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Bruh Rabbit and the Tar Baby Girl
Esteemed author Virginia Hamilton retells the classic trickster tale of Bruh Rabbit and the Tar Baby in her own distinctive, playful vernacular with paintings by acclaimed artist James Ransome.
Bruh Rabbit may indeed have met his match when he comes across a tar baby in the middle of the road. The baby's deaf, dumb and blind attitude infuriates the plucky trickster, just as Wolf planned! When Bruh Rabbit gets entangled in the tar baby's sticky embrace, has he finally been foiled by his long-time enemy? Certainly not, if Wolf falls for Bruh Rabbit's clever reverse-psychology and flings the wily rabbit into the briar patch!
Spun in Virginia Hamilton's unique vernacular, this will be a delight to those familiar with Bruh Rabbit's games, and a unforgettable introduction for newcomers!
Bruh Rabbit may indeed have met his match when he comes across a tar baby in the middle of the road. The baby's deaf, dumb and blind attitude infuriates the plucky trickster, just as Wolf planned! When Bruh Rabbit gets entangled in the tar baby's sticky embrace, has he finally been foiled by his long-time enemy? Certainly not, if Wolf falls for Bruh Rabbit's clever reverse-psychology and flings the wily rabbit into the briar patch!
Spun in Virginia Hamilton's unique vernacular, this will be a delight to those familiar with Bruh Rabbit's games, and a unforgettable introduction for newcomers!
40 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2003
About the author
Virginia Hamilton
126 books277 followersVirginia Esther Hamilton was the author of forty-one works of fiction and nonfiction. She was the first Black writer awarded the Newbery Medal and the first children's writer to be named a MacArthur Fellow (the "Genius" grant). She also received the National Book Award and the Hans Christian Andersen Medal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
May 8, 2012
Virginia Hamilton was a master storyteller and her version of this classic southern tale absolutely sparkles! The voice is so strong, so enchanting, I didn't even need the illustrations. I felt I was being told a story -- I could hear an old woman's voice, the creek of a rocking chair on the porch, feel the sweet, clingy summer air, while the fireflies danced near enough to eavesdrop.
I loved the Brer Rabbit stories when I was a kid, and the tar baby was one of my favorites! This version (one of hundreds) is told in the heavy Gullah speech of the Sea Islands of South Carolina and features Bruh Wolf first building a scarey-crow to try to frighten Bruh Rabbit before he makes the tar baby girl. It features the famous "Please don't throw me in that briar patch!" that I loved so well as a kid--and that those of us who enjoy Disneyland's thrill rides know so well in that delicious moment before that great plunge on Splash Mountain! ;-)
Ransome's illustrations are very nice. I just didn't need them. The story felt that vivid to me.
While these trickster tales are all great fun, parents and educators might wish to discuss with children whether Bruh Rabbit was right to steal from Bruh Wolf and whether Bruh Wolf had a right to protect his crops. Interestingly, I used to always think Brer Rabbit was the hero, but in this particular version it seemed clear to me that he is not.
I loved the Brer Rabbit stories when I was a kid, and the tar baby was one of my favorites! This version (one of hundreds) is told in the heavy Gullah speech of the Sea Islands of South Carolina and features Bruh Wolf first building a scarey-crow to try to frighten Bruh Rabbit before he makes the tar baby girl. It features the famous "Please don't throw me in that briar patch!" that I loved so well as a kid--and that those of us who enjoy Disneyland's thrill rides know so well in that delicious moment before that great plunge on Splash Mountain! ;-)
Ransome's illustrations are very nice. I just didn't need them. The story felt that vivid to me.
While these trickster tales are all great fun, parents and educators might wish to discuss with children whether Bruh Rabbit was right to steal from Bruh Wolf and whether Bruh Wolf had a right to protect his crops. Interestingly, I used to always think Brer Rabbit was the hero, but in this particular version it seemed clear to me that he is not.
