Charlotte Zolotow (1915–2013)

It's a golden, windy autumn day, and a mother and daughter set out walking among the swirling leaves. As they wend their way, they share little adventures--spying a kitten, seeing the trees zigzag with streaks of color, catching some floating milkweed, watching the setting sun color the clouds. Throughout their walk, the girl keeps urging her mother to "say it" with more and more persistence. What could "it" be? A quiet story that shows the many ways love is expressed in the small moments show more shared between mother and child. show less

Whoever is writing these blurbs for Zolotow's books is good, as they're usually concise and focused on the main themes, and much better than I could do, esp. in this case. Anyway:

I'm surprised at myself, a bit, but I have to admit that Stevenson's illustrations are good for this. Sure they're kinda scribbly and cartoony, but if they were more realistic or pretty or something they'd make the book too heavy, too laden or fraught if you know what I mean. These add just a dash of joy, which show more leavens the moving text so it doesn't add up to maudlin.

I also have to admit that I'm surprised I used so many adjectives in my comment. Is it because Zolotow used so few? This, especially, is a good example of show v. tell, and simplicity, etc. show less

The Bunny Who Found Easter, illustrated by Helen Craig

All alone in the world, a little bunny wonders where all the other rabbits are, until he is advised by a sleepy old owl that there are always rabbits at Easter. Believing that his avian adviser is speaking of a place, our leporine hero sets out to find Easter, traveling through the four seasons until he finds... another rabbit! Finally content, the bunny eventually realizes that Easter is not a place at all, but "a time when everything show more lovely begins once again..."

Originally published in 1959, and illustrated by Betty Peterson, Charlotte Zolotow's sweet tale of a bunny in search of companionship was reprinted in 1998 with new artwork by British illustrator Helen Craig, who has also worked on the popular Angelina Ballerina picture-books. The version I read was published this year (2018) as a special gift edition. I found Zolotow's story immensely appealing, with a poetic text given to beautiful descriptions - black sparrows described as ink drops in the snow - and a conclusion that leaves the reader/listener feeling emotionally satisfied, while also gently leading them to consider the meaning of the season, and the holiday for which the bunny had been searching. Helen Craig's artwork here is incredibly cute, and captures the bunny's changing emotional state quite well. I liked the inclusion of a little mouse companion for the bunny, who is never mentioned in the text, but who (in the illustrations) follows the bunny everywhere, and who finds his own mouse counterpart just as the bunny finds his lady love. Recommended to anyone looking for sweet stories about bunnies, spring, and (tangentially) Easter. show less

Oh goodness. I would have loved this when I was a child. Some experiences, like being outside very late during a heat wave, can be magical. Finding a tiny treasure can be magical. Letting yourself be feral and free without worrying about what your regular friends think can be magical.

Some readers may see first tentative explorations of romance, but that's purely optional.

Too bad that the parents are too tired to enjoy the night, but lovely that the children are able to. And too bad, almost, show more that air-conditioning is so ubiquitous that not many children now will ever discover this kind of innocent adventure.

I especially love that the child does feel 'alone' and has independence and yet is completely loved, not conveniently an orphan or even semi- or quasi-orphan.

*Reread. Just as magical the second read.

I am so glad my library has retained a lot of Zolotow's works.
Btw, I read this with the newer illustrations, but from what I can see the original look fine, too.

Compare to [b:The Moon Jumpers|47974|The Moon Jumpers|Janice May Udry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1420731880i/47974._SX50_.jpg|46956]. show less