Little Rabbit Wants the Moon
Illustrated by
Katie Markkula
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Copyright ©
Little Digital LLC.
All rights reserved.
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In the soft, velvety darkness of a
summer night
five little rabbits slept.
But one little rabbit was
wide awake.
He sat at the edge of his burrow.
Little rabbit watched the
great shining orb
shimmering in the sky.
He saw how it splashed
silver
on the trees and leaves.
It washed the ground in
milky white light.
“Mama,”
Little rabbit asked.
“What is that?”

“It's the
moon,
little one,”
Mama answered.


“Can I touch it?” Little rabbit asked.
“I'm afraid not,” Mama said.
“It's much too far away.”
“Besides, little rabbits should be
asleep
when the sun is gone and the moon is out.”
“But I want the moon. I wish I were a

brave
night


creature
instead of such a small, boring rabbit.”
Just then,
Possum
swung down from a tree branch.
He dropped into the dew-speckled grass to hunt for yummy
grubs

and

worms.
“If I had a strong
tail
like Possum, I would find the tallest tree in the forest,” little rabbit said.
“I would climb and climb to the
tippy top.



“I would swing from my tail until I could touch the
moon.”

“But what about your
fluffy white tail?”
Mama asked.
Rabbit looked at his tail.
Mama was right.



It was very useful.
Just then,
Bat
swooped down.
She chirped and trilled as she searched for insects to eat.
“I would soar higher and higher until I could touch the
“But what about your
strong legs?”
Mama asked.
Little rabbit stretched a leg out and studied it.
Mama was right.


He was very fast.


Suddenly,
Beaver
sauntered past with a freshly gnawed log.
“If I had
teeth
and
claws
like Beaver,

I would cut down many trees.
I would use them to build a
great machine.

It would carry me higher and higher until I touched the
moon.”
“But what about your
long ears?”
asked Mama.
“They keep you cool on hot summer nights.”
Rabbit flicked his ears.
It was true.
He could hear the singing of the night forest.
And though the air was warm and close, he was cool and comfortable.


Little rabbit smiled.
“Maybe being a little rabbit isn’t so bad, after all.
But I still wish I could touch the moon.”
“I know one way,” Mama said.
Little rabbit looked at her.
“Snuggle up
with your brothers and sisters.
“Now close your eyes.”
“Imagine you’ve
lassoed
the moon with a silver string.
“Gently tug the moon
down
down
down


until you can touch it.”
Little rabbit’s breathing was deep and even now.

Mama smiled down at her pile of sleeping bunnies.

“Tomorrow morning, you can tell me what the moon felt like.”