February 7, 2011
Bruh Rabbit doesn’t plant crops and sneaks corn and peanuts from Bruh Wolf instead. Trying to catch Rabbit stealing from him, Wolf sets up a trap. When that doesn’t work, Wolf creates Tar Baby so that Rabbit will really be stuck. When Wolf sees that Rabbit is caught, he thinks he has finally beaten Rabbit. But when Wolf throws Rabbit into the briar patch, which ends up outsmarted?
March 5, 2012
Bruh Rabbit And The Tar Baby Girl by Virginia Hamilton, illustrated by James E. Ransome tells of how Bruh Wolf catches Bruh Rabbit in his garden and what Wolf does to him. Bruh Wolf's sticky tar baby girl catches Rabbit after his scarey-crow fails to keep Rabbit away from the peanut patch. But does the punishment fit the crime?
Ransome's detailed, beautiful paintings match this story well. I especially like the shading used for twilight and dark. My favorite images include title page, sees the scarey-crow, speaks to Girl, stuck paw, caught by wolf, and the last two images.
Hamilton uses a version of the story collected and recorded in fairly heavy Gullah speech of the Sea Islands of South Carolina. A large font makes this easy to read and use as a read-aloud, after some practice. I enjoyed this version. An author's note at the back of the book explains the background of this tale and some terminology used. This is recommended for school and public library collections.
For ages 5 and up, folktales, african-american, tricksters, rabbits, and fans of Virginia Hamilton and James E. Ransome.
Ransome's detailed, beautiful paintings match this story well. I especially like the shading used for twilight and dark. My favorite images include title page, sees the scarey-crow, speaks to Girl, stuck paw, caught by wolf, and the last two images.
Hamilton uses a version of the story collected and recorded in fairly heavy Gullah speech of the Sea Islands of South Carolina. A large font makes this easy to read and use as a read-aloud, after some practice. I enjoyed this version. An author's note at the back of the book explains the background of this tale and some terminology used. This is recommended for school and public library collections.
For ages 5 and up, folktales, african-american, tricksters, rabbits, and fans of Virginia Hamilton and James E. Ransome.
October 18, 2009
I'm going to try this as a read-aloud and hope that the authentic dialect doesn't trip me up. This story has more depth than other versions I've read. The relationship between the wolf and rabbit is more developed so that the tricking part of the story makes more sense - there's actually a reason behind it.
March 12, 2015
Characters: Bruh Wolf and Bruh Rabbit
Setting: Bruh Wolf’s field
Theme: Trickster Tale; folktale
Motif: A clever trickster
Summary: Bruh Wolf had a history of problems with Bruh Rabbit. Over the past two years, Bruh Rabbit had stolen as much of Bruh Wolf’s corn and his peanuts as he could eat. When Bruh Wolf saw rabbit tracks in his peanut field, he decided to do something about it. He made a scarey-crow to frighten away Bruh Rabbit, but the rabbit figured out that it was just a bunch of rags. Bruh Wolf then put a Tar Baby Girl, a model of a girl rabbit made of tar, in the field. Bruh Rabbit was so upset by the rudeness of the Tar Baby Girl’s refusing to talk to him that he hit her repeatedly, trapping himself in the tar. Bruh Wolf retrieved Bruh Rabbit from the tar early the next day. Bruh Rabbit pleaded that the wolf do anything to him other than throw him into the briar patch, so that is exactly what Bruh Wolf did. The tricky rabbit escaped into the bushes he was born in. The story is followed with a description of the history of the story.
Strengths/Weaknesses: The story itself is simple and engaging. In most cases, the print is in a larger sized font, and is attractively placed on yellow background surrounded by a checked border. The illustrations are large and colorful, with the animal characters dressed as people, which suites the story. However, there is a fair amount of vocabulary that will be unfamiliar to young, or even adult, readers. Focusing on this vocabulary could interrupt the flow of the story.
Illustrations: As mentioned, the illustrations are large and colorful. They provide insight into the setting, which would be unfamiliar to many readers. They also provide clues to the meaning of some of the unfamiliar vocabulary.
