The Rabbit Listened
By Cori Doerrfeld
The Story
After something terrible happens, a child named Taylor is visited by animal after animal, each pushing a different way to cope — until the rabbit arrives and simply listens.
Why It's Special
For the kid who's been told to calm down, cheer up, or talk about it when all they wanted was someone to just sit with them — this book gets it exactly right.
- Big idea: Comfort isn't about fixing someone's feelings — it's about being present without an agenda.
- Vibes: quiet, tender, a little melancholy, ultimately soothing
Perfect For Kids Who
- are working on naming and processing big feelings
- respond well to gentle, spare storytelling over busy plots
- benefit from having a book to read after a loss or hard day
- like animal characters who each act differently
Ask Your Little Reader
- Feelings & empathy: Why do you think none of the other animals could help Taylor feel better?
- Story & problem-solving: What did the rabbit do differently from the chicken and the bear?
- Real-life connection: Can you remember a time when you just wanted someone to sit with you instead of talk?
- Imagination: If you could be one of the animals in the story, which one would you want to be, and why?
- Empathy in action: What's one way you could listen like the rabbit did the next time a friend is sad?
