Please Don’t Tell Cooper That Jack is a Rabbit

Cooper is back in Michelle Lander Feinberg’s newest publication Please Don’t Tell Cooper That Jack Is a Rabbit. He’s become more civilized with the passing of time and continues to be full of love and life. However, he’s fascinated with rabbits, and when he spots one, his manners and listening skills disappear like water in a desert. It’s as if there are no rules and codes of ethics to follow.

One day, Uncle Stephen lets Cooper outside without a leash. The second he sees a bunny in the distance, he’s off and running like a racehorse. The fence doesn’t even deter his efforts. He makes his way through the streets and streetlights and refuses to slow his pace. He carelessly knocks over a pitcher at the fifth-grade picnic in the park in his battle to catch the hare. Nevertheless, the students are gracious and welcome him and his future playmate to join them. They cuddle up on a blanket on the ground, and all fear dissipates. It’s as if Cooper and the bunny have been friends for a lifetime by the time he returns home with Jack in tow. The bunny has no residence to claim as his own, so Cooper pleads with the children’s parents to accept him into their clan. In the days to come, Jack Rabbit and Copper adventure all over the place and become the closest companions despite their rocky start.

This is a whimsical story that’ll appeal to children ages four to eight. The illustrations appear in pastel blends of watercolor design and are ripe with humor and emotion, edging toward drama. An array of darker, earthen tones would enhance them considerably, adding richness to their quality and allure.

The text is second to early third-grade reading level and has a lyrical rhythm. Very young ones will be comforted by its soft, rhythmic flow; while older readers may find it too juvenile. Sentences like: “With Copper on drums and Jack on guitar, it’s a sight, let’s admit, it’s a little bizarre” have a lighthearted aura and are catchy but not exceptionally original. They lack the depth that older kids often favor. Conversely, this jovial tale is perfect for a quick bedtime treat to end a little one’s day with a laugh and smile.

The end of the narrative is unquestionably the most notable. Feinberg does an admirable job of pulling together loose ends and tying them into a thoughtful conclusion. She encourages readers to leave their hearts open to new relationships with those who appear different than them. She illuminates diversity in a subtle but meaningful way and artfully uses Copper and Jack to demonstrate how the unimaginable can work in wondrous ways.