Rabbit Hill, The Forgotten Newbery Book

In the greatest of "Girl, don't do that" teacher moves, I leveled this book. I leveled this book WITHOUT HAVING READ IT. Mistake. Now I know I was off. Way off. Let's look at some evidence as to just how off I was.

There are some seriously difficult sentences with some major academic words. Case in point (on page 2, no less): (I bolded the academic words. You're welcome.)

Do try to adopt a more optimistic attitude. This news of Georgie's may promise the approach of a more felicitous and bountiful era. Perhaps it would be well if I were to indulge in a short stroll about the neighborhood and seek confirmation of this most auspicious rumor.

Shut the front door. What kind of elementary school student knows what "auspicious" means?

"The pictures will be helpful to understanding!"I thought to myself. They're not. Generally, the pictures give some vague indication of who is present in the page you're reading, but they do little to add to meaning. The whole book would probably be better off without them.

And on top of all that, it's pretty boring. Some animals live on the property of this house that used to be a wonderful place to be a small woodland creature, but since then has fallen into disrepair. Now the animals are sad. But wait! New people are moving in! Excitement ensues!

Oh wait, no it doesn't. It just stays boring. It stays boring all the way until page 40, which is where I gave up. Considering the fact that the whole things is only about 117 pages, it should be interesting by then. But it's not.

It's times like this when I'm glad I buy from used book stores (sometimes). This book only cost me $2.00, so I don't feel bad that I'll never finish it, and few of my students will ever read it.

Also, please note the occasional not-so-politically correct phrases, such as when the author writes that the skunks walked in "Indian file." The book was written in 1944 (which is probably why there is no F&P level), so I'm guessing the author just didn't realize that's not the most precise way of describing a single-file line, but I'm sure it will confuse the crap out of some kids.

I originally leveled this at an R, but I'm guessing I would now level it at a T, since it will take a future lexicographer to be able to understand what the father rabbit is saying. Also, I probably just won't recommend this to many students. Unless they like books about animals that have first world problems.