The Legendary Rabbit of Death

The Legendary Rabbit of Death

by  Ræchel Togden

Aro Books, Cardiff, United Kingdom    © 2013    106 pp.

 
 Written by British child author, Ræchel Togden, for other children and child-at-heart adults, The Legendary Rabbit of Death begins with the story of how Hazel Ten-Rabbits becomes the "Rabbit of Death" and how Ræchel comes to write her book.  I enjoyed the introductory story, and the descriptions of Ræchel's process and artwork.  I ding this book one-half and one-tenth of a star on a five-star scale because this wonderful sounding artwork is left to the imagination of the reader, as it is lacking in the paperback copy available in the USA.  I long to see Ræchel's rabbits in all their glory and color going about their adventures!  What isn't lacking is wit, humor, ponderously long pseudonyms, a love of alliteration, various animals, and their quests, challenges and adventures ready to be enjoyed by readers.  Looking forward to volume two, and Ræchel's long artistic career.  4.4999 stars.

"Penelope Prunella Pandora Philomela Philantha Peasemarsh Pig-whipper Prenderghast was never happy with the 'Pig-whipper' part of her name because the Rabbit of Death had named her the Rabbit of Peace and she hated nastiness, horribleness, or unkindness of any kind. She loved the names Philomela and Philantha. She loved Philomela, because it meant 'lover of songs' -- and Philantha, because it meant 'lover of flowers'.

When she was a little girl she asked her parents about the 'Pig-whipper' part of her name and her mother said, 'Well Penelope. . . it--is--a strange name, it's true--but . . . it comes from your great-great-great-great-great-grandparents -- and since then we've all had that 'Pig-whipper' name.' "  (p. 15)

So begins the first story.  Later on:

"Finally Penelope decided to ask the Rabbit of Death about it. Now, the Rabbit of Death was a very mysterious and strange rabbit who lived in the 'Cave of Everlasting Terror'. He had fangs that grew longer the more frightening he wanted to be -- but he only looked frightening when he needed to help rabbits in frightening ways. Sometimes--but not often--he had a ghostly face that could make you think of rotting corpses. Mainly he was very friendly and incredibly kind -- but he was always weird.

When Penelope asked the Rabbit of Death about her pig-problem, he gave her a very strange answer. 'Well Rabbit of Peace . . . it is very kind of you to keep trying to be friendly with the pigs but you always give them things that--you--like.  But what--you--need to do, is give them things that--they--like.' " (p. 18)

Penelope takes this advice to heart and attempts to figure out what pigs like, and how to transform the "Pig-whipper" part of her heritage while befriending the local pigs.

-- reviewed by Jennifer Knight