Common Sense Media Review
By Terreece Clarke
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Engaging bunny tale with clever wordplay, lovely artwork.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Emmaline is very messy and noisy and wants a bunny more than anything else. Unfortunately for her, she lives in Neatasapin, a town with a pushy, mean mayor who thinks everything in life should be neat and tidy, even kids and bunnies. The mayor, Orson Oliphant, has pretty much banned every animal except for quiet, neat animals. There is one place, however, where animals run free. Can Emmaline find it, and if she does, will she ever come back to Neatasapin?
Is It Any Good?
Author Katherine Hannigan has put together a wonderful, sweet, and engaging story in EMMALINE AND THE BUNNY. The fun wordplay makes this a natural read-aloud, and kids will be captivated by the beautiful watercolor pictures. Emmaline is a decent heroine, but she is almost upstaged by the quirky town of Neatasapin and its uptight mayor, Orson Oliphant. The lengths Orson goes through to keep the town and its inhabitants neat are truly giggle-worthy. From banishing animals to putting alarms on baby's diapers, no rule is too ridiculous for Orson.
Emmaline's quiet suffering to earn her bunny and her gentle determination to create a place for him in Neatasapin will tug at kids' heartstrings. Every child can identify with wanting something so badly -- a pet, a bicycle, etc. -- that he or she is willing to work as hard as possible to earn it. Audiences young and old will be cheering for Emmaline and the bunny's reunion.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the story's lesson. How did Emmaline earn her bunny? What does the story say about animals and people living together?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : HarperCollins Children's Books
- Publication date : February 24, 2009
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 12
- Number of pages : 112
- Last updated : July 13, 2017
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