This is a fun kids book that acts as a triptych taking place over 20 years in titular Yawning Rabbit River.

The first story tells the origins of how the rabbit thief, Sean raced the river goddess Violet to bring water back to the Valley and how his heroic actions immortalized him forever. As well as the origin of the river goddess and her love story that resounds in the future.

The second story focuses on twin brothers, Ash and Dusty and the mysterious Penny Boy, who is my favorite by the way. It’s a tale of brotherly divide, compassion and a dark twist as well that best illustrates the humor, the horror and the heartwarming this book is best at.

The final story ties all these disparate threads together twenty years later with an epic fight full of imaginative beings that are truly the most creative thing I have read so far. It’ entirely from J.H. Kimmel’s head and its impressive.

The strength of this book as I said before lies in its focus of love, be it guardianship, romantic or friendships. Showing compassion and loyatly towards others, courage and being true to yourself. It also has a wickedly dark undertone throughout with its Asheater villain alongside more comical ones such as the bully, George Melon and the divide in the local town between umbrella-people and non umbrella-people. Plus the fantastical creatures like Penny Boy, Robert Snow the rat, the pinecone heads and the Watcher will sure grip the readers’ imaginations. It’s Dahl-esque is the closest comparison I can give as its light hearted but also aware of how cruel the world and especially how adults can be.

The illustrations are vivid in whether drawing all the ridges in the pinecone heads or thousands of meally worms crawling out of the wall.

Again, it’s a kids story so some of it feels a bit simplistic to read if you’re not within the age range, and some of the battles are anti-climatic, but I believe it’s more about the journey, and it delivers a satisfying one indeed.