The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld (review)

Taylor is pleased and proud when he builds a giant castle from his blocks, but he’s devastated when it falls and scatters across the floor. Assorted animals try to help—the chicken wants to talk about the tragedy, the bear thinks he should get mad and yell, the ostrich suggests pretending it didn’t happen, and the snake suggests ruining someone else’s fun, but Taylor doesn’t want to do any of those things. It’s the rabbit who finally helps, by not saying anything at all and by listening when Taylor’s ready to talk. With his scribbly hair, striped pajamas, and simply drawn but expressive face and body language, Taylor is a sweet, engaging protagonist. Thick outlines give the digital ink illustrations an appealing cartoonish air, and the white backgrounds and animal characters keep the story focused on Taylor and his feelings, rather than any larger situation. The lesson here isn’t subtle, but Taylor’s animal interlocutors offer an opportunity to talk about managing difficult emotions with kids, and the book acts as a reminder for adults and children alike that sometimes the best way to help someone is to sit quietly with them.