Rapunzel and the Missing Hare

Laura Hirshfield, Illustrated by Jane Sirinek

Once, a long time ago, a witch wished she were a princess. She tried and tried to turn her black hair gold, but nothing worked. She tried and tried to make her scratchy voice whisper, but nothing worked. The witch realized she would never be a princess, so she snuck into a castle garden, found a princess, and whisked her to a treetop tower in the woods. The princess – named Rapunzel (after a most delicious flower) – was not scared of the witch. For she had a secret: in her pocket, she had two tiny hares. When Rapunzel stroked the hares’ golden fur, they purred like kittens. When she tickled their floppy ears, they buzzed like humming birds. And when she scratched the fur on their tiny bellies, they giggled like baby chimps. “My sweet pudding puffs,” Rapunzel would whisper, and the hares would snuggle up under her chin. Then they’d all fall asleep, dreaming of their days in the royal garden. Oh how they feasted on radishes, rutabagas, parsnips, and pears! Time passed and Rapunzel and the witch became friends. Rapunzel let the witch brush her long, golden locks, and the witch let Rapunzel polish her pointy nails. The witch told stories about bats and broomsticks, and Rapunzel sang songs about dragons and fairies.