Why so Sad Brown Rabbit? by Sheridan Cain

Brown Rabbit is sad. He sits off to the side watching all the other younger rabbits hopping and jumping and having lots of fun playing. Brown Rabbit is much too old to be doing those things anymore but he sure does miss it.

Brown Rabbit's little mouse friend suggests that maybe he should find a wife and then full his time teaching his children how to do all those things he misses so much. Brown Rabbit thinks this is a wonderful idea and hops away on his new task. He looks everywhere for a wife but is saddened when he can't find one to suit him. Next thing he knows he has fallen asleep upon some eggs covered by straw and they're beginning to hatch!

"Mama, Mama," the ducklings chirp. Brown Rabbit looks around to see their mama but cannot find her, he doesn’t see her anywhere. The ducklings are calling Brown Rabbit, Mama. What is Brown Rabbit to do? He tells them he is not their mama and tries to leave them at their nest. The ducklings happily follow Brown Rabbit putting him now on the task of finding their real mama so he can continue his search for a wife so he can have a family of his own.

He looks high and low with the little ducklings hot on his trail. Brown Rabbit finds Swan swimming in the pond. Maybe Swan has seen the little duckling’s mama. Very rudely, Swan tells Brown Rabbit that the pond belongs to him only and there isn’t and never will be a mama duck there. Moving on, Brown Rabbit is getting discouraged in his search. Maybe Pig has seen their mother somewhere near. Nope, he hasn't seen their mama either. Brown Rabbit is starting to lose hope that he'll ever find their mama. Brown Rabbit hops along but when he looks behind him to check on the ducklings he is surprised to see what he finds the ducklings doing.

Instead of the ducklings waddling behind him, he sees them hopping, jumping and skipping along. One after the other, they are hopping along to keep up with Brown Rabbit. Now back on the path leading to home, Brown Rabbit is stopped by his little mouse friend who suggested he should go find a wife and start a family of his own. He is very happy at what he sees and tells Brown Rabbit how happy he is for him. He has finally found his family! Brown Rabbit looks at the little mouse slightly confused. He turns around to look at his ducklings who are still calling him mama. Brown Rabbit smiles and tells his little ducklings that now it’s time to practice saying papa!

 This really was a very sweet story. It just goes to show that you can’t chose your family but you can still love the one you have; even if it’s not perfect or what you pictured. The kids had me read this one several times before taking it back to the library.