Ebba, the first Easter Hare (SPRING)

by Leen Lefebre

[2018 REVISED EDITION]

King Stern rules over a dark empire of hares. His brother Atta leaves. Before his love Hulde gives birth to their first child, he wants to find a field of his own, bathing in light. Every day Hulde runs to the frontier, where she stands on the lookout for Atta. But then the baby arrives, too soon.

At a rapid pace, Princess Ebba grows into a smart child. Hulde notices that this curious girl resembles Atta more and more – and that is not a gift. When they discover an abandoned bird’s nest in a rabbit cave, Ebba wants to go on a trip just like her father. But, is she as brave as him?

[Crossover Fiction]
[Modern Fairy Tale]
[Family Read Aloud]
[Middle Grade Novella]
[Seasonal Stories, Holidays]
[FOUR SEASONS #2/4: SPRING]

79 pages, Paperback

First published March 19, 2015

About the author

Leen Lefebre grew up in West Flanders where she works at the Local Heritage Service. As a kid, she threw herself upon each book that was available. Later, she turned around and settled on the worldwide web. She then emerged as a true explorer of literature, music, and sports. Leen is a dreamer and a doer – and this is how her stories rose up as charming and lively fairy tales for adventurers of all ages.

Leen Lefebre groeide in Deerlijk op, in West-Vlaanderen, waar ze werkt op de dienst Erfgoed. Ze wierp zich al erg vroeg op elk boek dat voorhanden was. Daarna wentelde en nestelde ze zich in het wereldwijde web. Literair, muzikaal en sportief ontpopte ze zich als een ware ontdekkingsreiziger. Leen is dromer én doener. Zo zijn ook al haar boeken ontstaan: verhalen voor avonturiers – jong en oud.

Reviews

[Mridula Gupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never felt so attached to any human character as much as I cared about Ebba and her little quest. A modern-day Easter retelling, with an Evil king and a princess who is ready to go to great limits to protect her family and her kind.

Ebba is on a mission to save the kingdom from her tyrant uncle, the same kingdom her father, Prince Atta tried to run away from and got lost in the way. Ebba's inspiration is her mother Hulde, a strong support, who never fails to motivate her child.

This story has been told graciously, full of innocent determination, and bravery. I thoroughly enjoyed this dark tale of an evil king and his helpless followers.

I am definitely recommending it to everyone I find.

[Jeanine · Rating 3 out of 5]

een mooi avontuur over de eerste Paashaas. Vol met spanning, avontuur en ontroering

[Edith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Op zoek naar een origineel paasverhaal?
Ebba, de eerste paashaas is een leuk verhaal van de schrijfster Leen Lefebre. Met het 65 bladzijden tellende verhaal ben je zo’n drie uurtjes zoet. Lekker om achterin de auto te lezen als je van je ouders mee op visite moet. Wedden dat je tijdens deze saaie rit met je neus gaat wiebelen en je oren vrolijk overeind zet? Het werkt zelfs door bij het paasdiner. Je zult zeker niet met lange tanden eten…..
In het Rijk van hazen heerst de strenge koning Stern. Prins Atta, de broer van de koning gaat op zoek naar een eigen rijk. Helaas komt hij niet op tijd terug om bij de geboorte van zijn dochter te zijn. Prinsesje Ebba groeit snel en lijkt erg op haar vader. Wanneer Ebba haar eigen voedsel moet gaan zoeken in het grote veld vind zij een nestje eieren. Koning Stern heeft zijn onderdanen opgedragen vogels uit zijn koninkrijk te verjagen en eieren te vernietigen. Het prinsesje kan dit niet, ze wil de ongeboren vogeltjes redden. Moeder Hulde bouwt een mandje zodat Ebba de eitjes veilig kan vervoeren. Met gevaar voor eigen leven gaat Ebba op zoek naar de moeder van de kuikens.
Het verhaal deed mij denken aan het boek ‘Waterschapsheuvel’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGyQm... . Al lezende waande ik mij, net als 35 jaar terug bij het boek van Richard Adams, tussen honderden hazen in een grote groene weide. Dankzij het verhaal van Leen weet ik nu ook eindelijk waar het verhaal van de paashaas en de eieren vandaan komt. Gewoon dankzij het moedige prinsesje Ebba!

