Tops & Bottoms (Caldecott Honor Book) by Janet Stevens; 1995. Hardcover. (Ch-PIC)

Hare solves his family’s problems by tricking rich and lazy Bear in this funny, energetic version of an old slave story. With roots in American slave tales, Tops & Bottoms celebrates the trickster tradition of using one’s wits to overcome hardship. “As usual, Stevens’ animal characters, bold and colorful, are delightful. . . . It’s all wonderful fun, and the book opens, fittingly, from top to bottom instead of from side to side, making it perfect for story-time sharing.”--Booklist This title has been selected as a Common Core Text Exemplar (Grades 2-3, Stories)