Book Description

"The snow is coming!" said Mama Rabbit.Little Fern and her brother Bracken decide to play hide-and-seek while their mother prepares for the first snowfall.But wherever Fern hopes to hide, another creature needs the space for winter.And when it's Fern's turn to seek, she can't find Bracken anywhere!Then it starts to snow...this warm and reassuring tale will appeal to little ones all year long. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Little Fern's Story is a Hit with Young Readers!
This is a charming story of a young rabbit who learns about winter and family love. Fern wants to play, but Mother Rabbit is building a nest in the burrow for the upcoming winter. Mother Rabbit sends Fern to play with her brother, Bracken. During a game of hide and go seek, Fern cannot find Bracken. While looking for him, she learns how many different animals prepare for the upcoming winter. As snow begins to fall, Fern frantically searches for Bracken. The outcome is pleasant, and the whole family settles down for winter. The illustrations are colorful and wonderfully done, and they help the reader walk through the story with ease. Suitable for young readers, this book has large, easy to read text and a delightful plot.

Little Fern's First Winter
This enchanting story with its expressive and charming illustrations make this title visually inviting and a sure favorite with 3 to 5 year olds. A beautifully made picture book and sure to delight the hearts of its readers. Simmons has another winner. ... Read more

Book Description

Little Bunny doesn’t want to go to sleep. No matter what his mother tries, her youngest bunny refuses to sleep. But finally, Little Bunny wears himself out, and Mrs. Rabbit thinks she can get some rest. But just as she begins to drift off… ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Ideal naptime and bedtime reading by parents
Written by Jane Johnson for young children ages 3 to 6, Are You Ready For Bed? is enhanced with the warm and comforting illustrations by Gaby Hansen in a highly recommended picture book about Mrs. Rabbit and her struggle to help her bunny child go to sleep. When at last she finally coaxes her littlest bunny to rest, suddenly another of her children can't sleep in this gentle, good humored story which is ideal naptime and bedtime reading by parents. ... Read more

Book Description

Children love furry, cuddly dwarf rabbits, and this book explains how to relate to them and keep them healthy and happy. Books in the For the Love of Animals series are for new and inexperienced pet owners, parents whose kids would like to have a pet, and kids who simply want to know more about animals that make good pets. Emphasis is on building loving relationships between owners and pets. In this book, the nature and traits of the dwarf rabbit are explained, and recommendations are given for interaction between pets and owners. The book is delightfully illustrated with vivid, heartwarming color photos and attractive pictorial charts. Several gatefold pages open wide to present photo essays and other visually attractive features that will appeal to both adults and younger pet owners. Topics covered in all titles in this series include: Golden rules of pet care ... Getting to know your pet ... Building love and trust between owner and pet ... Fun and games with your pet ... Caring for your pet in its old age. There are approximately 80 attractive full-color photos and drawings to supplement a fact-filled text. ... Read more

Book Description

To little Buttermilk bunny, everything she sees on the way home through the dark forest is scary. Her father shows her that during the daylight, things aren't always what they seem. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Serendipity
(...)
This was my favorite in the series.I would say to anyone who is a parent and is considering this or ther serendipity books for their children that these books are the greatest influence of love and compassion in shaping my person. The characters are so unique, adorable, and loveable and the moral is~~ almost always very significant and unique.~

One of the best
Buttermilk is one of the best books in the Serendipity series. I loved it when I was younger and now I can read it to my daughter. The illustrations are beautiful and it is a wonderful story for all children who are afraid of the dark.

Don't let your imagination run away with you
Buttermilk is an adorable bunny (who is also in the books Buttermilk Bear and the Grumpling) who stays out playing just a little too late. On her way home in the dark she sees several scary things trying to catch her. When her poppa finds her frightened in her bed he reassures her and the next day takes her back to where she saw all the "monsters" and shows her that her fear of the dark got the best of her. A great book for dealing with fear of the dark. Gentle, comforting book with BEAUTIFUL writing and illustrations. ... Read more

Book Description

Everyone knows that the Easter Bunny comes every year with a basket of painted eggs andchocolates. But who is the Easter Bunny, and what is his story?

On a snow-cold day in a snug little house ... So begins the true story of the Easter Bunny.

