Janet Stevens (1) (1953–)

A twist on a trickster tale. Fox sells Bear a donkey egg, and Bear commits to caring for it well. When he finds out it's just a watermelon, Hare helps him to plant the seeds. Bear buys a donkey with the money he makes from selling watermelons.

Bear owns a lot of land to work it and the neighboring hares are down on their luck, so Hare devises a plan. He goes into business with Bear in order to farm on his land, and promises Bear "part" of the harvest. But every time, he outsmarts Bear by planting food that will benefit Hare and not Bear. Eventually, Hare has enough money to buy his own land and they call a truce to be neighbors but business partners no longer.

2006 the Original Art's Lifetime Achievement Award

Independent Reading Level: Kindergarten - 3rd grade.