Dating back some twenty-five hundred years, Aesop’s beloved collection of fables are the epitome of timeless. Key to this are the enduring moral lessons woven into the fabric of each story. For instance, virtually everyone has heard the story about the tortoise and the hare and its message of ‘slow and steady wins the race.’ With that in mind, author Cordellya Smith offers readers a fun, updated take on the classic ‘tortoise and the hare’ tale with OTTER’S COAT: The Real Reason Turtle Raced Rabbit.

Not unlike Aesop’s fable, OTTER’S COAT features a cast of animal characters, but in Smith’s version, the rabbit’s gift is intelligence. Unfortunately, Rabbit was irresponsible with his gift and often deceived the other animals. One day Rabbit overheard the other animals complementing Otter’s coat. Jealous, Rabbit concocted an elaborate scheme to trick Otter into taking off his coat so that he could steal it for himself. Leaving Otter naked and alone in the river, Rabbit returned to the rest of the animals to show off his new look. Meanwhile, Owl (who’d witnessed Rabbit’s deceit from afar) filled the rest of the animals in on what had occurred. After much debate, Turtle agrees to a race with Rabbit where the prize would be Rabbit’s new coat. What follows is essentially a retelling of Aesop’s original tale, albeit, with a clever twist and an epilogue that has Turtle returning Otter’s coat to its rightful owner.

From cover to cover, OTTER’S COAT is a beautiful book. The colorful visuals, courtesy of Blueberry Illustrations, offer a vibrant depiction of Smith’s story. Each detail-packed page conveys an entire scene, giving more than enough subject matter for young eyes to focus on while listening along. And the ‘What is Cherolachian’ section at the back of the book is a pleasant, informative surprise. Unfortunately, the combination of a busy background, dense paragraphs and a small font makes some sections of Smith’s narrative difficult to read. Additionally, Smith’s portion of the story occasionally feels a bit convoluted and lacking in context. For instance, young readers may wonder what was it about Otter’s coat that made it so beautiful. A paragraph explaining the advantages of an Otter’s fur would go a long way here, as would a little more detail explaining the root of Rabbit’s envy.

Minor critiques notwithstanding, OTTER’S COAT earns massive points for Smith’s clever spin on the ‘The Tortoise and the Hare’ story. Where the original tale extolled the virtue of patience, Smith’s update infuses Aesop’s fable with some timely nuance. Yes, Rabbit’s confidence ultimately costs him the race, but the ‘reason’ for his loss ultimately underscores the importance of teamwork, all the while cautioning against envy and deceit. Additionally, Smith includes a ‘game’ that involves finding a hidden chipmunk on every page. It’s a nice touch that instantly adds some incentive for repeat-visits.

Cordellya Smith’s OTTER’S COAT: The Real Reason Turtle Raced Rabbit is an enduring tale in a high-quality package that offers young readers an updated take on a timeless classic.

~James Weiskittel for IndieReader