About the Book:
Title: The Rescue Rabbits
Author: Eric Seltzer
Illustrator: Roland Garrigue
Pub. Date: November 10, 2020
Beagles and Books is excited to be part of the blog tour for The Rescue Rabbits. Special thanks to Two Lions and Barbara Fisch of Blue Slip Media for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Review:
If you are animal in trouble, there is no need to fear. Ace, Chip, Dot, and Spot (also known as the Rescue Rabbits) are here! Equipped with nifty gadgets such as a Super–Excavator to lift large animals and Rash–Away Lotion to soothe an itchy kangaroo, the Rescue Rabbits are always ready and prepared to help an animal in need.
Not long after they return to their headquarters, the Rescue Rabbits receive a desperate call from Prince Rex. And boy, is he in trouble!
No problem is too big for the Rescue Rabbits! But the first step to rescuing is finding Prince Rex. Thankfully, Chip uses their Tracking Device to identify his location. Once Prince Rex is free of both ants and chopsticks, the last step is getting him down from the tree. Unfortunately, Rex is not fond of ladders or ropes. But the Rescue Rabbits remain cool and confident working together on a new plan which involves not only Super–Chopper 9000 but also Queen Rex, the prince’s mother.
Propeller problems may stop other teams but Dot makes sure the Rescue Rabbits fly safely. Once they reach Prince Rex, his mother’s voice (with the help of the Super–Megaphone) is all he needs to climb down on his own. Worried about getting in trouble, Prince Rex shows contrition to his mother who warmly accepts not only his apology but also her son in her arms.
As a reading specialist, I have the pleasure of reading to a second grade class daily. Thanks to Kindle Unlimited, I was able to share a digital version of this entertaining story with them this week. Before reading, I asked the children to think about what the Rescue Rabbits can teach us. Here are some of the lessons the students shared.
- Help people.
- Say you are sorry.
- Work together.
- Don’t give up.
After the students shared their thoughts, we briefly discussed how the characters’ words and actions show positive traits such as responsibility, forgiveness, cooperation, collaboration, resourcefulness, creativity, and perseverance. With an engaging and fun plot that champions positive virtues and bold and playful cartoon–like illustrations, the students (and this teacher) give The Rescue Rabbits two thumbs up!
Praise for The Rescue Rabbits!
About the Author:
Giveaway!
One lucky winner will receive a copy of The Rescue Rabbits courtesy of Two Lions (U.S. addresses only). This giveaway is open from Friday, November 13, 2020 through Friday, November 21, 2020 ending at 10:00 p.m. EST. Please note that book may take longer to ship so patience is appreciated. Enter below or head over to my Twitter account, @lauramossa and retweet my Rescue Rabbits blog tour post.
Like Jack, Gretel, and Hansel (#girlpower Gretel), Red does questions some of the narrator’s directions remarking “You’re sending a child carrying a giant basket, into the woods, ALL ALONE? After the narrator answers with a simple yes, Red agrees stating “You’re in charge!” But I wonder for how long?
Well, not long because on the very next page spread, Red is now wearing her little sister’s blue cape to Grandma’s. And on her way to Grandma’s, she meets up with the Big Bad Wolf…wait…I mean..Captain Hook. It turns out the the wolf is sick which does not make the narrator happy.
Still trusting, Red continues following the narrator’s directions as she journeys to Grandma’s but Captain Hook is not feeling it. “I did not agree to people–eatin,” he says. Pirates are all about stealing loot which is why he continually conflicts with the narrator. When Red finally gets to Grandma’s, you can imagine the antics that ensue especially when Pinocchio fills in for the woodsman to rescue her from the Big Bad Wolf…oops..Captain Hook. And it’s NOT a Funk & Taylor fairy tale unless a character opens a restaurant serving fairy tale creatures.
I am always smiling and laughing after reading Funk and Taylor’s hilarious parody of a classic fairy tale. One of the highlights was the lively exchanges between Red and the narrator because he always told the truth and while she questioned his directions, she was still willing to follow them. What I also loved about It’s Not Little Red Riding Hood is the decision to have other fairy tale characters stand in the original characters. Captain Hook acted like himself, not the Wolf which made the story more humorous and a more fun read aloud.
Last November, the second grade class I read to for #classroombookaday, had the immense pleasure of hosting Josh Funk for an author visit where we not only got a sneak peek at It’s Not Little Red Riding Hood, but also Josh, the classroom teacher, and me engaged in a reader’s theater of taking on the voices of the narrator, Red, and Captain Hook which was such fun. I mean, come on…who doesn’t want to talk like a pirate?
I am in awe of Funk’s witty and playful writing and Taylor’s bold and engaging illustrations literally leap off the page. And kids love searching for cameos of other fairy tale characters throughout the book. Kids always ask which fairy tale will be next in the series as do I. My fingers (and Bella’s paws) are crossed that there are more It’s Not a Fairytale adventures to come!
About the Author:
Like the characters in his books, Josh Funk doesn’t like being told how stories should go—so he writes his own. He is the author of many popular picture books, including the popular Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series, illustrated by Brendan Kearney, and the It’s Not a Fairytale books, illustrated by Edwardian Taylor. He lives in New England with his family. Learn more about him at 
It’s Not a Fairytale Series Giveaway!
Two Lions is offering all three books in the It’s Not a Fairytale series–It’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk, It’s Not Hansel and Gretel, and It’s Not Little Red Riding Hood to one lucky winner (U.S. addresses). Giveaway begins Friday, October 23, 2020 and ends at 10 p.m. Friday, October 30, 2020. You can enter below or retweet my Twitter post.
During World War I, her passion to help remained strong first enlisting in the navy and joining the Red Cross. When she returned to Florida, developers and speculators had taken control of the Everglades, which did not sit well with Marjory; she knew the area must be preserved but how can she convince others?
Beagles & Books 