CRAIG SAVOYE

 

The Story

        

          Rematch is a “sequel” to the famous Aesop’s fable about the tortoise and the hare. The tale is recast so that the new rabbit runner is the hero. Rather than being lazy, Taz is a daredevil, risk taker, and innovator. It was Taz’s very own grandfather who lost the Great Race; the family name has been mud ever since. A shortage of grass in the meadow turtles and rabbits share, on the farm where they all live, leads the turtle and rabbit leaders to call for a Rematch of the Great Race. The winner will retain the meadow while the losing species must depart. Taz is the fastest rabbit in the warren and he is appointed to run.

         The story opens with a farm boy trying to catch Taz with a cardboard box propped up with a drumstick, attached to a string, with lettuce for bait. Taz outwits the boy and escapes into a hollow log with the lettuce and his friend Judo. But the farm boy came prepared—with all kinds of toys and equipment—to capture Taz. With the help of his friends, the Canadian geese, Taz runs off the farm boy, who abandons all of his equipment.

         Turtles and rabbits both have meetings that evening and learn about the grass shortage for the first time and the Rematch—which is scheduled for the following day. Taz decides winning alone isn’t good enough. He sees an opportunity to clear his family name—by setting a new course record. And Taz the innovator and risk taker decides the best way to achieve his goal is to use the equipment and toys the farm boy left behind to propel himself to record-setting victory.

         One problem. He needs Judo’s help and Judo has a tendency to fumble things. Everything that can go wrong does go wrong until the end—when there’s a twist. The twist is linked to the themes and lessons of the story, the primary one of which is: when you are willing to take chances, and be true to yourself, but also look out for others’ interests, the rewards can transcend even the success you dreamed of.

         Kids will love Taz and Judo as well as the lush, action-filled illustrations that render their corner of the world in brilliant color. Parents will love the many lessons it teaches.

 

 

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