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Jackalope
Never seen a jackalope? Not even sure what one is ? Well, you've come to the right place. You'll get the whole wild story right here in this book.
You see, the jackalope didn't start out with horns. First he was a plain old hare. You know, a jackrabbit. The horns came later, along with a corny fairy godrabbit and a cranky coyote. And the trouble those horns brought-- hoooo-wee!
With a gut-busting brew of sassy storytelling and outrageous art, Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel finally give the jackalope his due. After all, he's long been part of American legend--isn't it time to tell the real story?
You see, the jackalope didn't start out with horns. First he was a plain old hare. You know, a jackrabbit. The horns came later, along with a corny fairy godrabbit and a cranky coyote. And the trouble those horns brought-- hoooo-wee!
With a gut-busting brew of sassy storytelling and outrageous art, Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel finally give the jackalope his due. After all, he's long been part of American legend--isn't it time to tell the real story?
56 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2003
17 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
December 9, 2025
Abso-freaking-lutely adorable in every way
Ever wonder about the real legend of the Jackalope? Wonder no longer because sisters Janet and Susan have written down the "history" of this mythical animal from the North American planes.
Narrated by an old armadillo, we learn of a young jackrabbit named Jackalope. Jackalope was strange by his family's standards because he wanted to become the scariest creature in the desert. And, much to his surprise, his fairy godrabbit delivers.
This book was simply delightful.
Popsugar 2018 Reading Challenge - A book with an animal in the title
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
Ever wonder about the real legend of the Jackalope? Wonder no longer because sisters Janet and Susan have written down the "history" of this mythical animal from the North American planes.
Narrated by an old armadillo, we learn of a young jackrabbit named Jackalope. Jackalope was strange by his family's standards because he wanted to become the scariest creature in the desert. And, much to his surprise, his fairy godrabbit delivers.
Downer about the real-life jackrabbits aside, the art was absolutely fabulous and the story - nothing short of perfect. My favorite character was definitely the fairy godrabbit - her vegetable themed puns just made my life complete. She was sassy, silly and sarcastic - my kind of girl!
Figure 1: For those who may be unfamiliar, a jackalope is a combination of a jackrabbit and an antelope and can be recognized by its large antlers. Interestingly, many believe that the legends began because of jackrabbits becoming infected with a warty face cancer. The warts can sometimes grow to resemble antlers.
This book was simply delightful.
Popsugar 2018 Reading Challenge - A book with an animal in the title
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
November 20, 2012
In Jackalope by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel, a storytelling armadillo tells the tale of how a jackrabbit became a jackalope. Jackrabbit was not happy being himself so he wished upon on a star that he be anything but himself. His fairy godrabbit grants him horns like those of an antelope and he becomes a jackalope. Jackalope, however, did not know that telling lies would cause his horns to grow big and heavy. He soon finds himself stuck and in danger of being eaten by Coyote. Jackalope comes to realize that he was happier being himself and begs Fairy Godrabbit to undo his wish so he can be himself again.
Jackalope is a humorous story with lessons on self-acceptance and honesty. The story is a mixture of tall tale, fable, folktale, fairytale, and nursery rhyme which make it a silly story that is quite amusing and entertaining. The illustrations, although, not as colorful as those in the previous books, are wildly exaggerated and quite humorous. Like the other books by these authors, readers will find this story engaging and fun to read. I like the creative mixture of stories. It makes it a good source for a lesson on different types of stories.
Jackalope is a humorous story with lessons on self-acceptance and honesty. The story is a mixture of tall tale, fable, folktale, fairytale, and nursery rhyme which make it a silly story that is quite amusing and entertaining. The illustrations, although, not as colorful as those in the previous books, are wildly exaggerated and quite humorous. Like the other books by these authors, readers will find this story engaging and fun to read. I like the creative mixture of stories. It makes it a good source for a lesson on different types of stories.
