Rabbit Hill

By Robert L. Lawson

Copyright 1944

Winner of Newbery Award in 1945

Rabbit Hill tells the story of a community of animals living on the Hill who are nervous and excited about the arrival of  new Folks moving into the Big House.  Will there be dogs or cats?  Will there be boys?  Will there be guns or poison?  Or, in contrast, could there possibly be a garden?  Times have been hard, and a garden sure would be appreciated!  

All over the Hill is heard the chattering and whispering of the rabbits, squirrels, mice and all their neighbors.  Each critter has been given a distinct personality.  Mother Rabbit is fearful and pessimistic.  Father Rabbit is proud and distinguished while Little Georgie is excitable and inquisitive.  

The new Folks do plant a lovely, large garden and after years of difficult times the animals become more and more hopeful.  The moral of this children’s book is more obvious than I remember when reading it as a child.  In the end, the Folks in the Big House plant a special garden just for the animals of the Hill,  erecting a statue of St. Francis in the center of it.  Beneath the statue are the words 

There is enough for all.  

Because of this generosity, the animals make a pact to not steal from the Folks’ garden.  Mole even promises to keep the destructive cutworms from destroying the harvest. 

If we look at the Hill as a representation of the whole world, I do truly believe that there is enough for all.  But that brings up the big question.  How do we get everyone to share?