Fiction
January 10th, 2002
Audiobook
127
Library
1944
Robert Lawson
Barbara Caruso
It has been a while since Folks lived in the Big House, and an even longer time has passed since there has been a garden at the House. All the animals of the Hill are very excited about the new Folks moving in, and they wonder how things are going to change. It's only a matter of time before the animals of the Hill find out just who is moving in, and they may be a little bit surprised when they do.
(via Goodreads)
On my quest to read all the Newbery award winners I have picked up Rabbit Hill by Robert Lawson. Published in 1944, in the waning days of World War II, Lawson’s seemingly idyllic children’s book is obviously a product of that time. The Allies have agreed to help rebuild Europe. The armed forces are integrating back into life in the States. Post-Great Depression and Post-War, life is not returning to what it was and American citizens were afraid for their future. With this in the back of my head, I picked up Rabbit Hill and was pleasantly shocked with how Lawson addressed these concerns head-on while still appealing to a youthful audience.
“New Folks comin’, oh my!” is the cry amongst the animal community. An abandoned Connecticut farm was recently purchased and new folks are moving in. The last few years when the house was empty had been hard on the community. They have had to roam far and wide to find food. They have had to work together in strange ways to survive. The community is both excited and apprehensive as a new family moving into the big house looms in the future. Is this new family going to farm and tend the plants and leave the animals alone? Or are they going to bring dogs and guns and traps for this destitute community? Only time will tell.
Rabbit Hill features a wide cast of anthropomorphic characters but focuses mostly on a family of rabbits. Each character is unique and memorable, if completely one-sided. My favorite characters are Mole, blind and fiercely loyal to Willie the field mouse, as well as Father Rabbit who is a proper Southern Gentleman and Little Georgie, his son. The single-dimensionality of these characters allows Lawson to introduce many characters easily without confusing the plot of the story. While I found the introduction of all the characters tedious, Lawson establishes this is a strong, if poor, community who all have their place and work equally to support each other.
I love the audiobook narrator! Barbara Caruso’s vivid and animated reading helped me connect strongly with this older style of writing. At first, I felt like the story dragged. However, Caruso brought life to a story I might have otherwise found lacking due to my modern expectations. Lawson’s writing is simple, innocent, and focused on an idyllic lifestyle. I needed Caruso’s gentle narration to help me let go of my expectations and relax into a world which, to me, does not exist any longer. 1944 is very different than 2018, and this text proves it. Besides, Caruso not only provides unique voices for all the characters, but she even sings the tune Little Georgie makes up! “New folks comin’ oh my” is still suck in my head today.
The downside to listening to the audiobook is that I missed all of Lawson’s illustrations while reading. I hunted down a physical copy after listening to the audiobook and let me just say: These illustrations are wonderful! Reminiscent of The Wind in the Willows, each illustration is vivid and helps break up the text in a meaningful way for the reader. Some full-page illustrations exist, but most appear between text breaks.
Keeping the historical context in which this book was written in mind, Rabbit Hill provides a powerful message. The obvious themes of charity and kindness pulling a community together in times of need, as well as that of trusting the stranger, will come out to any young reader. But reading between the lines a bit more, I see a community of homeless and destitute people post-war. Rabbit Hill provides a hope for the future that we can only find by working together.
That said, I don’t know if the intended age of readers will catch all this historical context and relevance. Taken on the surface, Rabbit Hill preaches kindness to animals. I worry some children might expect that the animals they are kind to be kind in return to them and that is not always the case.
As a Newbery winner, I can understand why it might have won in 1945. America needed something happy, peaceful, and encouraging to promote in literature. But the book is a little foolish and simplistic overall, despite attempts to the contrary. Lawson uses a larger vocabulary and subtle themes I don’t imagine an ideal age range for this book would understand. Perhaps I’d read this aloud to a 6-8-year-old. While this tale aged well for me, I don’t think today’s children will find the same innocent joy children of the late 1940’s might have found. Regardless, I still recommend this book to younger audiences. I think they’ll find something worthwhile in these characters, themes, and illustrations.
What do you think?
- Have you read Rabbit Hill? What are your thoughts on this book?
- What books have you read which are simple in nature but provide a powerful message? Are any of them a bit disjointed, as I feel Rabbit Hill is?
- Do you enjoy reading older children’s books? Which are your favorites?
7 Comments
This reminds me of ‘Watership Down’.
Is it shocking or offensive that I’ve never read Watership Down? It’s so long, I’ve always been a bit intimidated to pick it up. #Lazy
I like the playfulness in the illustrations, especially how the rabbit on the hill has his feet crossed just a bit, a sure sign of innocence and wonder. Preachy books seem heavy-handed to me, but I think you’re on to something; the children of 1945 may have needed this.
I didn’t mean to imply the book was preachy– it didn’t feel that way until the VERY end when St. Francis was pulled out. But I don’t know if children would have picked up on it. Either way, the positivity was a bit infectious. I cannot imagine being a child of the war.
Lovely to see another Newbery book! I haven’t read this one and have to say that I wasn’t sure what it would be about. I will certainly pick up the illustrated version whenever I get around to it. Arrr!
x The Captain
I’m glad you’ll look for the illustrated version! I’d love to hear how your experience differs from my own with the different format. It was a fun book, but a bit dated. Keep that in mind when you’re reading! Not all books withstand the test of time…
No they don’t. I will keep that in mind.
x The Captain