January 12, 2019
Incorporating elements and plot devices from fairy tales—a truthful mirror (that hangs on a tree), a fairy god rabbit, and horns that grow longer and more cumbersome a la Pinocchio—Janet Stevens tells the story of Jack, the hare, who is dissatisfied with his ordinariness. He wants to be noticed and thinks that if he looked more fierce he wouldn't be ignored. When his fairy god rabbit can grant only one wish, for horns like the antelope (a.k.a pronghorn), unexpected problems occur. With horns that grow bigger with his lies, Jackalope can no longer easily go down his hole to escape Coyote. Jack ends up begging to be restored to his true, original self.
Aspects of this book would be challenging even to independent readers. There are, for example, allusions to “go-go boots”, more mature idiomatic expressions—e.g. "get-up" for outlandish dress, and numerous puns. Younger readers grappling with spelling themselves might not get these plays on words without explanations from a helpful adult.
The message of accepting oneself has been done before. It is quite heavy handed here. Having said that, the book might prove to be useful in modeling playful use of language.
Aspects of this book would be challenging even to independent readers. There are, for example, allusions to “go-go boots”, more mature idiomatic expressions—e.g. "get-up" for outlandish dress, and numerous puns. Younger readers grappling with spelling themselves might not get these plays on words without explanations from a helpful adult.
The message of accepting oneself has been done before. It is quite heavy handed here. Having said that, the book might prove to be useful in modeling playful use of language.
September 11, 2017
I think this was a very good book to teach kids that they should be happy with themselves and never wish to be anyone else or to lie to get there way. It was a very cute story and the pictures were great for children.
February 7, 2017
I had to buy this book because I knew I would read it again, and again.
It is well done in so many ways.
It is well done in so many ways.
January 12, 2019
I picked up Jackalope by Stevens hoping it would resonance with the classic Western American legend or even better if it had relevance to Indigenous mythologies, but instead this is a tale told in silly rhyming prose about a jackrabbit who wishes to become a frightening creature. This book is a parable about self-acceptance & honesty. The story includes a coyote sort of foil or trickster, but the jackalope's legend is limited to it's origin from a pronghorn ("antelope") and jackrabbit pairing.
May 12, 2008
Format: 54 pages (including end papers). Appx. 2500 words.
Mixing the legend of the jackalope with themes from Snow White and Pinocchio, Stevens and Grummel weave the tale of a jackrabbit who wishes he were fierce to hilarious effect. Puns abound in the text as the jackrabbit asks his fairy godrabbit for horns, gets them, and ends up being chased by a coyote who thinks that horns or not, jackrabbits are tasty. Hung up by his horns, the jackrabbit is sure to be coyote dinner until the fairy godrabbit ends up removing the horns and putting them on her own head. One rabbit is just as good as another to the coyote who sizes up the fairy godrabbit for dinner. The former jackalope finds his courage, saves the godrabbit by looking very fierce, and ends up finding a friend in the end (although Coyote manages to eat the lot of them, but then again, it's Coyote we're talking about!)
The text deftly weaves old motifs together (mirror mirror on the wall, the horns that grow with each lie), but the insertion of rhyme into plain prose is distracting to me as a reader. I'm also not sure if all the puns would reach a young reader, but would be fun for a parent who's open to puns. All in all a delightful read.
Mixing the legend of the jackalope with themes from Snow White and Pinocchio, Stevens and Grummel weave the tale of a jackrabbit who wishes he were fierce to hilarious effect. Puns abound in the text as the jackrabbit asks his fairy godrabbit for horns, gets them, and ends up being chased by a coyote who thinks that horns or not, jackrabbits are tasty. Hung up by his horns, the jackrabbit is sure to be coyote dinner until the fairy godrabbit ends up removing the horns and putting them on her own head. One rabbit is just as good as another to the coyote who sizes up the fairy godrabbit for dinner. The former jackalope finds his courage, saves the godrabbit by looking very fierce, and ends up finding a friend in the end (although Coyote manages to eat the lot of them, but then again, it's Coyote we're talking about!)
