2022
My mom was called Nana. This book is a tribute to her and is loosely based on a true story. I say “loosely” because my mom was not a rabbit.
—Lane
A KIRKUS BEST PICTURE BOOK of 2022
A BEST CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE YEAR Bank Street College
Kids’ INDIE NEXT List pick
DOLLY PARTON Imagination Library Blue Ribbon Selection
PARADE magazine pick
AMAZON Editors’ Pick - Best Books
As seen on ABC’s The View
TODAY show Best Books for 6-year-olds
CAPITOL CHOICES - 2023 List
★ STARRED
All gifts are perfect when they come from the heart.
Smith’s gesso, oil, and cold wax illustrations are exquisite and almost ethereal.
A cozy story that will transport readers to faraway places.
Kirkus Reviews
★ STARRED
Though Nana doesn’t appear until the very end, the story’s just as much about her as it is about Rabbit, and when he hands over his gift, the intimacy they share makes Rabbit’s devotion easy to understand.
Publishers Weekly
Rabbit is brave and persistent, even if he does eat part of the gift he finds—a carrot!
VERDICT Perfect for story hours, for creative writing lessons, and for discussions of intergenerational love.
School Library Journal
Themes of familial love, appreciation, and gratitude resist saccharine cliché thanks in large part to Smith’s subversive sense of humor and offbeat writing. The mixed-media illustrations are textured and atmospheric, with rich, cool greens, browns, and blues—visually punctuated by a spectacular double-page spread of an erupting volcano in vibrant magenta and yellow. A wide horizontal trim size emphasizes the length of Rabbit’s journey, while Leach’s distinctive book design shines through thoughtful text layouts that lead readers effortlessly across the pages.
Horn Book
If you are looking for a book to share with your grandchildren, this is the one. I enjoyed Rabbit’s quest to find the perfect gift for his Nana. Readers will particularly enjoy the comforting ending.
More about the true story behind A Gift for Nana at Max’s Boat.