Target Audience: Ages 5 to 9
Curriculum Ties: This book could serve as an example of a folktale in the early elementary grades, although some of the vocabulary could make this choice less than ideal. It could also be used as support in a unit including slavery, such as in the fifth or eighth grades, as the rabbit was a character used in African American folk stories of that era. The unique vocabulary choices could be helpful in this context.
Personal Critique: I like this story. The illustrations are beautiful and descriptive. While challenging, the incorporation of Gullah terms makes it feel more authentic. This would be a good book to add to a classroom or home library.
Setting: Bruh Wolf’s field
Theme: Trickster Tale; folktale
Motif: A clever trickster
Summary: Bruh Wolf had a history of problems with Bruh Rabbit. Over the past two years, Bruh Rabbit had stolen as much of Bruh Wolf’s corn and his peanuts as he could eat. When Bruh Wolf saw rabbit tracks in his peanut field, he decided to do something about it. He made a scarey-crow to frighten away Bruh Rabbit, but the rabbit figured out that it was just a bunch of rags. Bruh Wolf then put a Tar Baby Girl, a model of a girl rabbit made of tar, in the field. Bruh Rabbit was so upset by the rudeness of the Tar Baby Girl’s refusing to talk to him that he hit her repeatedly, trapping himself in the tar. Bruh Wolf retrieved Bruh Rabbit from the tar early the next day. Bruh Rabbit pleaded that the wolf do anything to him other than throw him into the briar patch, so that is exactly what Bruh Wolf did. The tricky rabbit escaped into the bushes he was born in. The story is followed with a description of the history of the story.
Strengths/Weaknesses: The story itself is simple and engaging. In most cases, the print is in a larger sized font, and is attractively placed on yellow background surrounded by a checked border. The illustrations are large and colorful, with the animal characters dressed as people, which suites the story. However, there is a fair amount of vocabulary that will be unfamiliar to young, or even adult, readers. Focusing on this vocabulary could interrupt the flow of the story.
Illustrations: As mentioned, the illustrations are large and colorful. They provide insight into the setting, which would be unfamiliar to many readers. They also provide clues to the meaning of some of the unfamiliar vocabulary.
Target Audience: Ages 5 to 9
Curriculum Ties: This book could serve as an example of a folktale in the early elementary grades, although some of the vocabulary could make this choice less than ideal. It could also be used as support in a unit including slavery, such as in the fifth or eighth grades, as the rabbit was a character used in African American folk stories of that era. The unique vocabulary choices could be helpful in this context.
Personal Critique: I like this story. The illustrations are beautiful and descriptive. While challenging, the incorporation of Gullah terms makes it feel more authentic. This would be a good book to add to a classroom or home library.
November 4, 2012
Grade/Interest Level: Kdg-1st grade
Reading Level: 390 L
Genre: Traditional Literature
Characters: Bruh Rabbit, Bruh Wolf
Setting: The briar patch
POV: Third Person
Summary: Award winning author Virginia Hamilton gives her rendition of the folklore Br'er or Bruh Rabbit and the Tar baby. The story of Br'er, derived from brother, rabbit, can be traced back to Africa, and also has deep roots in the south, which Hamilton shows in the southern dialect used by the characters in the story. Bruh Rabbit is usually portrayed in stories outsmarting authority figures, and doing things he should not be doing. In this particular story, Bruh Rabbit is smuggling food from Bruh Wolf's garden. When Bruh Wolf stages a scarecrow in the garden, Bruh Rabbit realized it's not real and is still able to steal food. In order to catch and punish Bruh Rabbit, Wolf then stages a tar baby girl. Bruh Rabbit comes into the garden from behind, and thinks the tar baby is a real girl. He tries to get her attention, but when she doesn't respond he attempts to hit her only to find that his hands get stuck. He continues to try to hit her, because she won't "let him go" and ends up getting completely stuck to her. Soon, Bruh Wolf comes out and sees Bruh Rabbit who pleads, "Please Bruh Wolf, don't throw me into the Briar patch." Wolf is tricked into thinking this is a horrible punishment for Bruh Rabbit, and throws him in anyway, only to hear Bruh Rabbit laugh as he has once again escaped punishment and outsmarted the Wolf.