The text deftly weaves old motifs together (mirror mirror on the wall, the horns that grow with each lie), but the insertion of rhyme into plain prose is distracting to me as a reader. I'm also not sure if all the puns would reach a young reader, but would be fun for a parent who's open to puns. All in all a delightful read.
February 26, 2015
Personal reaction: I liked this book and I enjoyed reading it because it was clever and funny.
I would read this book to first graders. This story is interesting because there is a narrator character that pops up every few pages to insert a comment but overall, it's told through character's interactions. There is figurative language in terms of onomatopoeia. It's also kind of fairy tale like. This is a book that would be used probably for fun or just pleasure to read to the class. It's also pretty long for a picture book. The word choice isn't very elaborate or strong but it is a funny concept of a book. The illustrations don't utilize every page but the pages they have illustrations on are fully covered and detailed. The book is pretty colorful too, with a lot of bright colors. I also just find the concept of a jackalope to be hilarious and the illustration that is included on it makes me laugh.
I would read this book to first graders. This story is interesting because there is a narrator character that pops up every few pages to insert a comment but overall, it's told through character's interactions. There is figurative language in terms of onomatopoeia. It's also kind of fairy tale like. This is a book that would be used probably for fun or just pleasure to read to the class. It's also pretty long for a picture book. The word choice isn't very elaborate or strong but it is a funny concept of a book. The illustrations don't utilize every page but the pages they have illustrations on are fully covered and detailed. The book is pretty colorful too, with a lot of bright colors. I also just find the concept of a jackalope to be hilarious and the illustration that is included on it makes me laugh.
September 11, 2013
In this book, Jack is a hare who wants to be intimidating. Luckily, he meets his fairy godrabbit, a very cute character who has a lot of silly puns involving vegetables, and she grants him one wish. He wishes to have horns like an antelope to make himself look fierce. Jack’s wish is granted, but comes with some advice that he doesn’t heed, which lands himself and ultimately fairy godrabbit in trouble with a coyote who is very hungry for rabbits. In the end, Jack learns a lesson about loyalty to his friends, and also how important it is to be happy with yourself. This book contains great illustrations, lots of chuckles, and colorful characters that are easily brought to life with a little enthusiasm from the reader.
June 20, 2011
The text may be a little heavy for some young readers, but the rewards are never-ending. Read with enthusiasim, gusto, sass and style and you'll find a mixed-up fairy tale that patient listeners will request again and again.
Fans of the STINKY CHEESE MAN are perfect matches for the humor and magic in this gem of a picture book. Looking for a book smart and fun enough to entertain readers sure they are too old for picture books? Give this one a try.
Don't let it go OUT OF PRINT! Buy one today!
Fans of the STINKY CHEESE MAN are perfect matches for the humor and magic in this gem of a picture book. Looking for a book smart and fun enough to entertain readers sure they are too old for picture books? Give this one a try.
Don't let it go OUT OF PRINT! Buy one today!
September 6, 2016
This is a punny book with some pretty "corny" humor (readers will see what I just did there.). It has nods toward other literature (folk tales and nursery rhymes). Jackalope is extinct now. This is the story of how Jackrabbit became a jackalope (his fairy godrabbit granted him one wish) and how his dishonesty got him and others into trouble.
Some great messages about honesty, helping others, and being happy to be yourself are incorporated into this humorous book with fabulous illustrations. I really enjoyed this.
Some great messages about honesty, helping others, and being happy to be yourself are incorporated into this humorous book with fabulous illustrations. I really enjoyed this.
