"The winds blew and bit, and the trees
shivered and shook, and Little Rabbit
began to lose hope.
He plopped down on the ground, feeling
sorry for himself and tired after all that
jumping and shouting and listening. He
nestled into the roots of a tree to have a
little rest."
It's going to be a long wait until we start dreaming about spring's arrival. We have only had our first few looks at what winter might bring. As days and months pass, we will certainly feel the way Little Rabbit does as he waits impatiently to be done with winter's cold. It doesn't take long to miss friends who have burrowed in, or gone from the Old Forest to miss the biting cold that winter brings. It's been long enough now, and Little Rabbit needs change. He's hungry and bored, and wants his parents to tell him when he can expect the warmth of spring.
His parents suggest patience. He goes to his grandmama for a more promising answer. She tells him that only the trees know when the warm weather will return. His next stop is a visit with those trees. Though he asks his question, the trees provide no answer. Shouting at them offers no response. Listening extra carefully does not work. The winds continue to blow, and nothing changes. While taking a nap at the base of a nearby tree, Little Rabbit detects a new smell. What can it be?
Signs of spring are all around, and Little Rabbit repeats his question.
"When will it be spring?" Little Rabbit
asked the trees once again.
And this time, without a word, the
trees answered.
Soon."
Rich artwork allows young readers to feel the cold of the winter world and the impatience as Little Rabbit waits for a seasonal change we all welcome.
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