I would use this in a classroom to discuss plot, and to make predictions. It can be used also to explore folktales and traditional literature. It can also be used to discuss vocabulary words, as I am sure that tar will be a word that is unfamiliar to these students. After discussing this word, students will then understand why Bruh Rabbit gets attached to the tar baby. I think the book is a good read aloud book, and we can also discuss the character's accents.
Reading Level: 390 L
Genre: Traditional Literature
Characters: Bruh Rabbit, Bruh Wolf
Setting: The briar patch
POV: Third Person
Summary: Award winning author Virginia Hamilton gives her rendition of the folklore Br'er or Bruh Rabbit and the Tar baby. The story of Br'er, derived from brother, rabbit, can be traced back to Africa, and also has deep roots in the south, which Hamilton shows in the southern dialect used by the characters in the story. Bruh Rabbit is usually portrayed in stories outsmarting authority figures, and doing things he should not be doing. In this particular story, Bruh Rabbit is smuggling food from Bruh Wolf's garden. When Bruh Wolf stages a scarecrow in the garden, Bruh Rabbit realized it's not real and is still able to steal food. In order to catch and punish Bruh Rabbit, Wolf then stages a tar baby girl. Bruh Rabbit comes into the garden from behind, and thinks the tar baby is a real girl. He tries to get her attention, but when she doesn't respond he attempts to hit her only to find that his hands get stuck. He continues to try to hit her, because she won't "let him go" and ends up getting completely stuck to her. Soon, Bruh Wolf comes out and sees Bruh Rabbit who pleads, "Please Bruh Wolf, don't throw me into the Briar patch." Wolf is tricked into thinking this is a horrible punishment for Bruh Rabbit, and throws him in anyway, only to hear Bruh Rabbit laugh as he has once again escaped punishment and outsmarted the Wolf.
I would use this in a classroom to discuss plot, and to make predictions. It can be used also to explore folktales and traditional literature. It can also be used to discuss vocabulary words, as I am sure that tar will be a word that is unfamiliar to these students. After discussing this word, students will then understand why Bruh Rabbit gets attached to the tar baby. I think the book is a good read aloud book, and we can also discuss the character's accents.
March 9, 2015
This folktale, tells the trickster tale of Bruh Rabbit and Tar Baby Girl. Bruh Rabbit meets Tar Baby Girl who is deaf, not very intelligent and makes Bruh Rabbit angry just as the wolf planned it. Bruh Rabbit uses wit, and is very clever and does not allow himself to be tricked by the wolf. It is the retelling of an old, familiar tale of Br'er Rabbit who outwits Br'er Fox who has attempted to trap him.
This book is the Gullah version of the classic “Br’er Rabbit,” an African folktale. Gullah is the language spoken by the Gullah people (also called Geechees), an African-American population living on the sea islands of the U.S. of South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and the northeast Florida. The language is purposeful and offers a sense of authenticity, rhythm and history to the text. Hamilton did an wonderful job at putting an new spin on an old tale. Primarily, the fun and vivid language is what sets this text apart from the original and makes it appealing all readers. She uses the ethnic language of Gullah all throughout the text. I remember reading the original text as a child, and this is actually my first time reading Hamilton's version. But I must say, I really enjoy this text more than the classic! This is a read for now and generations to come.
This book is the Gullah version of the classic “Br’er Rabbit,” an African folktale. Gullah is the language spoken by the Gullah people (also called Geechees), an African-American population living on the sea islands of the U.S. of South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and the northeast Florida. The language is purposeful and offers a sense of authenticity, rhythm and history to the text. Hamilton did an wonderful job at putting an new spin on an old tale. Primarily, the fun and vivid language is what sets this text apart from the original and makes it appealing all readers. She uses the ethnic language of Gullah all throughout the text. I remember reading the original text as a child, and this is actually my first time reading Hamilton's version. But I must say, I really enjoy this text more than the classic! This is a read for now and generations to come.