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February 7, 2020This book is about a rabbit named Jack who wished he he was scarier because he was scared of being eaten or in danger. One night he wished upon a star and a fairy godrabbit who brought him his wish she asked him what he wished and he said horns. so Jill the fairy godrabbit tapped him on the head with her wand and jack grew horns. The story starts to call him Jackalope and Jack goes around to different animals trying to be scary and be big and brave. when he meet a Hummingbird he ask the bird if he looks scary and the bird just asked where he go the horns. once Jack saw the bird wasn't afraid of him his horns grew bigger sending the bird flying away. The same thing happened when he ran into a squirrel. Soon his horns got so big that he was hopping around and got stuck in a tree. Little did Jack know a Coyote was hiding behind the tree ready for his next meal. Jack quickly unstuck himself and ran really fast with the Coyote chasing after him. They chased each other when Jack tried to jump into his hiding hole and got his horns stuck in the ground. Jack started to cry and wish he didn't have the horns so Jill the fairy godrabbit came down to help. When she finally got rid of the horns the Coyote took her wand and gave Jill some horns since Jack ran away. Jack chased after them to save Jill when he fell down a hill and got stuck in weeds, dirt, and cactus. Then Jack came after the Coyote saying look at me and that's when the Coyote lost it and started laughing he dropped the wand and rolled away. Jack and Jill came together got rid of her horns. and came together and fell in love. The story also has interjects of an Armadillo who also talks about the story in and out.
This is a good story because it's fun and full of excitement which is something kids will love to laugh at.
In a class room you could use this book to talk about fairy tales and wishes. and talk about animals.
This is a good story because it's fun and full of excitement which is something kids will love to laugh at.
In a class room you could use this book to talk about fairy tales and wishes. and talk about animals.
October 18, 2021
I love the jackalope and think that it is a part of Americana in which children really don't have an introduction so was happy to see this book. Of course there are some elements of the original legend that may be a bit mature so it was with some intrigue I started down this book.
First of all the book's formatting was quite weird and after reviewing so many other readers I noticed that no one has mentioned this eccentricity. Anyway the problem that I met was that the story was doubled with the original telling I am guessing being the almost really small writing included with the illustrations and then the much bigger font underneath the illustrations, which repeated word-for-word everything above it. As such I went with the bigger writing then went back for the illustrations, which weren't much to look back to.
The story is really strange in all its styles with every single Jack having been a jackrabbit from this one particular tree. At the same time the authors have seen to it that the narrator is a western-styled cowboy with western vernacular, Jackalope is clearly as English as you can be and yep Jill the fairy godrabbit is the same as Jack although she speaks in sassy produce-related puns to match her crazy apparel.
The style is basically taking an American legend and changing it into a fairy tale with many popular fairy tale motifs appearing as such. There are basically no original jackalope story elements, which is a true shame except the actual style of the horns. And unfortunately the authors chose to call the horns as belonging to an antelope and not the pronghorn, which are two different animals to begin with.
At the same time the illustrations are meager at best in most cases and not much to be commented on. As with the rest of the book although they are basic illustrations in the largest sense there are two inclusions of photographs for Longhorn and Horned Toad while Jackalope acting like them is just ridiculous.
As much fun as it may be in getting behind this kind of retelling I just couldn't since it attempted to ruin a much cherished creature for me. And as for children I would hope that out there somewhere is a much better retelling of the origins of jackalope.
First of all the book's formatting was quite weird and after reviewing so many other readers I noticed that no one has mentioned this eccentricity. Anyway the problem that I met was that the story was doubled with the original telling I am guessing being the almost really small writing included with the illustrations and then the much bigger font underneath the illustrations, which repeated word-for-word everything above it. As such I went with the bigger writing then went back for the illustrations, which weren't much to look back to.
The story is really strange in all its styles with every single Jack having been a jackrabbit from this one particular tree. At the same time the authors have seen to it that the narrator is a western-styled cowboy with western vernacular, Jackalope is clearly as English as you can be and yep Jill the fairy godrabbit is the same as Jack although she speaks in sassy produce-related puns to match her crazy apparel.
The style is basically taking an American legend and changing it into a fairy tale with many popular fairy tale motifs appearing as such. There are basically no original jackalope story elements, which is a true shame except the actual style of the horns. And unfortunately the authors chose to call the horns as belonging to an antelope and not the pronghorn, which are two different animals to begin with.
