THE RABBIT'S JUDGMENT
by Suzanne Crowder Han & illustrated by Yumi Heo
Citing this sage tale's previous appearance in her own Korean Folk and Fairy Tales, Han discusses the various sources she consulted for her retelling. Here, after a tiger threatens to eat the man who has just rescued him from a pit, they appeal to a pine tree and then to an ox for judgment; both, recalling their own wrongs, urge the tiger to eat the man. But a rabbit, by asking the tiger to demonstrate his position in the pit before the man helped him out, slyly renders both judgment and retribution. Han's lively, concise telling is presented on ample square pages in both English and Han-gul. The Korean-educated artist debuts with expressively stylized illustrations lying flat in the picture plane and scattered with intriguing details in the decorative manner of Henrik Drescher—a pleasing blend of sophisticated design, ethnic reference, and visual storytelling. An unusual and attractive edition of a wise and worthy story. (Folklore/Picture book. 4-10)