September 26, 2013
I had never heard of the Bruh Rabbit stories and tales before reading this book. The story focuses on Bruh Wolf who is trying to catch the critter who is eating all of his crops. Bruh Rabbit thinks he can outsmart Bruh Wolf and continues to steal Bruh Wolf's peanuts until he gets stuck to the Tar Baby Girl that Bruh Wolf sets out to catch the thief. It's a close call at the end, but Bruh Rabbit gets away and leaves Bruh Wolf until next time. I thought that this story was pretty exciting and I will definitely look into other Bruh Rabbit stories and tales. I really liked the dialect in this story. I think that the author did a great job making the story sound like it has been passed down from generation to generation. I also liked how the author included more details about the Bruh Rabbit tales at the end of the book. I think this book would be great for students of all ages. Both younger and older students will enjoy listening to this story as a read aloud.
February 10, 2010
Format: Picture Book
Award: ALAN 2004 (ALA Notable Books for Children)
This award is given for commendable quality and or creativity in chilren's literature.
In this African American retelling of a well known tale, Bruh Rabbit tries to outwit Bruh Wolf and stumbles upon Tar Baby Girl. Bruh Wolf thinks he finally has Bruh Rabbit right where he wants him only to discover he has been tricked again. The beautiful watercolor illustrations help bring the story to life. "This version of the story was collected and recorded in fairly heavy Gullah speech of the Sea Islands of South Carolina."
This story should be looked at when reading Brer Rabbit. It would be interesting to compare the two versions, especially looking at the dialect used in the retelling.
Award: ALAN 2004 (ALA Notable Books for Children)
This award is given for commendable quality and or creativity in chilren's literature.
In this African American retelling of a well known tale, Bruh Rabbit tries to outwit Bruh Wolf and stumbles upon Tar Baby Girl. Bruh Wolf thinks he finally has Bruh Rabbit right where he wants him only to discover he has been tricked again. The beautiful watercolor illustrations help bring the story to life. "This version of the story was collected and recorded in fairly heavy Gullah speech of the Sea Islands of South Carolina."
This story should be looked at when reading Brer Rabbit. It would be interesting to compare the two versions, especially looking at the dialect used in the retelling.
April 15, 2015
I greatly enjoyed this folktale story book, especially because it comes from the Deep South. The author does a great job of reflecting culture throughout the tale. The unique vernacular and language found in the text greatly contributes to the story with its authenticity and rhythm. The motif of the clever trickster in this trickster tale makes it a humorous and exciting read.
The voice in Bruh Rabbit & the Tar Baby Girl is strong which makes it perfect for a read-aloud. This book should be used in the classroom for folktale enrichment. Students may also use this book when comparing folktales across different cultures, as well as when comparing the different types of folktales and their elements.
The voice in Bruh Rabbit & the Tar Baby Girl is strong which makes it perfect for a read-aloud. This book should be used in the classroom for folktale enrichment. Students may also use this book when comparing folktales across different cultures, as well as when comparing the different types of folktales and their elements.
April 14, 2012
In this folktale a tricky rabbit conspires to steal peanuts from a hard working wolf's peanut patch. The wolf gets fed up and sets traps to thwart the clever rabbits efforts. This story is intended for readers ages 5-8(P).
I gave this book 4 stars. I enjoyed how the author seamlessly weaved the Gullah dialect into and out of the text. The plot and the characters are very easy for young children to identify.
I would use this book to introduce children to different dialects within the English language. It is available in print.
I gave this book 4 stars. I enjoyed how the author seamlessly weaved the Gullah dialect into and out of the text. The plot and the characters are very easy for young children to identify.
I would use this book to introduce children to different dialects within the English language. It is available in print.
May 1, 2015
This book is a picture book. I do not see any awards that go along with this book. The book is about a rabbit who sees another rabbit laying in the street covered in tar. Just as the rabbit was about to get away from danger he gets stuck to tar baby girl from the tar she is covered in. I gave the book five stars because of the illustrations that draws the reader in. Water colored pictures have always been a favorite of mine. Also the cover is open bright and inviting for the reader. The illustrations sold me completely with all of the detail.