A little white rabbit watches and helps an old couple make chocolate and paint Easter eggs. As each year passes, the little white rabbit helps out a little bit more until he becomes the Easter Bunny, with the help of a few furry friends.

Katherine Tegen has fashioned an original tale that explains the origin of one of childhood's favorite legends. Delicate and marvelously detailed paintings make this magical story completely believable.

Book Description

Beatrix Potter's four stories that feature Peter Rabbit are brought together in one volume, so that Peter's escapades can be read as a continuous saga. The volume includes the complete text and art from The Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Tale of Benjamin Bunny, The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies and The Tale of Mr. Tod. From Peter's mischevious childhood in Mr. McGregor's garden to the time he rescues a family from Tommy Brock's clutches, Peter Rabbit's story is one children will want to hear again and again. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Classic story and illustrations, awkwardly organized.
There are three stories in this book, the first of which is the Tale of Peter Rabbit. I think that this edition could be better organized, given its intended audience: First of all, you need to be able to read the table of contents to know where one story ends and the next begins. Also, the binding is very tight, making it difficult for the "baby-preschool" age group for which it is intended to flip through at the book independently. In my copy, at least, about half the story of Peter Rabbit is included a second time, presumably in error, after the third story. A small child might do better with a smaller, hardbound version.

Classic story about rabbit family.
This children's classic tells the adventures of mischievous Peter Rabbit. Entertaining read-aloud stories. Author Beatrix Potter was a teacher and wrote this masterpiece for the purpose of delighting a sick child. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Bing!
The Bing books are adorable! As a children's librarian, I am smitten with Bing and his cute sidekick Flop. The stories are short and concise, with perfect toddler-friendly events like getting dressed and painting a picture. Little accidents happen (Bing spills his messy paint water and ruins his pretty picture in "Paint Day", and wets his dungarees in "Get Dressed") but each story ends with Bing and Flop looking on the bright side, with happy-go-lucky "accidents happen" attitudes. Highly recommended -- A great addition to libraries and homes. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"It is the first duty of a flagging spirit to seek renewal in the latitudes of whimsy," wrote Benjamin Franklin to his nephew in 1771. "I, for one, dream on beyond the five planets to a world without wickedness; verdant, mild, and populated by amiable lapins [rabbits]." This quotation appears on the title page of First Tomato, one of three engaging books in Rosemary Wells's fabulous Voyage to the Bunny Planet box set. Perhaps Ben Franklin's whimsical dreamland is the inspiration for these endearing, small, perfectly square books, each about a benevolent bunny who has an abominable day and needs to take solace in the kinder, more peaceful Bunny Planet.

In each book--First Tomato, The Island Light, and Moss Pillows--a quirky, adorable, wide-eyed bunny has a terrible day of, say, a meager breakfast, getting sick at school, or snow-filled shoes. When the bunny just can't take it anymore, he or she is transported, Oz-style, to the Bunny Planet to experience "the day that should have been": "Far beyond the moon and stars, / Twenty light-years south of Mars, / Spins the gentle Bunny Planet / And the Bunny Queen is Janet." On this planet only good things happen--the discovery of a large ripe tomato, summer breezes, crackling fires, and making pancakes. Wells, masterful as usual, creates a completely charming universe and perfectly captures theexpressions of the despairing-then-joyful bunnies. Youngsters everywhere will take comfort in these small books, perfect for reading aloud at bedtime. Everyone, especially your favorite little bunnies, should know that even on the worst of days, a Bunny Planet is out there somewhere, spinning gently. (Click to seea sample spread. Illustration from The First Tomato by Rosemary Wells. Illustration © 1992 by Rosemary Wells, published by Dial Books for Young Readers, a division of Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers.) (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (23)