[Tazzy Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dit bijzondere verhaal gaat over de allereerste paashaas. Heb het met veel plezier gelezen. Je ziet het vanuit het oogpunt van een aantal hazen. En vanuit dieren hun ogen gezien is de wereld toch heel anders. Hulde is hoogzwanger als haar man Atta haar verlaat om zijn eigen lichtrijk te zoeken. Maar hij komt niet op tijd terug. Zijn dochter wordt zonder hem geboren. De kleine Ebba is klein en lijkt op haar vader. Hulde ziet in haar ogen al, dat zij een avonturier gaat worden. Ebba, kan het niet aanzien dat haar hazengemeenschap konijnen en vogels pijn doen en verjagen uit hun veld. Als ze dan op een moment een nestje met eieren vindt, besluit ze dat ze deze ongeboren vogeltjes wilt redden. Ze gaat op pad om de moeder te vinden van deze nog ongeboren kuikens. Ze maakt onderweg van alles mee.
Het is echt een heel leuk en bijzonder paas verhaal. Ik hoop dat veel mensen dit verhaal gaan lezen. Zeker rond deze tijd van het haar. Het is een verhaal van 66 blz op a5 formaat. Leuk om voor te lezen ook! De schrijfwijze is vlot en je leest het zo uit!

[Dieter Ryckewaert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Na 'Frede en de Kerstman' te hebben gelezen, was ik wel benieuwd naar Leen Lefebres nieuwe kortverhaal: Ebba, de eerste paashaas.
Zoals de titel laat vermoeden, is het verhaal gewikkeld in het thema van Pasen. Een gewaagde, maar meer dan geslaagde keuze.
Een modern verhaal dat het ontstaan van de Paashaas uit de doeken doet, naar mijn mening heel origineel.
Als lezer volgen we Ebba, een jonge haas die het strenge juk van de opperhaas Stern wil ontvluchten. Ebba trekt alleen de wijde wereld in, en op haar reis komt ze oog in oog te staan met de grillen van moeder natuur. Gevaar wisselt zich af met vreugdevolle momenten, en naarmate het verhaal vordert leren we het ontstaan van de eerste Paashaas.
Het verhaal is vlot geschreven, en toegankelijk vanaf de jonge jeugd. Ook voor volwassenen is 'Ebba, de eerste paashaas' geschikt. Voor mij was het een nostalgische trip met een moderne toets. Aanrader.

[Ria Nouwynck · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Ebba, de eerste paashaas,' heb ik gelezen in het paasweekend. Mijn man en ik waren op weekend en terwijl we genoten op het terras van een glaasje wijn, begon ik met het lezen van Leens nieuwe telg (lees zeker ook 'Arendsjong' van haar). Het verhaal telt ongeveer 65 pagina's en houdt je als lezer voor enkele uren in zijn greep. Van Leen zijn we een aangename schrijfstijl gewend, en ook met dit verhaal is dit niet anders. Uitermate geschikt voor kinderen, maar ook heel fijn lezen als volwassene. Ik hield vooral van de alternatieve kijk die werd gegeven aan het Paasverhaal en de creativiteit van de auteur. Zoek je een boeiend kortverhaal? Wel, zoek dan niet verder, op het einde van het verhaal zal je Ebba in je hart sluiten.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Looking for the perfect spring/Easter book to share with your child? Look no further than author Leen Lefebre's Ebba, the first Easter Hare! Here's the synopsis:

[2018 REVISED EDITION]

King Stern rules over a dark empire of hares. His brother Atta leaves. Before his love Hulde gives birth to their first child, he wants to find a field of his own, bathing in light. Every day Hulde runs to the frontier, where she stands on the lookout for Atta. But then the baby arrives, too soon.

At a rapid pace, Princess Ebba grows into a smart child. Hulde notices that this curious girl resembles Atta more and more – and that is not a gift. When they discover an abandoned bird’s nest in a rabbit cave, Ebba wants to go on a trip just like her father. But, is she as brave as him?