August 3, 2015
book:Bruh Rabbit and the Tar Baby Girl|43711] as told by Virginia Hamilton, Illustrated by James Ransome, New York: Blue Sky Press, 2003.
My favorite retelling of the Rabbit and the Tar Baby story. A great book for story telling hour to children.
Published posthumously.
Age Range: 3 and up
Lexile Measure: 390L
My favorite retelling of the Rabbit and the Tar Baby story. A great book for story telling hour to children.
Published posthumously.
Age Range: 3 and up
Lexile Measure: 390L
January 21, 2016
Disclaimer: It is impossible to read this story aloud without developing a very thick and heavy Southern accent.
This is just the story of Bruh Rabbit who kept stealing crops from Bruh Wolf. Bruh Wolf, tired of loosing his food, makes a rabbit out of tar. Bruh Rabbit ends up getting into a fight with the tar rabbit and getting caught in it when he hits, kicks, and bites it. It end with the very famous "Please don't throw me in the Brair Patch" plea...
Illustrations are pretty good.
This is just the story of Bruh Rabbit who kept stealing crops from Bruh Wolf. Bruh Wolf, tired of loosing his food, makes a rabbit out of tar. Bruh Rabbit ends up getting into a fight with the tar rabbit and getting caught in it when he hits, kicks, and bites it. It end with the very famous "Please don't throw me in the Brair Patch" plea...
Illustrations are pretty good.
December 11, 2016
This tale is an important American classic, told by Plantation Era African Americans during slavery times, and emphasizing cleverness over size and status. The tale is presented authentically here, as noted in the Afterword: "collected and recorded in fairly heavy Gullah speech of the Sea Islands of South Carolina". With vivid art and characterization, this is highly recommended for your children's collection.
April 15, 2011
I didn't care for this all that much because I realized Bruh Rabbit is lazy jerk! I've heard variations of this tale over the years, but it didn't dawn on me until I read this particular book that Bruh Rabbit is the villian. Yet kids will probably think he's the hero of the story. He doesn't work, steals, and lies. Boo, Bruh Rabbit! Boo!
The art is pretty good, though!
The art is pretty good, though!
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August 30, 2016A fantastic, hilarious, inspiring retelling of the most famous Brer Rabbit folktale, couched in the language of the Gullah storytellers along the South Carolina coast. James Ransome is at his best in illustrating this tale, with gorgeous paintings that perfectly convey the hilarity of the Trickster bunny.
April 3, 2015
Bruh Rabbit and the Tar Baby Girl by Virginia Hamilton is a retelling of the classic trickster tale of Br'er Rabbit and the Tar Baby. She did an excellent job of adapting the story. This was a cute picture book with amazing paintings done by James Ransome.
September 23, 2011
Kids absolutely loved this book. Good book to read about taking things that do not belong to you.
April 15, 2014
Vibrant retelling of the classic tale from two children's literature legends.
