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ren's review
4.0
i wish i read this book when i was a kid. growing up with the English curriculum, the only thing i remember learning about Australia was that the British sent their prisoners there to live because there was no room. nothing about the atrocities committed by the English against the aboriginal people whatsoever.
i never thought I'd be living in Australia 20 years later but here i am.
The illustrations are so evocative and detailed.
i think a really important book. neither author nor illustrator is aboriginal. I'll have to seek out aboriginal stories
i never thought I'd be living in Australia 20 years later but here i am.
The illustrations are so evocative and detailed.
i think a really important book. neither author nor illustrator is aboriginal. I'll have to seek out aboriginal stories
susanreadstheworld's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
diana314's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
5.0
nip's review
dark
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
noshyira's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
3.0
Kind of a weird retelling of the invasion of Australia by Europeans but with the details completely hidden. The art is quite different than in the artist's other books - much more realistic and kind of beautiful. But the story is too hidden to truly work as truth or anything else.
_myliteraryobsession's review against another edition
3.0
Overall Rating: 3 STARS ***
Read as... Picture-Book.
Brief Synopsis...
The Rabbits are new settlers in a lush, new world inhabited by native species. Throughout the book, the rabbits dominate the landscape and in turn dispossess the native inhabitants of their country, community and culture.
Illustrated by Shaun Tan.
-------------------------------
My Thoughts...
This picture book is popular within the primary and early childhood sector as a segue into discussions surrounding our colonial past and the Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Rabbits is a graphic and allegorical representation of colonisation; referencing the rapid industrialisation that occurred in our country, the destruction of the natural landscape and the suppression of indigenous culture.
As rabbits are an invasive species, their characterisations are apt when emphasising the detrimental impact their arrival signalled for the indigenous inhabitants. The text is minimalist and concise, and the illustrations are intricately detailed in an abstract way. From the perspective of an early years' educator, The Rabbits is not entirely suitable for children aged 3-4. I would like to see children revisit this book in a primary school setting.
There has been significant discussion regarding The Rabbits and its place in introducing impressionable children to our Australian history. Some researchers have found this book offensive in its depiction of the indigenous inhabitants as 'primitive victims', although this was never John Marsden's or Shaun Tan's intention. If considering its relevance as a literary resource in a school setting, I would recommend flagging it with supervisors or lead educators first to avoid potential backlash.
Read as... Picture-Book.
Brief Synopsis...
The Rabbits are new settlers in a lush, new world inhabited by native species. Throughout the book, the rabbits dominate the landscape and in turn dispossess the native inhabitants of their country, community and culture.
Illustrated by Shaun Tan.
-------------------------------
My Thoughts...
This picture book is popular within the primary and early childhood sector as a segue into discussions surrounding our colonial past and the Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Rabbits is a graphic and allegorical representation of colonisation; referencing the rapid industrialisation that occurred in our country, the destruction of the natural landscape and the suppression of indigenous culture.
As rabbits are an invasive species, their characterisations are apt when emphasising the detrimental impact their arrival signalled for the indigenous inhabitants. The text is minimalist and concise, and the illustrations are intricately detailed in an abstract way. From the perspective of an early years' educator, The Rabbits is not entirely suitable for children aged 3-4. I would like to see children revisit this book in a primary school setting.
There has been significant discussion regarding The Rabbits and its place in introducing impressionable children to our Australian history. Some researchers have found this book offensive in its depiction of the indigenous inhabitants as 'primitive victims', although this was never John Marsden's or Shaun Tan's intention. If considering its relevance as a literary resource in a school setting, I would recommend flagging it with supervisors or lead educators first to avoid potential backlash.