[Crossover Fiction]
[Modern Fairy Tale]
[Family Read Aloud]
[Middle Grade Novella]
[Seasonal Stories, Holidays]
[FOUR SEASONS #2/4: SPRING]

The story is well written and incredibly creative. The tale of a ruthless and evil King and his brother the Prince is a tale as old as time itself, and yet this book puts a new spin for the holiday season as we look at a journey a daughter goes on in honor of her father. Fighting to shed the darkness of her evil uncle's rule, Ebba sets out to find the brighter future her father disappeared searching for. Taking a story about the lives of simple woodland creatures and turning into a modern day fairytale of dark kingdoms and journeys of self-discovery is an enlightened choice. The story will delight children while giving adults a great new story to bond over with their children. The character's relationships are the emotional core of the tale, and brings the seasonal story to life in a really fantastic way.

Overall this is a must read children's book. Bringing a story to life in a seasonal way is a fantastic choice, and makes for a great story to read with your child during the holiday season. If you haven't yet be sure to pick up a copy of Ebba, the first Easter Hare by Leen Lefebre today!

[Wendy Koedoot · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is a modern Easter story, a smoothly written book for young people aged 10 and up. We get to know the realm of the hares that is ruled by King Stern.The youngest brother of Stern, called Atta, leaves the empire to search for his own light realm. He hopes to be there with the pregnant Homage and their unborn child. going to live. Atta leaves but then the hares baby comes too early. Tribute calls her Ebba. Ebba is an eager to learn hare and has a spike to her boat. She is very unhappy in the land of the hares. One day she finds an abandoned bird’s nest with eggs in it and Ebba wants to go on an adventure like her father. She wants to return the eggs to the mother bird and goes on an adventure with permission from Hulde. The road to the light kingdom is not without danger. Would Ebba be just as brave as her father and her light-hearted? You have to read that yourself.
The story reads smoothly and the chapters are not too long. There is also a lot of humor. The writer makes frequent use of all sorts of proverbs that contain “hare”, which I find very funny.
I find the name of the chick masterfully. You can easily move around in the characters, it is a youth book.
At the end of the story it is clear why Ebba has become the first Easter bunny.
It is a well-written, modern fairytale with enough ingredients to be able to read it immediately. The target group is certainly suitable. Adults can appreciate it if you like humor and fairy tales.

Rating 4 out of 5 stars.

[Mike Siedschlag · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever have to try to explain to a child why the Easter Bunny brings eggs?



Ebba, the First Easter Hare by Leen Lefebre tells the story. It is a dark and foreboding world Ebba inhabits. As you would expect, she is a truly good hare (the story differentiates between hares and rabbits). Our heroine (hareoine?) is on a quest to find a place of light.



Ebba, the First Easter Hare is not light fantasy in my mind. It is a bit more dark than I would have expected. But it is a great story non-the-less. To explain about the eggs would be a spoiler, so no. During her quest, Ebba learns about the larger world and meets other inhabitants all while trying to live her motto: Never show fear.



Looking up the author Leen Lefebre, I found she lives in Belgium. This may explain my one negative, the book is a bit choppy, like (surprise) it was translated from another language. Minor complaint, and readers will enjoy having an answer to "that question". A quick read that I got to enjoy right at Easter. book



This book operates on several levels; a children's story, a morality play, a philosophical exploration or just a fun read about a hare. You can choose for yourself. A fun story. Enjoy!

[Fariha Khayyam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ebba, The First Easter Hare, is well-written for young kids under 12, and a great read just in time for Easter. The chapters are in third-person with interludes of the character’s thoughts in italics.

The story starts off with the introduction to the King of Hares, Stern, and how his empire is in darkness. The author then introduces the main characters, Atta and Hulde. Soon Ebba is born into the dark realm of King Stern. Ebba decides to go on a mission, after she comes across an abandoned bird’s nest. Meanwhile Atta has gone away in search of a Promised Land where the sun shines and where the King’s darkness cannot reach.

