Natalie Russell

I generally don't like picture books about the storytelling process. It just feels...self-indulgent to me. So when I first saw the description of this, I was like "nah." But...then I realized it was a tapir. There are not enough tapir books! Come to think of it...are there any tapir picture books? Hmmm...also, it's Natalie Russell, and I really adored her pictures in Moon Rabbit, even though I didn't end up buying it for the library....and while I generally look at Peachtree for nonfiction show more picture books, not fiction, when they do hit a good one, they really hit it...

So I borrowed it and read it and I am IN LOVE.

Tapir has pencils and a notebook, but he doesn't know what to write. All his friends are good at writing; Giraffe can write poems, Hippo can write exciting stories, Flamingo can write songs...but Tapir's got nothin'. He tries behaving like his friends, but it's no good. Finally, Tapir finds his own quiet place and his own special talent and realizes that his pictures can say everything that he doesn't have the words to write.

This book gently introduces children a large number of writing concepts; stories should have a beginning and an ending, songs are composed, the simple rhyming flow of a poem. While the text is a little long for younger storytimes, it would be easy to adapt it and leave out the animals' writing.

Most attractive, of course, are the softly glowing illustrations. Tapir's friends and his world glow with sturdy, vibrant colors and when Tapir finally begins his drawings they are a perfect blend of rough pencil sketches that could have been done by a child and skilled artistry.

Verdict: A simple but beautiful story. This won't have your storytime group racing around with delight, but everyone will have a satisfied sigh when Tapir resolves his problem and produces his lovely pictures, showing his friends just how much they mean to him. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 9781561457397; Published 2013 by Peachtree; Purchased for the library show less

Little Rabbit and Brown Rabbit, the adorable leporine friends who first appeared in Natalie Russell's Moon Rabbit, return in this second picture-book adventure, which picks up just where its predecessor left off. With Little Rabbit having returned to her home in the city, it is Brown Rabbit's time to step out of his comfort zone, leaving his traditional haunts in the park to visit his friend. Little Rabbit, determined to show him a good time, and to allow him to experience all the pleasures show more of urban living, tries to cram as many activities as possible into his stay, only to realize that it is her he has come to see, not the city. Is it too late to put thing right...?

Truthfully, I wasn't that impressed by the story in Brown Rabbit in the City. The theme is fine - I liked the idea of it - but somehow the actual text just didn't work for me, and felt a little disjointed at times. The artwork, on the other hand, was just outstanding, with the same lovely use of color and shape as in Moon Rabbit. I appreciated the decorative endpapers (did the first have them as well? I can't recall), and the way that Little Rabbit and Brown Rabbit's ears curve in different directions. The illustrations here put me in mind of another contemporary picture-book artist, Carin Berger, whose work I also admire. All in all, a sweet little book, if somewhat stronger in the visuals, than in the text - one I recommend to all those readers who appreciated Little Rabbit and Brown Rabbit's first adventure! show less

Little Rabbit enjoyed her life in the city, with all of its amenities and activities - sitting in her favorite cafe, being a part of the bustling throng - but sometimes, in the quiet of the night, she felt terribly lonely, and longed for a companion - a little rabbit just like herself, with whom she could talk and play. And then one day, falling asleep in the local park, and waking up after dark, she discovered just that, and struck up a friendship with the little brown musician-rabbit she show more met. When homesickness eventually draws her back to the city, will she be separated from Brown Rabbit? Or can a middle ground be reached...?

A sweet tale of finding friendship, while also maintaining a sense of self, and of home, Moon Rabbit, which is written and illustrated by Scottish author/artist Natalie Russell, creator of Hamish The Highland Cow, makes for an appealing little book. The artwork, in particular, is absolutely charming! I loved Russell's use of color and shape, her quirkily stylized rabbits, and appealingly checkered moon. I can't say that I was quite as impressed with the narrative, although I did find it an enjoyable little story. All in all, this was a pleasant first "outing," with this author - I think I will try to track down the "sequel," Brown Rabbit in the City. show less

Brown Rabbit in the City by Natalie Russell is about a old friends seeing each other for the first time in years. The city rabbit has the entire trip planned to give her friend the best experience imaginable. Brown Rabbit, though, is overwhelmed by all the things they have to do.

Anyone who has traveled to visit friends or family after a long time away will probably have gone through the same thing. There's a delicate balance between catching up with loved ones and playing tourist. It's show more impossible to do everything and what you might think is the best things to see and do might not be what your host has planned.

In Brown Rabbit in the City there are two characters acting at the extreme ends of stubbornness. There is the visiting rabbit who is going to all the places but isn't trying to have any fun at any of the places they go. Then there is the host rabbit who continues to drag her friend to all these places even though its obvious he's not enjoying them at all. show less