I'm A Hare, So There! Written and illustrated by Julie Rowan-Zoch. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Raincoast. 2021. $23.99 ages 3 and up

 

"My name is Jack, 
but I'm no rabbit! 
Hares are bigger. 
Bigger ears, 
bigger feet. 
Check out my toes! 

Pee-yew!"

In a heated discussion sure to entertain young readers and make them laugh, said hare and a ground squirrel discuss various animals that are often lumped together as being the same. The squirrel makes the initial faux pas, calling the hare a rabbit; the hare retaliates calling the squirrel a chipmunk. Each admits to the other that there is some relationship between the misnomers. 

Hare explains what makes him who he is. 

"Baby rabbits are born naked!

Naked? 

Yup. They have to stay 
in their burrows. 

I was born with hair - with my 
eyes wide open. I can look out 
for myself."

As the conversation continues, readers will learn about the differences between other animals as well. Heedless to what is happening around them, the two are very surprised when a 'jackal' pounces, and voices its intention to eat the rabbit. Infuriated, the hare lands a perfect punch. As they walk away, the squirrel informs the hare about the downed animal ... "Technically, that was a coyote!"

Two pages of back matter are entertaining and informative. One compares eight pairs of animals often mistaken for the other, and the other asks readers to go back and find fourteen Sonoran Desert creatures hidden in earlier spreads. 

Kids will respond with laughter to the facial expressions and haughty voice of the hare, making it an engaging book to share with them.