The Owl and the Two Rabbits

K-Gr 2--Based on a traditional Inuit story from the Kivalliq region of Nunavut, two rabbit sisters play on the open tundra, despite parental warnings to stay out of the sight lines of hungry predators. Sure enough, their boisterous rock jumping contest catches the attention of an owl who swoops down and snatches them up in his sharp talons. Struggling to take flight with the added weight of both bunnies in tow, the owl topples over. Not willing to heed his wife's advice to "Let one go! We'll have the other!," the greedy bird eventually loses his grip. On the ground and running, the rabbits use a big boulder to thwart the persistent owl's advancement. Once safely hidden among the Arctic willow, the lucky sisters are reunited with their family and reflect on lessons learned. The beauty of the landscape is captured in Cutler's watercolor cartoon illustrations, with glowing orange-yellow sunset backgrounds. Inuk writer Sammurtok's creative retelling brims with suspenseful pacing. VERDICT This cautionary tale is well-suited to read-aloud sharing.--Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ont.

"Inuk writer Nadia Sammurtok's delightful new take on a traditional Inuit story from the Kivalliq region of Nunavut has wonderfully rambunctious illustrations by Marcus Cutler. When two little rabbit sisters decide to go play on the tundra, even though they've been warned not to, trouble is quick to follow! They'll make a delicious-tasting dinner for a hungry owl and his wife unless they can find a way to escape. How they manage to trick the owls will keep young readers on the edge of their seats in this engagingly suspenseful story." —The Globe and Mail