At the same time the illustrations are meager at best in most cases and not much to be commented on. As with the rest of the book although they are basic illustrations in the largest sense there are two inclusions of photographs for Longhorn and Horned Toad while Jackalope acting like them is just ridiculous.
As much fun as it may be in getting behind this kind of retelling I just couldn't since it attempted to ruin a much cherished creature for me. And as for children I would hope that out there somewhere is a much better retelling of the origins of jackalope.
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September 9, 2019Picture Book
This was one crazy story. An ordinary jackrabbit wanted to be fierce and scary. He wished upon a star and a fairy god-rabbit came granting him one wish. He wished for horns, but then soon realized they were more dangerous for his own health to have them. After he and the fairy god-rabbit almost got eaten by a coyote, they decided being normal was the better and more safe option.
This was one crazy story. An ordinary jackrabbit wanted to be fierce and scary. He wished upon a star and a fairy god-rabbit came granting him one wish. He wished for horns, but then soon realized they were more dangerous for his own health to have them. After he and the fairy god-rabbit almost got eaten by a coyote, they decided being normal was the better and more safe option.
April 9, 2020
This book is a twist of a Tall Tale. I like the details of the story and illustrations found within. So much to think about and look at. The book starts with a family tree that is quite hilarious- family members such as the Mad Hatter and the Easter Bunny. As you turn each page, there is boundless humor and imagination. Weaving favorite fairy tales we know into the story. Worth your time!
April 28, 2022
This book is a real treat!! Well written, with lots of humor woven through the book. An armadillo narrates the story, a jack rabbit fairy godrabbit, and a delightful young jackalope all combined together bring you a very entertaining tale. From the food humor to the reflections of other stories that are very well known, this tale weaves a delightful story.
July 13, 2018
My daughter would have given it more stars. My boys listened in and were engaged in the book even though it was just the two of us ladies reading on the couch. I think 3.5 might be as far as I go. I thought it was cute just not one I’d want to reread over and over.
July 14, 2019
Delightful tale of a fictional animal (that my husband swears is real) LOL. The kids loved this story and the illustrations led to several intense moments of laughter. Glad we added it to our collection.
September 13, 2019
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is a way to help children understand to feel comfortable for who they are and they can't change things just because they don't particularly like their characteristics.
September 9, 2020
Funny story. He wishes to be scary but then cannot scare away the predator & gets stuck before jumping in his hole. He regrets having the huge horns because now he cannot stay safe. He is at danger. He then wishes away the horns.
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February 27, 2024combines bits of
pinocchio: everytime he lies his horns grow
snow white: he has a mirror and asks it who is the scariest/fiercest
cinderella: has a fairy godrabbit
jack and jill: he is jack and the fairy becomes magicless jill.
pinocchio: everytime he lies his horns grow
snow white: he has a mirror and asks it who is the scariest/fiercest
cinderella: has a fairy godrabbit
jack and jill: he is jack and the fairy becomes magicless jill.
April 30, 2018
Delightful rhymes and bad puns make this a joy for adults to share with their young readers or listeners. Listening to it read (via audible) is enjoyable but the illustrations are not to be missed.
June 19, 2018
Awesome. How did they fit so much clever cuteness into one book. Great illustrations too.
September 3, 2018
A funny story with wonderful illustrations. A jack rabbit wanted to be scary but found that came with problems.
September 19, 2018
This was the funnest book EVER to read!!
April 10, 2019
Children's book. Good for those who need an explanation of why there are jackalopes mounted in bars in the West, but have never heard dof them before.
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November 13, 2019AR 2.8
J read once at home, took 4 days and hated it. Then she had a snow day, so I read it to her during her day off school to help her remember or understand it.
J read once at home, took 4 days and hated it. Then she had a snow day, so I read it to her during her day off school to help her remember or understand it.
November 27, 2019
Be who you are meant to be!
August 6, 2020
Such a cute book to teach kids they should appreciate who they are!
February 10, 2021
Enjoyed the structure of the book.
Didn't realize how long this book is.
Didn't realize how long this book is.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews