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Ten Little Rabbits
A charming counting book printed on the occasion of the exhibition of original drawings and other materials illustrating the art of Maurice Sendak at the Rosenbach Foundation. not paginated. marbled stiff paper wrappers, illustrated paper label. miniature book 8.8 x 6.3 cm. .
Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
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About the author
Maurice Sendak
402 books2,404 followersMaurice Sendak was a visionary American illustrator and writer best known for transforming the landscape of children's literature through his emotionally resonant stories and distinctive artistic style. He gained international acclaim with Where the Wild Things Are, a groundbreaking picture book that captured the emotional intensity of childhood through its honest portrayal of anger, imagination, and longing. Widely recognized for his ability to blend the whimsical with the profound, Sendak created works that resonated with both children and adults, challenging conventional notions of what children's books could be.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Sendak was a sickly child who spent much of his early life indoors, nurturing a love for books, drawing, and storytelling. The son of Polish-Jewish immigrants, he was deeply affected by the losses of the Holocaust, which shaped the darker emotional undercurrents in his work. His art was influenced by a range of sources, from comic strips and Mickey Mouse to Mozart, Blake, and German Romanticism. Though he began his career illustrating other writers’ books, he soon transitioned to authoring his own, beginning with Kenny’s Window and then The Sign on Rosie’s Door.
It was Where the Wild Things Are, published in 1963, that solidified Sendak’s reputation as a master of children’s literature. The book, which won the Caldecott Medal, was initially controversial due to its depiction of unruly behavior and ambiguous emotional tone. However, it was later recognized as a revolutionary work that respected children’s inner lives and psychological complexity. This theme continued in his later works, including In the Night Kitchen and Outside Over There, which formed a loose trilogy exploring the emotional and imaginative experiences of childhood. These books, celebrated for their dreamlike narratives and lush illustrations, often tackled fears, fantasies, and the challenges of growing up.
Throughout his career, Sendak illustrated more than a hundred books, working with authors such as Ruth Krauss and Else Holmelund Minarik. His visual style—characterized by its intricate detail, dynamic line work, and expressive characters—evolved over the decades, but always retained an unmistakable emotional intensity. He also designed sets and costumes for operas and ballets, bringing his imaginative worlds to the stage. Notably, he created productions for works by Mozart and Prokofiev, combining his love of classical music with theatrical design.
Sendak was known for his sharp wit, fierce independence, and deep empathy for children. He openly criticized the sanitized and moralistic tone of much of children's publishing, insisting instead that young readers deserved stories that acknowledged their full emotional range, including fear, grief, anger, and wonder. He was also an openly gay man in a long-term relationship, though he only spoke publicly about his sexuality later in life.
Later in his career, Sendak continued to produce new work, collaborate with artists and institutions, and advocate for intellectual freedom. His final books, including Bumble-Ardy and My Brother’s Book, reflected both a return to his childhood memories and a meditation on aging, love, and mortality. Though his stories often ventured into the dark or surreal, they remained rooted in a deep respect for the emotional reality of children and a belief in the power of imagination to confront life's challenges.
Maurice Sendak’s legacy endures in the countless writers and illustrators he inspired, the cultural impact of his stories, and the enduring affection readers of all ages hold for his wild things, mischievous children, and tender monsters. Through his work, he redefined what children’s literature could be: rich, honest, haunting, and, above all, deeply human.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Sendak was a sickly child who spent much of his early life indoors, nurturing a love for books, drawing, and storytelling. The son of Polish-Jewish immigrants, he was deeply affected by the losses of the Holocaust, which shaped the darker emotional undercurrents in his work. His art was influenced by a range of sources, from comic strips and Mickey Mouse to Mozart, Blake, and German Romanticism. Though he began his career illustrating other writers’ books, he soon transitioned to authoring his own, beginning with Kenny’s Window and then The Sign on Rosie’s Door.
It was Where the Wild Things Are, published in 1963, that solidified Sendak’s reputation as a master of children’s literature. The book, which won the Caldecott Medal, was initially controversial due to its depiction of unruly behavior and ambiguous emotional tone. However, it was later recognized as a revolutionary work that respected children’s inner lives and psychological complexity. This theme continued in his later works, including In the Night Kitchen and Outside Over There, which formed a loose trilogy exploring the emotional and imaginative experiences of childhood. These books, celebrated for their dreamlike narratives and lush illustrations, often tackled fears, fantasies, and the challenges of growing up.
