Ten Little Rabbits

Book excerpt: This spirited picture book celebrates Native American traditions as it teaches young children to count from one to ten. The whimsical illustrations of Ten Little Rabbits, reminiscent of Beatrix Potter, glow with brilliant color and are filled with fascinating detail. Each number introduces a facet of traditional Native American culture, such as Pueblo corn dances or Navajo weaving, and the simple, rhyming text is enhanced by a brief afterword on Native American customs. Ideal for story time or bedtime, this is a book sure to leave children counting rabbits instead of sheep. Winner of the International Reading Association Children’s Book Award Praise for Ten Little Rabbits “Writer Virginia Grossman and artist Sylvia Long, a Dakota Indian, have created this book with honestly and careful attention to authenticity and beauty, and the result is a high-quality combination of rhyme, culture, and artistic expression that will please children.” —Booklist “A valuable replacement for the old, stereotypical ten little Indians rhyme. . . . A delightful visual treat.” —TheFive Owls “A quiet, respectful survey of some Native American customs organized through the structure of a counting rhyme, populated by rabbits dressed in traditional garb. . . . Notes at the back identify each tribe represented (Plains, Pueblo, Great Lakes, Northwestern, and Southwestern peoples), and provide information about the pictures. The rabbits have an earnest charm reminiscent of Marjorie Flack’s industrious family.” —School Library Journal