The Rabbit, the Fox, and the Wolf

As in her first book, Across Town , Sara's stark torn-paper collages, almost Japanese in their simplicity, carry a strong impact. And, as happens in that work, something in this latest effort goes awry. The wordless story line is minimal--a rabbit ventures through a bleak landscape of enormous trees and shadows, pursued by a fox. A wolf overtakes them, dispatches the fox and closes in on the rabbit. Cornered, the rabbit turns on the wolf, surprising him. There's a moment of hesitation, then a truce is struck and the book ends with the wolf giving the rabbit a ride on his back. But the upbeat ending does not neutralize the violent and unsettling images that precede it, nor does it leave readers feeling particularly uplifted. It's a confused message, and an odd vision to impart to a picture book audience. Ages 4-7. (Aug.)