I Need a Voyage to the Bunny Planet!
Remember that old Excedrin commericial? "I've got a headache THIS BIG!" Read Rosemary Wells's adorable picture book trilogy, "Voyage of the Bunny Planet", and you'll learn another great trick to calm your jangled nerves. In each book a little bunny has a rough bunny day--late school bus, yucky lunch, crazy cousins... But help is on the way. "Far beyond the moon and stars, Twenty light- years south of Mars, Spins the Gentle Bunny Planet. And the Bunny Queen is Janet." Bunny Queen Janet takes each stressed-out little rabbit to "the day that should have been." From relaxing in the moss green forest, to making First Tomato soup with mom, to playing cards with dad in a warm house while it rains hard outside, Rosemary Wells perfectly evokes memories and feelings of safety and serenity. This is an ideal holiday gift for any age. Children will be soothed at night by the gentle text and sweetly-illustrated bunnies, and adults will love Wells's quirky humour and the memories of childhood this trilogy lovingly recreates. So don't let the hectic pace of the holiday season get you down--grab some egg nog and take a Voyage to the Bunny Planet!

Even Adults Deserve a Visit to the Bunny Planet
These three books continue to top our list of favorites. Our girls continue to enjoy the cadence of the writing and spirit of the stories. We make up our own bunny planet visits when they have bad days. The storyline resonates with adults, too. A great gift.

A Dose of Childhood Magic
My daughter received this set as a gift for her first birthday. Now, at 26 months, she has fallen in love with her "Janet Books". We have to read all three before naptime and bedtime.

These books are just wonderful. The author's use of language is gifted, from the intentionally choppy beginning, through the lyrical Bunny Planet interlude, through the reassuring ending. Every child can relate to the subject and substance of these books. The illustrations are friendly, and invite leisurely examination.

I am quite disappointed that they are out of print because I would purchase them for every young child that I know.

With Apologies to Beethoven
And SINCERE thanks to a dear friend (also a non-grownup) who sent me this CHARMING book for my birthday. All the reviews say it pretty well, but (to the melody of ODE TO JOY) here is my contribution:

Take me to the Bunny Planet,
Watch and see how fast I run.
All my friends will dance beside me,
Happy in the sparkling sun.

Take me to the Bunny Planet,
Mama will give us soup she made.
It's a land of pleasures plenty,
New tomaters never fade.

Children don't like baloney sannies

Can't do cartwheels when they play
Math is hard it takes two hours
Shoes with snow are not okay.

Take me to the Bunny Planet,
Far beyond the moon and stars.
It's a land of pleasures plenty,
With the Bunny Queen named Janet.

Pure magic
When we first read The Island Light to our daughter when she was 3 1/2, she was mesmerized and wanted us to read it to her day after day. The peaceful story, the beautiful cadence of the words, and the delightful illlustrations were a joy to look at time and time again.

Particularly inspirational to our girl was Felix's tiny, cozy room in the lighthouse. At the time, our daughter was sleeping in a twin bed in our room, and we weren't sure how we were going to find space in our small house for her own bedroom. (My husband and I both work from home, which didn't help in the "finding a bedroom" problem.) One day she was exploring a closet in another room and noticed it has a window, nice hardwood floors, and could easily fit a little bed and a book shelf. "It could be like Felix's bedroom in the lighthouse!" she exclaimed. So we emptied the crammed closet (no easy feat in a little house!) and transformed it into a cozy room much like Felix's. ... She has been enraptured about that room ever since. We live by the ocean in a fog-prone area, so many nights she even falls asleep to the sound of the foghorn in her "lighthouse room." On nights when she's a little apprehensive to sleep because of seeing/reading something too scary during the day, she'll think of Janet wrapping her arms around her and floating her to the Bunny Planet.

I just now came to Amazon to order the Bunny Planet series (we'd been borrowing them from the library all this time because I couldn't find them at our local book stores), and I am shocked that these magical books are no longer in print. We all need the Bunny Planet sometimes, and I hope a publisher will ... produce these beautiful books once again. ... Read more

Book Description

Emily is going to summer day camp! Join this lovable bunny and herfriends Hannah, Charlie, and Lily for a day of playing ball, swimming, hiking, and arts and crafts. With so many things to do and 75 reusable stickers to decorate with, day camp has never been so much fun! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Board Book that is definitely not Boring!
Rosemary Wells has done it again! Max's New Suit playfully explores a simple concept that is familiar to toddlers and their grown ups. Combining a simple text with her extremely expressive illustrations, Ms Wells tells the story of brother and sister team, Max and Ruby. In this amusing tale, Max must get dressed in his new suit (which he hates!) to attend Ruby's tea party. Despite Ruby's help, the precocious Max wants to do it himself and this is where the story takes a delightful twist.My 6-month old Max loves the Max books and recognizes the Max and Ruby characters. The illustrations and text are clear and colorful while complimenting each other. This book holds his attention during our frequent readings and, I believe, helps to foster his sense of humor and fun. Max's New Suit will keep both child and reader entertained for reading after reading! It is an essential book for every baby's library (or, as Ms Wells might say, every Bunny's library). ... Read more

Book Description

Emily's excited to be a big sister! She plays with baby Leo, helps her mom and dad, even gets to help open baby gifts-and finds one for herself! Young children can come along with Emily as she discovers that having a baby brother can be hard, but is also a lot of fun. With ingenious flaps and detailed artwork, this new addition to the Emily series is sure to delight preschoolers and siblings everywhere! ... Read more

Book Description

Santa Claus has a new assistant: Felix, the precocious little rabbit!That globe-trotting character is back again in this fourth exciting book in the series.Join Felix as he and Santa deliver presents across the globe.You’ll discover how Santa Claus lives, and witness Christmas customs around the world.The engaging book features tender text, five genuine, interactive letters inside written from Felix to his dear friend Sophie, bright, full-color illustrations, plus a large fold-out documenting Santa and Felix’s travels.And, as a special bonus, enjoy a lovely gift from Felix himself:a wearable, child-size Santa hat!Sure to be a holiday favorite! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Watch out if your reader still believes!
I have the original Felix book plus the one about time, and was eagerly anticipating reading Felix's Christmas Around the World to my four-year-old. However, I had to heavily edit the first half of the book. The main character talks at school about believing in Santa and is laughed at by all the other children. The book goes on for pages about her feeling terrible for believing in Santa. If I had read it verbatim I think I would have ruined Santa for my daughter. This plot point wasn't necessary in order to present the rest of the information in the book. Yes, the pictures are lovely, the real letters from Felix are a delight, and the facts about Christmas in other lands are fascinating. But you can get the same quality in other Felix books. If your child believes in Santa, avoid this book for now.

What a Book!
I have never taken the time to write about a book before, but I couldn't resist sharing the pleasure I took in reading this book. This book would be a great book for any classroom at all elementary levels. I plan to use the book in my 2nd grade classroom during a unit on holidays around the world at Christmas time. I can't wait to share this book with my students and my co-workers. The format of this book is excellent and the letters that Felix writes to Sophie are a great asset to this book. The book touches on many countries and has a great display of the world that is shown during Santa's holiday journey.

Elementary school tbeachers should buy this!
This book includes themes from Italy, Sweden, Holland, and Russia. Sophie's classmates are multicultural, as well. Felix leaves to find Santa and corresponds with Sophie on his journey. The 5 letters are spread throughout the story, and are actually in envelopes that your child opens. You will also find a recipie, a photo of Felix with a real reindeer, a floor plan of Santa's house, and a special Felix santa hat! Felix also promises to write you if you write him! I taught grade 2 and the children immensely enjoyed every moment of this book. It has great illustrations. Parents and teachers alike should buy this book, especially if you want to teach about Christmas around the World.

An exciting, educational book!
I teach Kindergarten and have gotten a great deal of use from this story. I have used it to introduce different countries and their holiday traditions. This book is also a great way to introduce timelines, maps, and letter writing. Even more important, the kids love it and ask me to read it over and over. A must have book for any classroom or home!

This book is fantastic
This book is fantastic. My daughter, who is 8 loves for me to read this book as well as all the other Felix books to her. Even though she can read herself, it is special for me to read them to her. She loves to open up the letters that Felix writes. She can't wait to see where he is at in his journeys. I wish there were more of these books to share with her. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Davie wants a little black rabbit, and he wants one badly. Fortunately, his grandfather has promised him one. While waiting for it to arrive, he wonders what he should name it. Satan? Too sinister. Shoe Polish? Too sticky. Night? No good. Lily of the Valley? Too white. Finally, he decides to name his future rabbit Shadrach after one of the three young men in the Bible that "old Nebuchadnezzar in the old testament had tossed into the fiery furnace." No doubt about it, Davie is obsessed.

Davie's almost religious zeal for his soon-to-be pet, of whom he sings, "fairest of ten thousand to my soul," doesn't fade with the arrival of the actual rabbit. "To think he'd had Shadrach two weeks now! It was almost unbelievable, and it was still a miracle. Every morning you woke up it was a miracle all over again, that there in a barn across the Dutch village sat a little rabbit, and he was yours. Something breathing, nibbling, hopping, and it was yours! In all the world it was yours. It was alive, and it was yours!" Any child who has ever cried with happiness to have a pet will completely understand young Davie's emotions. Meindert Dejong, award-winning author of Newbery Medalist TheWheel on the School and The House ofSixty Fathers, has created a strikingly emotional novel for young readers, perfectly complemented by the illustrations of Maurice Sendak. (Ages 9 to 12) ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A Wonderful Bedtime Story
(...)The prose is poetic, repetitive, hypnotic -- the perfect bedtime mix. At the same time, DeJong accurately conveys the inner thoughts and emotions of a small child who is completely taken with his first pet. I admit to sending the kids off to bed after reading them a chapter, then slinking back to read the next chapter on my own. PS The hymn Davie sings, "He's the Lily of the Valley," can be heard on the web. Type the title into your browser.

for parents every where
I was browsing throw the library to find a book for myself when i found the book shadrach. At first i didn't realy care for it until i started skimming throw the pages. To a kid like me it looked easy to read, but when i started reading it i couldnt stop. It was like the harry potter books when you just cant stop reading. So after two hours i checked the page and i was on page 147 and i couldnt believe it. To someone it might not be very impessive but it was to me and my family,because i hate reading. By the time i was finished i had two weeks to finish my ritten book report. Since i read it so quickly i got a A on it. So the book shadrach is a very iteresting book to read for all ages.

I LIKED IT BECAUSE OF THE ANIMALS
I LIKED THE BOOK SHADRACH!I LIKED DAVIE BECAUSE HE WAS BRAVE TO CATCH THE RAT.I LIKED THE BOOK BECAUSEI LIKE ANIMALS.FROM THE START OF THE BOOK I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BORING.WHEN I READ IT IT WAS GREAT.

Sweet story
I read this book over the summer and felt my fourth graders would enjoy it. It offered a counterbalance to the fast action books they are used to. I realized it must be a dated style because of the absence of t.v. and other diversions we are unfortunately accustomed to. I recommend children being able to be exposed to a very well written, nurturing book. Actually, the children probably had to use more imagination while reading than in contemporary novels.

A story for any child who has longed for or loved an animal.
I'm thrilled to find this book back in print. I read it over and over as a child but never had a copy of my own. Years later I found a single copy in the library and read it to my own children. Along with THE WHEEL ON THE SCHOOL, this has been a family favorite for generations. ... Read more

Book Description

Blossom the Rabbit and Boo the Bear are best friends. They play in the forest together, make gifts for each other, and giggle a lot. But when it comes time for Boo to hibernate, Blossom worries how she will get through the long winter alone. Dawn Apperley's gentle, pleasing illustrations bring to life this touching story of strength found through friendship, which all young children will identify with. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Very Helpful Book**
My 4 year old son came home from school excitedly sharing all the details of this book having heard it in story time that day.
His very best friend had gone away for a month this summer for vacation and it was especially hard for him. The month felt like forever to him. Although we discussed it during that time, This book addressed this issue for him in a special way and his emotions about missing his friend really came to the surface and he learned how to deal with them...THANK YOU to the writers of this book!!

Great story of friendship!
A lovely tale of best friends who are seperated come winter because one - a bear - must hibernate. The other missed her friend terribly until she remembers all the fun things they had done together. Before she knows it, spring has returned, and they are reunited. Wonderful story! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

Fabulous bedtime stories
This is a slight and very inexpensive book, but has proved to be a hefty and well-loved book in my house. The stories are short--about 2 to 3 pages each. They are well written for reading out loud, very funny and full of surprises and suspense. Each tale ends (like The Arabian Nights stories) at a suspenseful point and promises the children that if they behave they'll get to hear how the event will unfold. Since they are short, one can read two or three stories each night, and this book can last a week. My 6 year old daughter picked up the book (after I've finished reading it) and started to read it herself. My four year old loves it. And the stories carry some important themes--such as be careful what you tell a stranger (in this case a hungry cat) yet they were not overly preachy, nor do the themes intrudes upon the drama of each story.