October 4, 2010
This book was an interesting folktale. It had some different vocabulary in it that was at times, something I had never heard used before, but was not difficult to figure out the meaning when used in context of the story. Some examples of this vocabulary include nary, daylean, dayclean, and sidles. Outside of the context of this book I would never know what these words are. The ending of the story surprised me a little bit. The entire time I was reading the book, I was expecting Bruh Rabbit to be taught a lesson. As it turned out, Bruh Rabbit tricked the wolf again just as I thought the wolf had caught him. It was a little bit frustrating to me because I know in real-life situations, if there are individuals who are cheating the system or not putting in as much work as I am, I want to see them get what they deserve, but it always seems that right when you think they have been caught they get out of their punishment. Thats just what happened to Bruh Rabbit. It mades me think a little differently about this story when I read about how the slaves thought of themselves as Bruh Rabbit. This makes me almost root for Bruh Rabbit and hope for him to get away. It all depends on how to intrepret the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2016
Bruh Rabbit is a classic, created and told of by African Americans in the south during the time of slavery. I vaguely remember reading or seeing a picture of the tar baby when I was a child. This book has good lessons-- almost. It mentions the issues of stealing, refusing to work, and punching someone who doesn't talk back. The only repercussions, however, are with getting caught in the tar. Bruh rabbit gets away from Bruh Wolf, and we are left to assume he will be back to steal some more food and maybe even reek havoc among wolf's other possessions, for the story ends with a warning for Bruh Wolf to beware of Bruh Rabbit. So essentially, the lazy thief comes out on top, and the hard-working fellow, caring only for his own property, is left at the bottom. But this also may reflect the lives of the slaves, as they had to work all day in the hot sun for food which they had to give to the plantation owner, who did nothing to deserve free crops.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2017
I'm not a fan of this book at all. The rabbit is lazy and a thief, yet he is portrayed as the good guy of the story and ends up getting away with little harm done to himself. I particularly disliked his interactions with the "tar baby." The effigy is the same size as the rabbit, so I'm assuming she was meant to be an adult. Yet he continually called her "girl" in a demeaning manner. Then he proceeded to hit, kick and bite her, simply because she would not talk to him. This is supposed to be humorous, because she is not a real rabbit. However, Bruh Rabbit doesn't know this. He thought he was attacking a real, live female rabbit. These types of stories just perpetuate the idea that women owe men their time and attention, and that violence is a reasonable reaction if a woman displeases a man. I don't care that they are rabbits, or that this is an old folk story; kids do learn lessons from the books that they read, and this is not one that I want little boys and girls taking to heart.
December 6, 2017
I thought this book was very fun! I thought the dialect and the vocabulary used in this book was absolutely fantastic and so funny! It does not use correct grammar, such as "I'm gonna make me a baby girl rabbit." While you might not want to use books like this all the time, in order to not create poor speaking habits I think older elementary aged children would really get a kick out of the vernacular of this book. This book also teaches a good lesson about consequences of actions. I would use this book for children in fourth or fifth grade.
March 4, 2019
This book for some reason reminded me of Petter Rabbit the movie. I thought this book was cute and reminded me also of my childhood when I would read books like this one. It is a good read and I think all children would love it
June 26, 2017
This is a great retelling of this classic tale of Bruh Rabbit and the Tar Baby Girl. Bruh Rabbit is up to no good and Bruh Wolf has had it.
December 21, 2018
As a child, this story was one of my favorites. I still enjoy revisiting it in my declining years. The watercolor illustrations are appealing.
March 31, 2025
Brer Rabbit, a trickster in many folk tales of African origin, was brought to the New World by enslaved people. He succeeds by using his brain and not his brawn. Stories about Brer Rabbit have caused controversy in the past. Although there is proof they were around longer ago than this, they were collected and first published in the 1870's by a white man named Joel Chandler Harris who attributed them to a fictional character named "Uncle Remus". This has been labeled as cultural appropriation. In 2020, Black history writer/community scholar-activist Leslie Taylor-Grover wrote an article "Five Reasons to Read the Story of Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby" for the nonprofit PushBlack publication. You should read it: https://www.pushblack.us/news/five-re...
Hamilton notes the variant of the Brer Rabbit story she retells came from a recording that was collected and recorded in heavy Gullah speech of the Sea Islands of South Carolina. She retains Southern dialect in her telling. An author's note about the story and more information about unfamiliar terms are explained here.
Bruh Rabbit and Bruh Wolf live on adjacent plots of land. Bruh Wolf noted that Bruh Rabbit planted nothing this year nor last. He had planted corn last year and peanuts this year. When he saw rabbit tracks and empty peanut shells in his fields, he suspects Bruh Rabbit of being the culprit. He sets up a scarecrow to scare him off. That night, Bruh Rabbit is startled by the scarecrow, but realizes it is a trick and knocks it down, taking peanuts. The next night, Bruh Wolf sets up a girl rabbit covered with tar in the field. Will Bruh Rabbit take the bait?
