A Race between Tortoise and Rabbit

Abstract

Here is a very nicely produced pamphlet of 32 pages. The color work is well accomplished; the overall impression is of a slick children's book. Two-page spreads offer simple and lively illustrations. The art work emphasizes the animals' heads. The tortoise wears a baseball cap, and the rabbit wears shorts and saddle shoes. Surprisingly, the story starts by describing the rabbit and the tortoise as friends. On an outing together, the rabbit complains to the tortoise about the latter's pace. The tortoise warns in response that he will pass the rabbit when the rabbit stops. The English may struggle a bit: When hearing that match, all small animals came to watch it happily. Or again: The small rabbit played as walking. The rabbit soon leaves the main road to pick flowers, feels tired, sits on a lawn, and plays with the flowers he has picked. When he awakens, the rabbit walks unhurried towards the finish line. At the end, the rabbit hangs his head in shame. It looks as though there are nine other books in this series, but I cannot get enough information from the publisher's website to order them!