I would have liked to see a more proper conclusion to the story; What happens to Hulde? Does Atta return? Where is the Mother Hen? And so on. However, this was a quick and cute read. (Continues to cheer for Ebba even after the book ended).

Overall: 3 out of 5 stars

**I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review**

[ella ☆ any pronouns · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars**I received a free PDF copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review**

Ebba, the first Easter Hare (SPRING) is a modern fairytale take on the origin of Easter. I would suggest it for children ages nine and older. The writing in this is very easy for young readers, although, the idea the italics are the character's thoughts may be a little hard for them to understand without being explained to them. I did enjoy this story, however, in the end, I felt that there were loose ends that could have been better concluded, that was my only issue with it.

[Dieter Ryckewaert · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading 'Frede and Santa', I was curious to read the author's new novella: Ebba, the first easter hare.
As the title may suggest, the story's theme is about the origin of Easter.
A modern story about the origin of Easter, but very original.
We follow Ebba, a young easter hare who tries to flee the tyranny of Stern, who's King of the field.
Ebba goes on adventure by her own, and on her journey see comes eye to eye with mother nature.
Danger followed by moments of joy, and when the story ends, we know the true beginning of the first easter hare.
The novella is well writen, and very accesible for younger readers. For me, it was a nostalgic trip. Five stars.

[Lynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just couldn’t get into this book, the names of the characters were too confusing and hard to follow plus there was way too much dwelling on all the bad stuff in the spot of the world they lived in…too depressing and not anything I thought it would be!

[Books and coffee lounge 56 · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading another novel from the author, I decided to read Ebba, the first Easter Hare.
Leen Lefebre brings an alternate Easter story, and brings this with success. A modern fairytale, loved it.

[Karen Siddall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat difficult to follow due to a rough translation from the original Dutch into English, EBBA, The First Easter Hare, is the reimagined origin story of the Easter Bunny.

In this country, the tradition of the Easter Bunny (or “Osterhase”) is thought to have come to the U.S. via German immigrants in the 1700s. Their children made nests out of grass for the egg-laying hare where it would leave its colored eggs. Other sources say the association of a rabbit with Easter or Spring, in general, goes further back in time and was the symbol of the goddess “Eostre,” a goddess of fertility. Rabbits, of course, are known as early and prolific breeders.

In this new take, Ebba and her parents live in a dark kingdom ruled by her uncle, the cruel King Stern. It is a lightless place where the kingdom’s subjects are slaves: the males serving in the army protecting the borders and murdering any other creatures found inhabiting the kingdom. Females are expected to spend their lives gathering food for the king and his army.

One day, Ebba’s father, Atta, approaches his brother, the king, and requests to leave the kingdom for a place beyond the borders that is rumored to be sun-filled and free. The king refuses and they argue, but Atta goes anyway leaving baby Ebba and her mother, Hulde, behind with the promise to return one day and take them to their new home in the promised land.

Time passes, and Atta doesn’t return. Hulde and Ebba keep a low profile hoping for the day when they, too, can escape the dark kingdom until one day, while out gathering food, they discover a rabbit warren that has been destroyed by King Stern’s soldiers. Hidden away in a remote section, Ebba finds a clutch of runner’s eggs overlooked by the army. Ebba and Hulde decide that Ebba must take the unhatched eggs to the promised land beyond the borders to the runner mother that had desperately hidden her nest and fled when the army attacked. And so, begins Ebba’s journey to the borderlands and the adventure it becomes.

This is Book Two in a four-book series for middle graders and older that centers around one of each of the four seasons. (Book One was a winter tale.) Imaginative and short enough to hold the attention of children, it would benefit from some fine-tuning of the language to clarify what is going on and being said. Many times, I was halted in my enjoyment of the story because the word usage was just clunky and off-putting or didn’t make sense.

[Sanna Hines · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young prince rejects his uncle’s unnatural and despotic regime. After telling his pregnant wife, Hulda, to wait for him, he leaves the country to find a better home for his family. He doesn’t return before the birth of his daughter, Ebba. Much like her father, Ebba grows into a princess who will undertake her own journey to preserve innocent life and the balance of nature.