Hamilton's cadence on this is just right for a Southern telling. Many vocabulary words come from the Gullah tradition, so this will take some rehearsal before reading it aloud.
Watercolor paintings by James E. Ransome are stunning in quality. They are fresh and bright with rich color saturation. Each one spot on.
Use during units on African American History, American folklore, trickster, rabbit, or wolf storytimes.
Highly Recommended for grades K-3.
Hamilton notes the variant of the Brer Rabbit story she retells came from a recording that was collected and recorded in heavy Gullah speech of the Sea Islands of South Carolina. She retains Southern dialect in her telling. An author's note about the story and more information about unfamiliar terms are explained here.
Bruh Rabbit and Bruh Wolf live on adjacent plots of land. Bruh Wolf noted that Bruh Rabbit planted nothing this year nor last. He had planted corn last year and peanuts this year. When he saw rabbit tracks and empty peanut shells in his fields, he suspects Bruh Rabbit of being the culprit. He sets up a scarecrow to scare him off. That night, Bruh Rabbit is startled by the scarecrow, but realizes it is a trick and knocks it down, taking peanuts. The next night, Bruh Wolf sets up a girl rabbit covered with tar in the field. Will Bruh Rabbit take the bait?
Hamilton's cadence on this is just right for a Southern telling. Many vocabulary words come from the Gullah tradition, so this will take some rehearsal before reading it aloud.
Watercolor paintings by James E. Ransome are stunning in quality. They are fresh and bright with rich color saturation. Each one spot on.
Use during units on African American History, American folklore, trickster, rabbit, or wolf storytimes.
Highly Recommended for grades K-3.
March 14, 2026
Being from the California suburbs, I have never ever heard "tar baby" used as anything other than a slur. I'm actually stunned that no one else has mentioned that in the reviews. Additionally, the author themselves fails to mention "tar baby" is offensive by todays standards (or the standards of publication year 2003). Google and Wikipedia are doing some heavy lifting to help me understand the origin of "tar baby" and how this folktale has evolved over time. I wish there had been more contextual information included in the actual book.
The story is written in the Gullah vernacular, which is challenging to read. I think that's actually really cool, and I love that the author took the effort to retell the folktale the way it had been told in past generations, with the voice of the Gullah people throughout the tale. It would be great if there had been a link/QR code to a video of a Gullah person telling the story in the oral tradition.
Without having heard anything about this folktale or being familiar with the accent, a child would struggle with reading this story. Children would probably ditch the book entirely after finding out "bruh" rabbit's name has nothing to do with current day slang. I don't believe this is a story that is actually meant for children to read by themselves. Adults need to be HEAVILY involved in decoding the vernacular, vocabulary choices, and context over time.
The story is written in the Gullah vernacular, which is challenging to read. I think that's actually really cool, and I love that the author took the effort to retell the folktale the way it had been told in past generations, with the voice of the Gullah people throughout the tale. It would be great if there had been a link/QR code to a video of a Gullah person telling the story in the oral tradition.
Without having heard anything about this folktale or being familiar with the accent, a child would struggle with reading this story. Children would probably ditch the book entirely after finding out "bruh" rabbit's name has nothing to do with current day slang. I don't believe this is a story that is actually meant for children to read by themselves. Adults need to be HEAVILY involved in decoding the vernacular, vocabulary choices, and context over time.
October 30, 2021
In the Essential of Children's Literature under the subheading folktales Bruh Rabbit and the Tar Baby girl is about a rabbit who did not get to grow any crops. Bruh rabbit likes to steal the wolfs crops that he grows like for example peanuts. The wolf tries to come up with a clever trap but does not succeed. Then wolf comes up with Tar Baby to try and stick the rabbit to it. But does the wolf become clever enough to trap the rabbit? The commentary of this folktale is well said in portraying the story even if it did not have illustrations. I also liked the visual style of the illustrations. It does help tell the story and brings the beast tale of the talking animals almost to life. I would utilize this folktale in my classroom because children love to stories who are based on talking animals. It also symbolizes a trickster tale where one animal outsmarts the other as well.
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