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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
I found facets of this book quite remarkable. Originally published in 1939, it has a certain quaintness about it. But it also has a subtle feminist and youth empowering message as well.
Huh. This one was a recommendation from my daughter. It is old but readable. It's not quite a picture book, more an illustrated book with pretty good art. This country bunny gets to do it all. And without family and friends to help, since the purpose of the husband was just to get her baby bunnies. Well she gets assistance from her 21 baby bunnies. And we get to see what's important and presumably the same level of difficulty - sweeping, bed-making, cooking, dishwashing, singing, dancing, painting, gardening and an extra just to show that she had ran out of work before she ran out of bunnies. And of course she's also fast and wise and kind and brave.
So basically a superhero bunny except for not being rich or tall or white. And as a reward she gets to deliver Easter Eggs.
Vaguely subversive as well as showing the time this was written to some degree. 3.5 of 5.
So basically a superhero bunny except for not being rich or tall or white. And as a reward she gets to deliver Easter Eggs.
Vaguely subversive as well as showing the time this was written to some degree. 3.5 of 5.
I came across this book at the library the other day. I immediately recognized the cover and a rush of memories filled my head. I couldn't remember the story, but I flipped open the pages and the pictures were so familiar. Cute bunnies and now I know why my mom read it to me...all the little bunnies have specific household tasks to do.
I love this illustration style, and the story is sweet; good for a read-together. I was worried the text would be dated, but it really wasn't too bad. In fact, it was kind of nice to see the mom get to prove everyone wrong and live her dream by raising bunnies who could take care of themselves and each other.
It is interesting to read this book just from the perspective of watching how picture books have evolved over time. This 1938 classic tale of a female country bunny who wants to be one of the 5 Easter Bunnies is actually a bit ahead of it's time when you read through the whole story.
This is one of my favorite books from childhood. I bought a new copy to share it with my boys, as mine was falling apart (literally). Well worth the investment! This book was originally published in 1939, and it has the best portrayal of working motherhood in any picture book I have seen. Did I mention it's from 1939?
If you have kids, you must read it to them. If you don't have kids, read it anyway. You won't regret it.
One of my favorite quotes:
"One day a little country girl bunny with a brown skin and a little cotton ball of a tail said, 'Some day I shall grow up to be an Easter Bunny - you wait and see!'
Then all of the big white bunnies who lived in fine houses, and the Jack Rabbits with long legs who can run so fast, laughed at the little Cottontail and told her to go back to the country and eat a carrot. But she said, 'Wait and see!'"
There you go. This little girl bunny is discriminated against because of her gender, the color of her skin, and her socioeconomical class, but in the end (spoiler alert), she beats out all the jerks who said she couldn't do it. All while raising 21 children (she is a rabbit, after all).
Bunny power!
If you have kids, you must read it to them. If you don't have kids, read it anyway. You won't regret it.
One of my favorite quotes:
"One day a little country girl bunny with a brown skin and a little cotton ball of a tail said, 'Some day I shall grow up to be an Easter Bunny - you wait and see!'
Then all of the big white bunnies who lived in fine houses, and the Jack Rabbits with long legs who can run so fast, laughed at the little Cottontail and told her to go back to the country and eat a carrot. But she said, 'Wait and see!'"
There you go. This little girl bunny is discriminated against because of her gender, the color of her skin, and her socioeconomical class, but in the end (spoiler alert), she beats out all the jerks who said she couldn't do it. All while raising 21 children (she is a rabbit, after all).
Bunny power!