This book is a great value all around. Worth more than [price] for sure! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Even though she's sometimes pretty messy, and she doesn't always getthings right (like when she squirts toothpaste all over the floor), Sam's sisterSophie is okay in his book. She laughs at his puppet shows, sings when he playspiano, and splashes entertainingly when they take a bath together. Sam loves hislittle sister. Toddlers will love Sophie, too, especially those who have alreadymet her endearing bunny brother in Yves Got's other Sam titles, including Sam's Big Book of Words andSam Loves Kisses. Got'sboldly outlined illustrations of the pink-eared pair, against a clean whitebackdrop with a flat purple floor, are immensely appealing. Sophie seems to haveinherited Sam's blue teddy bear (Sweet Dreams, Sam), whose ownquiet antics, when noticed by sharp-eyed readers, will bring an extra giggle.This little board book is a great gift for youngsters with new siblings,reminding them of the fun times ahead. (Baby to preschool) --EmilieCoulter ... Read more

Reviews (1)

great toddler book
I bought this book for my 20 month old son who has a new baby sister. We read the story, then went back and inserted his name where Sam's was, and his sister's where Sophie's was. The illustrations are charming and tell the story well. Simple language (translated from French) makes this easy for young toddlers to understand, and it covers a lot of the concerns first children have about new siblings--especially when the first child is as young as mine. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great book!!!
We got this from the library for our 2 1/2-year-old daughter and it quickly became her very favorite book and not just at bedtime. Naturally, we could not keep the libraries, so we bought her her very own copy. Great story, great illustrations.

Excellent Bedtime Story!
I can't say enough good things about this book.My 2 yr old son absolutely loves it.He gets excited at bedtime because he knows it's the time when mommy and daddy read him this book.It's a darling story about 5 small bunnies and their mama and papa.My son loves the part when papa bunny gives baby bunny "whiskery kisses" while getting ready for bed. My husband attacks him with whiskery kisses as we read this part and our son squeals with delight.

Excellent Bedtime Story!
I can't say enough good things about this book.My 2 yr old son absolutely loves it.He gets excited at bedtime because he knows it's the time when mommy and daddy read him this book.It's a darling story about 5 small bunnies and their mama and papa.My son loves the part when papa bunny gives baby bunny "whiskery kisses" while getting ready for bed. My husband attacks him with whiskery kisses as we read this part and our son squeals with delight.

WONDERFUL BEDTIME BOOK!
This is a wonderful book to read to a child just before bedtime.It is calm, cute pictures, and not too long.It's cute in the way that it shows the mommy bunny and daddy bunny tucking in their little bunnies includingthe last cup of water and potty before bed.Very, very good book! ... Read more

Book Description

A rich and haunting allegory of colonization for all ages and cultures, told from the viewpoint of native animals. This stunning picture book examines the consequences of the arrival of a group of rabbits with entirely unfamiliar ways. They bring new food and animals, and they make their own houses to live in, eventually dominating the environment and its other inhabitants. The parallels with our own experience are many: "They chopped down our trees and scared away our friends and stole our children..." ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Scooping up the field mice, and bopping them over the head
First of all, I'm going to admit right here and now that I was seriously depressed as a child by Dr. Suess's, "The Lorax". A great book with a great story and a great moral and it brought me down low. But that's okay. I got over it. I was doing all right. Then I idly picked up John Marsden's, "The Rabbits" in my local lending library. Suddenly all the feelings I'd ever felt after reading "The Lorax" were back, but stronger. I came to the realization that this book was better than the Seussian creation. It carries a different message, but the idea behind the tale (and the method of teaching it) is the same. Once you've read "The Rabbits", you can't unread it. It sticks in your brain and you start to see its scenes replaying themselves in your mind at the oddest of times. The best word I can conjure up to describe this book is "haunting". It's like nothing you've ever read before.

