Davie, a six year old boy who lives in the Netherlands, is anxiously awaiting the coming of a little black rabbit, promised to him by his grandfather. Davie, who has been quite seriously ill, is now getting well, and his complete mind and focus is on the little black rabbit that he names Shadrach. The entire book is the story of Davie’s adventures with and anxieties about Shadrach, a pet whom Davie says is “the fairest of ten thousand to my soul” (from the hymn Lily of the Valley).
“A boy’s will is the wind’s will,. And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts,” said Longfellow. And Davie’s thoughts are captivating in their innocence and youth. Davie sings his own songs in his mind. He worries over his rabbit’s health and habits, and over whether his father is angry with him (he’s not), and whether his mother will ever realize that he is no longer sickly and weak. Davie also becomes angry and defensive when his older brother Rem speaks unkindly about Shadrach or even mistreats the rabbit. And Davie is sometimes disobedient, even a little bit “wicked”, as he puts it, but his parents and grandparents, who live nearby, are patient and understanding with a little boy who is absolutely, passionately obsessed with his little pet rabbit.
Davie tells us over and over again, and the author shows us in the story, that Grandfather in particular as well as Davie’s parents and grandmother, are good people, kind and attuned to the foibles and failings of little people like Davie and his brother Rem. That’s why I was shocked when, near the end of the book, Rem says something rather cruel to Davie, and Grandfather slaps “Rem hard across the face. It smacked through the room.” The rest of the book was so gentle and sweet. I couldn’t believe that Grandfather would slap his grandson. I understand about child discipline being different in other places and other times, and Grandfather does apologize, but if I were reading this book aloud to my children, I think I would edit out the slap. It’s just too jarring and out of character for the grandfather.
Other than that one incident, and some small childlike incidents of naughtiness and disobedience and even fibbing, I thought this was a beautiful picture of a child who is in love with his pet rabbit. It might make your children ask for a pet rabbit of their own. “Black as sin,” of course.
I am really enjoying the books by Meindert De Jong that I’ve been reading. Have you read any books by this author? Which one should I read next?