| ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. | |
| OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Parents need to know that some children aren't comfortable hearing about the bunny getting separated from its mother, but the story ends happily. The storyline is familiar, and the artwork is warm and inviting.
Something has gone terribly wrong! Little Bunny has wandered off and cannot find his mother. Then he hears the cry, "Bunny my honey!" Little ones will like hearing the story and knowing it all turns out okay.
Many children seemed genuinely concerned when the little rabbit is lost, and more than one expressed concern in the form of anger toward the mother rabbit. "How could she let them play by themselves in the woods?" one 5-year-old pondered worriedly, while others seemed anxious and upset. Of course, the story's payoff -- when the two rabbits find one another -- met with cheers from older listeners, while younger ones seemed comforted at the reassurance that "Mommy's always here."
The watercolor-and-ink drawings are charming, and the earth browns and fern greens add to the warm feelings. The expressions on the animal faces capture the feeling of the action: enthused at play, confused while lost, and ecstatic when found again. Even though there is little text, younger children repeatedly urged a reader to turn the page to see what happens next, especially since they could determine the story's outcome on their own.
Families can talk about getting lost. Kids: Have you ever worried that you had a lost a parent? What should you do if you do think you're lost? Parents can reassure their kids that, like the mother rabbit, they will stay close by.
| Author: | Anita Jeram |
| Illustrator: | Anita Jeram |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Picture Book |
| Publisher: | Candlewick Press |
| Publication date: | January 1, 1999 |
| Number of pages: | 32 |
| Hardcover price: | $7.98 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 2 - 5 |
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