Rabbit and the Not-So-Big-Bad Wolf - Hardcover

Michaël Escoffier, author of more than two dozen picture books, lives in Lyons, France, with his wife and two children.

Kris Di Giacomo was born in Brazil and currently lives in France. She has illustrated more than twenty picture books, some of which she has also written.

There are two things going on in this concise picture book. First, Rabbit needs to differentiate between the Big Bad Wolf and the Not-So-Big-Bad Wolf, which he does with the help of the book’s narrator (who happens to be the reader). Second, Rabbit needs to hide from the Not-So-Big-Bad Wolf, which he finally manages after a few frenzied failed attempts. When the Not-So-Big-Bad Wolf (a child who bears a resemblance to Maurice Sendak’s Max) finally finds Rabbit, nervous readers will breathe a sigh of relief, though they may debate whether Rabbit is pleased or not. The premise of the book, where the reader is seemingly directing the action, is achieved not only through the text but also through extremely expressive Rabbit, who stares straight through the fourth wall, awaiting instructions on each page. The mixed media illustrations, incorporating traditional and computerized techniques, are as spare as the text, leaving plenty of space for the reader to fill in the details. While this book would work as a read-aloud, it would be equally successful for emerging readers. Grades K-3. --Kara Dean