Zomo the Rabbit

Zomo the Rabbit is a 1992 book by Gerald McDermott based on a Nigerian folktale from Hausa folklore that explains why the rabbit runs so fast from other animals.

Zomo the Rabbit: A Trickster Tale from West Africa

Author	Gerald McDermott
Illustrator	Gerald McDermott
Language	English
Genre	Children's literature, picture book, Trickster tale, African folklore
Published	1992 (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich)
Publication place	USA
Media type	Print (hardback)
ISBN	9780152999674
OCLC	23693546

Reception

Booklist, in a starred review of Zomo the Rabbit, wrote "Wildly exuberant, full of slapstick and mischief, this version of an enduring Nigerian trickster tale is a storyteller's delight."^[1] and School Library Journal wrote "With its small but triumphant hero clad in a colorful dashiki and a cap, its dazzling design, and its great good humor, this story will be a pleasure to use with children."^[1]

Publishers Weekly called it a "straightforward retelling" and wrote "McDermott's gouache illustrations in brilliant hues of fuchsia, green and orange recall the color and geometric lines of West African textiles."^[2]

Awards

• 1993 National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Adventuring with Books book^[3]
• 1993-94 Alabama (Camellia) Children's Choice Picture Book Award - winner^[4]
• 1994 Anne Izard Storytellers' Choice Award - winner^[5]
• 1994 Florida Reading Association Children's Book Award - winner^[6]
• 1994 NCTE Kaleidoscope book^[7]
• 1996 Montana Treasure State Picture Book Award - winner^[8]
• 1996 Young Hoosier Picture Book Award - winner^[9]