The Rumor A Jataka Tale from India Author:Jan Thornhill, Jan Thornhill "The world is breaking up!" As the worrywart hare tries to settle down for a quiet nap in her favorite sun-dappled grove of palms and mango trees, she is startled into action by a sudden and very loud explosion. Convinced that the world is breaking up, the hare tears out of the grove, into a thicket, across a marshland, through a forest, out in... more »to the brushland and onto the open plain. Along the way, she spreads her alarming news, gathering an ever-increasing herd of terrified animals: hares, wild boars, deer, tigers, and rhinos. The stampede continues and the frenzy grows, until one wise voice prevails.... Long known for her vibrant and exquisitely detailed storyscapes, award-winning author and illustrator Jan Thornhill does not disappoint here. This beautifully told traditional story, set in India's lush landscapes, is a very special rendition of the classic "sky is falling" fable known and loved around the world. The richness of the art adds layers to the deceptively simple fable -- young readers will love to pore over the hidden details Jan Thornhill has placed in each scene. Nature Notes at the back of the book give additional information on the flora, and fauna featured in the story. The Rumor is a true classic -- perfect for reading aloud again and again.« less