To read this book requires understanding a little about its background. Originally published (as far as I could ascertain by the nationalities of the author and illustrator) in Australia, the book is about the effects of colonization. As you may recall, rabbits were once a foreign species that was introduced to the Australian wildlife with disastrous results. Devouring the native resources and spreading like mad, both they and cane toads are considered dangerous pests. Taking that idea as a starter, we follow the arrival of civilized rabbits on a vaguely Australian-like land. The story is told from the point of view of some brown curly tailed spear carrying native animals. As the book begins the native animals say, "At first we didn't know what to think. They looked a bit like us. There weren't many of them". Time passes and more and more rabbits come to the land. They build their own kinds of houses and introduce their own animals. When the native creatures (bush babies, perhaps?) fight back they loose because there are too many rabbits. The rabbits destroy the land and (in the worst and most heart-wrenching scene in the book) they, "Stole Our Children". Rabbit driven planes fly away with little baby creatures in kites trailing behind as they parents run along the ground, their arms extended. In the end, the land is bare and all the animals are gone. In a final picture, a native creature sits across from a rabbit next to a tiny puddle that reflects the stars, the ground littered with trash. The animals asks, "Who will save us from the rabbits?"

Sad? You don't know the half of it. It was delightful seeing how many details in this tale were particular to the Australian aboriginal people. The fact that their children were taken by the white settlers to be taught in white schools. Pictures of the fights (natives destroying the rabbit proof fences). Symbols repeat in illustration after illustration. The rabbit's flags look British, until you realize that the lines on them are arrows pointing everywhere. The guns and houses of the rabbits are inscribed with the words, "Might = Right". If author John Marsden is clever, illustrator Shaun Tan matches him pound for pound. This tale is artistically and morally interesting. I've spent more time than I like to think about poring over these pages. The book is covered in the most minute and fascinating details. Notice the single yellow flower that grows in the rabbits' town. The fact that the rabbits are partitioning out the land, even as they draw topographic lines on the ground. The cows that are permanently attached to milking machines and that already have their tasty parts outlined on their bodies.

It all comes down to that final question: Is this a book for children? Originally I said no and my husband said yes. Then I looked closely at the book. It's not without a glimpse of hope, you know. Even as the little creature at the end asks, "Where is the rich dark earth brown and moist?", there's a rabbit sadly dropping the dry rotten dust of the ground from its hand. The final shot of the two creatures facing one another across the tiny pond suggests that the only one to save them from the rabbits are the rabbits themselves. If enough see what has gone wrong, that is. Some children will understand this story intrinsically while others will be brought down low by it. Know your child before you decide whether or not to share this book with them. If you decide they might not be ready yet, buy it anyway for yourself. Books like this one are rare pieces of art that disappear so quickly. This tale is ideal for those adults that are learning to read as well. Honestly, I don't know what more I can say to make you want to buy this book. If I have to, I'll beg you. Please. To read this is to experience something deeply touching. People so rarely get a chance to see books this well made. Take the chance and find it.

An outstanding allegory picture book story
The Rabbits is a powerful and attention engaging picture book story by John Marsden with an underlying environmental message and drawn from the environmental experiences of the inhabitants and wildlife of Australia. An allegory of colonization, The Rabbits shows how a vast number of rabbits take over a land, strip it of its resources, multiply, and poison the earth by their sheer numbers. Unforgettable, stylized illustrations Shaun Tan lend a dark touch to this portrayal of unchecked and destructive tendencies. "Who will save us from the rabbits?" is the ultimate question arising from this outstanding allegory picture book story that parallels such widespread contemporary ecological experiences arising from the overwhelming onset of unbalanced industrialization, unremediated environmental damage, and unrestrained population growth.

A simple parable with wonderfully complex artwork.
Shaun Tan's amazing artwork for 'The Rabbits' tells you everything you ever needed to know about Australian history in glorious colour and astonishing detail. This is not only a must-read for children, but for adults - worthy to share space on your bookshelf with Raymond Briggs's 'When the Wind Blows' and 'The Tin-Pot Foreign General and the Old Iron Woman' on one side, and fat volumes of Goya and Hieronymus Bosch on the other. Superb. ... Read more