Did I mention all these characters are hares?

The story is a loving portrayal of faithfulness, maternal love, compassion and bravery. Though it’s a fable about Easter and the renewal of life, it’s not heavily burdened with religious message.

Whether because of translation or the author’s allegorical style, reading is sometimes difficult; I felt confused at points about Ebba’s age, location, and how she interacts with allies and foes along the way. Characters swear, making the story potentially unsuitable for the youngest readers. The fates of Ebba’s father and mother remain unresolved.

Despite these issues, the end of the tale is joyful and satisfying.

[Wendy Koedoot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soms heb je het geluk dat een schrijver je recensie zo goed geschreven vind, dat je spontaan een berichtje krijgt of je zin hebt om een kort verhaal te lezen en te recenseren.Uiteraard vind ik dat een eer dus vandaar even tussendoor een kort verhaal van 65 pagina's. Omdat het een paasverhaal is, lees ik het tussendoor.

Het verhaal is een modern paasverhaal, een vlot geschreven boekje voor de jeugd vanaf 10 jaar. We maken kennis met het rijk van de hazen dat geregeerd wordt koning Stern.De jongste broer van Stern, Atta geheten, verlaat het rijk om op zoek te gaan naar zijn eigen lichtrijk.Hij hoopt daar met de zwangere Hulde en hun ongeboren kind te kunnen gaan wonen. Atta vertrekt maar dan komt de hazenbaby te vroeg. Hulde noemt haar Ebba. Ebba is een leergierig haasje en heeft een aartje naar haar vaartje. Ze is erg ongelukkig in het land van de hazen. Op een dag vind ze een verlaten vogelnestje met eieren erin en Ebba wil net als haar vader op avontuur. Ze wil de eieren terugbrengen naar de moedervogel en gaat met toestemming van Hulde op avontuur. De weg naar het lichtrijk is niet zonder gevaar. Zou Ebba net zo dapper zijn als haar vader en haar lichtrijk vinden? Dat moet je zelf gaan lezen.
Het verhaal leest vlot en de hoofdstukken zijn niet te lang.Er zit ook veel humor in. De schrijfster maakt veelvuldig gebruik van allerlei spreekwoorden waar "haas"in voorkomt, wat ik erg grappig vind.
De naam van het kuikentje vind ik meesterlijk gevonden.Je kan je makkelijk verplaatsen in de personages, het is immers een jeugdboek.
Aan het eind van het verhaal is duidelijk waarom Ebba de eerste paashaas is geworden.
Het is een goed geschreven, modern sprookje met genoeg ingrediënten om het meteen te willen uitlezen. Voor de doelgroep is zeker geschikt.Volwassenen kunnen het waarderen als je van humor en sprookjes houdt.
Het boek is uitsluitend als E-book te koop bij Amazon.nl voor slechts 2,99 euro.

[LucyLui]

Ebba The First Easter Hare by Leen Lefebre

Title - Ebba The First Easter Hare
Author - Leen Lefebre
Published - April '17
Publisher - Independently Published
Genre - #Seasonal #Easter #ModernFairyTale
Pages - 79
Price on Amazon - Paperback - £5.59 Kindle - £0.99
ISBN - 152131339

King Stern rules over the empire of all the hares, his brother Atta is unhappy with the way Stern rules and decides to leave to find his own place to live for him and his mate and their child once born. After Atta leaves his mate Hulde goes into labour and gives birth to their first child a baby girl. Princess Ebba.

Princess Ebba is born and very quickly grows into a very smart young hare who turns out to the image of her father, which in a land ruled by Kind Stern is not a good thing. Ebba has decided she too wants to take an adventure like her father but is she brave enough?

I wonder if this book was originally written in another language and translated into English as it has a feel to it like parts of it have been lost in translation. I couldn't get on with this book. It didn't grab my attention and keep me hooked like I like a good book too. Unfortunately, this book was not for me.

Thank You to the author for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating - One out of five Stars
Would I Read Again? - No
Would I Recommend? - No
Would I read other books by the same author? - Yes

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