as Rabbit blissfully sleeps, a wily fox is watching and waiting for the perfect opportunity. As the rain becomes heavier, the fire is extinguished and Fox makes his move. He pounces on the hapless Rabbit and all that remains is a trail leading to his lair. Not the happiest tale, but a tale that teaches the importance of teamwork and co-operation.

Such a lovely read with a wonderfully unique storyline. I would 100% recommend this as a gift to children in your life!

Rabbit and Vole are traveling together to keep each other safe. Vale soon discovers Rabbit it a lazy travel companion as he will not help him keep wood on the fire. In the end, Rabbit learns his lesson because he is eaten by a fox, and the sad Vole continues on his way.

I very quickly regretted reading this book aloud to my child without previewing it first! It has a fable feel where a distinct lesson is presented, but the gore and blood were too much for me. I also felt like it was long winded with lots of unnecessary adjectives.

I also had a hard time following the reasoning that without a fire, they will surely freeze to death unless they are attacked by a bandit. It also seemed off that Vole would be able to find dry fire wood anywhere given the downpour that just happened.

This book has the potential to be good, but I think it needs some serious editing both in content and word choice.

A book well worth trying, if you get a chance, but not one that will become a favourite. Rabbit and a little female Vole have teemed up on their journeys, knowing the dangers of the bandits in the land they're walking through. But when it comes to setting camp, collecting wood and keeping fire watch, well, Rabbit just can't be bothered. The book is surprisingly quick to end, but the lack of over-stated, dead obvious moral might to be its benefit. What certainly do improve proceedings are the watercolour images, which really bring the situation to life. The text will probably need a pass from a parent first – it's set at an appropriate level for a young audience, the kind who can read Aesop and other, similar legend-styled stories, but it might give the really sensitive the willies, for it can get quite unsettling and vivid at the key scenes. Three and a half stars – there's little wrong, but I can't see many re-reads.

I enjoy the dark Grimm-ish stories that remind me of the wicked times, but again, this is way too dark for children in my opinion. A lazy rabbit travels along with a clever and hardworking vole. His laziness causes him to avoid being cautious and he ends up eaten by a fox. I enjoy the values being taught to children through fables, but the sense of darkness irritated me. Special thanks to NetGalley and The Witcherley Book Company for an ARC.

Wise Vole and lazy Rabbit agree to travel together for safety. Vole ends up doing most of the work of gathering firewood and stoking a fire. The following morning Rabbit stays warm while Vole goes out to find food. What would be a delightful lesson turns tragic when Fox comes and eats Rabbit. The book ends with Vole alone, "sorrowful tears for the lazy Rabbit running down her furry face." A bit sad for my liking in a children's book.

WHOA! As a picture book written to help children understand and steer clear of laziness, there were many other ways to approach it. The attack and killing of a rabbit by a fox is not going to help children understand laziness it is simply going to frighten them. This is an absolute NO GO for my children or my classroom.

Yikes! Call the trauma counsellor.

I just finished reading All In the Same Boat by the same author and illustrator, and I thought it was unnecessarily dark for a children's book. The Lazy Rabbit is, if such a thing is possible, even worse! Not only does the rabbit die, his skin gets turned into a pillow and his companion returns to their campsite to find a trail of blood.

I think these books might have worked better a couple hundred years ago. There's a definite grim (Grimm?) feeling to them, with dire consequences for negative personality traits such as greed and laziness. I'm also not sure how easily kids will be able to relate to the animal characters, as anthropomorphized as they are; it's not like kids need to worry about being eaten if they're too lazy to clean up their room.

Perhaps these books will have an audience among hardy kids who like a bit of darkness in their picture books. However, sensitive readers are likely in for a bit of a shock. (I might not have had such a problem with this book if not for the bloody watercolour trail smeared across one spread. That's just a bit too much.)

The book is written as a fable with a clear lesson at the end. It will be easy for even the young readers to understand. As I was reading, I thought that not only should the rabbit learn to work a little harder, the vole should learn how to stand up for herself and listen to the little voice inside her!

Whew! Another shockingly amusing story from Wilkie Martin. Really hard lesson to be learned in his stories. lazy Rabbit gets his for not gathering more wood when he should have. For the right kid this might be a winner. I still love the illustrations!