Delightful, in unexpected ways. A classic for all ages. ( )

Jarrell certainly writes some intriguing little animal fables. And Garth Williams always makes a story so much richer and more memorable. I absolutely love the picture of the exhausted mom and the disappointed fox having a discussion. ( )

A mother wanted to have a surprise ready for her little girl by the time she got home from school one day so she decided to make her a rabbit made out of gingerbread inspired by a big brown one she saw in her yard. Just as she was about to put the rabbit in the oven, it wiggled away and ran out the front door. The mother searched and searched for the rabbit but she couldn't keep up with him. While in the forest, the gingerbread rabbit came across a sly fox who wanted to eat him but was saved just in time by a big brown rabbit. This other rabbit brought the gingerbread rabbit home to his wife and they offered to let him live with them like real rabbits. Meanwhile, the mother was still looking for the rabbit she was going to surprise her daughter with when it hits her that he is never coming back so she decides to make her a new one but this time out of felt. The little girl loved her surprise and took it with her everywhere she went and the little gingerbread rabbit lived happily with his new family. ( )

Like the gingerbread boy, this rabbit seems always to be running away. Soon after being made, the kitchen implements tell the rabbit that he will be eaten, so he runs away with the mom in desperate pursuit. She very much wants to surprize her daughter with something special, so when the gingerbread rabbit goes to live with a real rabbit family, the mom goes home and furiously sews a toy rabbit for her daughter. Everyone's happy in the end (except the fox, who didn't get to eat the rabbit). ( )