Illustrated in full color. Forced from her home by bulldozers, baby Jackrabbit can't keep up with her family and finds herself frightened and alone. It's not long, however, before some humans discover her, and they're quick to do what they can to take care of her--from feeding her with a doll's bottle to making her a bed of straw. When Jackrabbit is big enough to return to the wild, the family makes the difficult decision to return her to her real home--to raise a family of her own.   Kindergarten-Grade 3?London captures the hearts of young readers as he relates how a little, lost jackrabbit is rescued by a woman and eventually released back into the wild. The author's staccato sentences create suspense-"There's something behind her-yellow eyes in the dark... A dog barks. A light flashes. Jackrabbit freezes"-and establish the story's emotional pitch. Ray's pastel tones of brown and orange complement the sensitivity of the narrative. The woman's family cares for "Jackie" until she's ready to go "running with the wind, racing cloud shadows and leaping like a jackrabbit?like the jackrabbit she is." This story offers a springboard for class discussions on the environment, wildlife, natural habitats, self-esteem, and personal identity. Jackrabbit will bound from the shelves and find a safe and loving haven with audiences everywhere.?Patricia Mahoney Brown, Benjamin Franklin Elementary School, Kenmore, NY Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. Ages 3^-7. When bulldozers arrive to begin developing the orchard land around a baby jackrabbit's nest, her mother and siblings flee. The runt of the litter, she is too small to keep up, so the frightened creature hides in a hole until she is rescued by a woman who lives nearby. The woman and her family feed and care for Jackie, as they name her, allowing her to explore their home and yard as she grows. Finally, the woman reintroduces an adult Jackie into the wild, where she successfully mates and begins a family of her own. The story (based on a true incident) is told in a direct way that allows young readers to experience the animal's plight. Ray's soft, pastel illustrations also emphasize the hare and her natural surroundings. A good choice for spring story hours, this may also spark discussions about loss of habitats and the merits of keeping wild animals as pets. Kay Weisman London adds to his works about wild creatures (Master Elk and the Mountain Lion and Honey Paw and Lightfoot, both 1995; Condor's Egg, 1994) with this poetically written book based, once again, on a true experience. A young female jackrabbit is orphaned when her orchard home is bulldozed. ``Jackie'' is rescued by a kindly woman who tearfully returns her to the wild when the jackrabbit is able to fend for herself. Weeks later, the woman and Jackie encounter each other one last time; after a moment of frozen indecision, Jackie bounds away after her mate. At story's end, she is ensconced in a nest with babies of her own, but sometimes dreams of her life with humans. This gratifying story allows children to empathize with both the rabbit and her benefactor; it's an exemplary treatment of the theme of care and respect for wild creatures. Tawny shades of gold and orange predominate in Ray's sun-baked illustrations; children will exclaim over the spread showing Jackie in midair ``flowing with the grasses, running with the wind, racing cloud shadows.'' Included is a photo of the jackrabbit that inspired the piece. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. in full color. Forced from her home by bulldozers, baby Jackrabbit can't keep up with her family and finds herself frightened and alone. It's not long, however, before some humans discover her, and they're quick to do what they can to take care of her--from feeding her with a doll's bottle to making her a bed of straw. When Jackrabbit is big enough to return to the wild, the family makes the difficult decision to return her to her real home--to raise a family of her own.