Lane Smith is one of my favorite artists/illustrators. He blends his text with sometimes quirky illustrations. In this book, the illustrations were more clear and to the point. Rabbit loves his grandmother. He longs to find a perfect gift for her, even though it isn't her birthday.
When a crow mentioned a "perfect gift" and said it wasn't a long travel, Rabbit listened. Through fields of flowers, through green and grand forest surroundings, Rabbit continues his quest, knowing no matter what he finds for grandmother, it will be just right.

Time and time again, finding suggestions from those he meets along the way, he simply cannot find the perfect gift. When he finds a full moon resting on the ground, he is surprised. The moon tells him he is down on earth when the sun is up in the sky. Showing a quarter moon smile, Rabbit is grateful, but knows his grandmother already has a brilliant smile.

He comes upon a "stickler" who is quite weird looking and offers a stick hanging out from is body. The rabbit notes grammy already has a stick to walk with. Thanking the stickler, he walks along furter.

He comes upon a fish who offers a glass of water, and no, this isn't the perfect gift since she has a glass of water by her bedside.
A volcano offers a bang up show when he explodes ten million fireworks, as the volcano offers this for his grandmother's temper. This isn't the perfect gift as the grandmother has a small temper already.

Finally, at the end of his quest, rabbit agrees that crow was right. The perfect gift is a carrot. Though, along the way, he does take some chomps out of the yummy carrot, and even through his grandmother has plenty of carrots, this special one from her rabbit grandson is perfect.

Cute, engaging, with amusing illustrations, this is a lovely tale. ( )