Sure as Sunrise: Stories of Bruh Rabbit and His Walkin' Talkin' Friends
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With the humor and wisdom of her North Carolina roots, Alice McGill shares the stories she remembers from her father, mother, grandmother, and neighbors. Her telling is as fresh as “a loaf of bread still warm from the ashes” as she brings to life the creatures that so fascinated her as a child: Bruh Rabbit, Sis Possum, Bruh Bear, and Bruh Fox. Illustrated with zest and warmth, these stories were passed on for generations and are, ultimately, a celebration of the human spirit. For as sure as sunrise, the cleverness of the small but sassy Bruh Rabbit shines through as he outwits the more powerful, again and again. Marilyn Courtot - Children's LiteratureSome of us grew up hearing the tales of Bruh Rabbit and weren't we the fortunate ones. Alice McGill, a professional storyteller and author, has taken her hand to some of the stories that she heard while she was growing up. Her retellings are wonderful. They have just enough dialect to give them the flavor of their southern heritage. And each of the five stories moves at a perfect pace and will entrance young listeners as well as those who are old enough to read. They will love that very crafty Bruh Rabbit who manages to outwit all of his fellow creatures as well as Mr. Man. The scenes are described and while the art is not exactly what one might expect with these tales, it does grow on the reader. At first glace the characters appear to be too static and a bit like those from a Hanna Barbera cartoon, but they are fascinating creations of clay that became the models for the acrylic paintings. I really grew to like that poor Bruh Possum who was taken in by the crafty snake. McGill provides a good introduction and also brief material about each of the stories. She repeats the moral or lesson and ends it the way old time storytellers did, "And that's all to it." Sure as Sunrise is a delightful way to introduce a new generation to these stories that had their roots in the slave society of the South and further back in Africa. 2004, Houghton Mifflin, Ages 5 up.