Throughout his career, Sendak illustrated more than a hundred books, working with authors such as Ruth Krauss and Else Holmelund Minarik. His visual style—characterized by its intricate detail, dynamic line work, and expressive characters—evolved over the decades, but always retained an unmistakable emotional intensity. He also designed sets and costumes for operas and ballets, bringing his imaginative worlds to the stage. Notably, he created productions for works by Mozart and Prokofiev, combining his love of classical music with theatrical design.
Sendak was known for his sharp wit, fierce independence, and deep empathy for children. He openly criticized the sanitized and moralistic tone of much of children's publishing, insisting instead that young readers deserved stories that acknowledged their full emotional range, including fear, grief, anger, and wonder. He was also an openly gay man in a long-term relationship, though he only spoke publicly about his sexuality later in life.
Later in his career, Sendak continued to produce new work, collaborate with artists and institutions, and advocate for intellectual freedom. His final books, including Bumble-Ardy and My Brother’s Book, reflected both a return to his childhood memories and a meditation on aging, love, and mortality. Though his stories often ventured into the dark or surreal, they remained rooted in a deep respect for the emotional reality of children and a belief in the power of imagination to confront life's challenges.
Maurice Sendak’s legacy endures in the countless writers and illustrators he inspired, the cultural impact of his stories, and the enduring affection readers of all ages hold for his wild things, mischievous children, and tender monsters. Through his work, he redefined what children’s literature could be: rich, honest, haunting, and, above all, deeply human.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
March 12, 2024
This republished book of Maurice Sendak’s that was originally published over 40 years ago, we see a little magician make cute rabbits 🐇 appear but it quickly turns into a fuzzy situation. It’s not really a Sendak classic, but a nice counting book with charming illustrations. B+ (83%/Very Good)
February 17, 2024
Oh gosh, what a wonderful, engaging, simple story to share with babies and toddlers!!! (But perfect for preschoolers and emerging readers, too!!) Originally written in 1970 to be used as a part of a series of books, it ended up being used as a fundraiser for a museum foundation. Fast forward to 2024, and the people charged with overseeing Sendak's legacy have published this gem for all the world to enjoy 😉
May 19, 2024
I read this one for work, and ahhhh!! Such cute illustrations! What a delightful way to present counting up and down to a baby or toddler. Very much a book for pre-readers, but I also really enjoyed reading it, due to Maurice Sendak's charming, charming art style.
February 15, 2024
It’s funny how simple this book is and made me question it
February 6, 2024
Listen, the thing is -- Maurice Sendak is incomparable. So a new book from Sendak is very exciting indeed. This simple concept book is effective by his illustrations that show rabbits coming from a young magician's hat -- 10, in a row, one right after another. With each rabbit, the young magician is more and more exasperated and so he makes them all go away again. Understated in the very best way but fun for young readers.
February 7, 2024
3.5 stars--Sweet and simple little book has 10 rabbits appearing magically out of a hat, and disappearing once again. Young ones count to 10 forwards and backwards along with Sendak's famous illustration style.
February 5, 2024
Simple no word (but with the appropriate numbers) story. I had to see what Sendak had come up with after all these years. Would be fun to read/look through with a youngster starting to understand numbers and counting.
March 9, 2024
In this almost wordless title we count to ten and then because of the ten pesky rabbits we count backwards from ten. It is the drawings by Sendak of the magician producing the rabbits that really tell the rather humorous tale.
February 9, 2024
Mino the Magician waves his wand and voila - a rabbit appears! And another. And another.
This is a counting book - from 1 - 10 and back again. But it's also a new edition, posthumously published, of a Maurice Sendak book! And the illustrations are, of course, delightful. Mino's expressions begin with delight and a bit of conceit and progress to increasingly more frustrated. Those pesky rabbits are annoying as they clamber all over him. So, of course, he makes them disappear.
This is a wonderful counting book for toddlers - especially since it includes the concept of none - which many counting books do not. Nothing seems simple but it really is a difficult concept to grasp. I think the book does a great job. The text is very sparse - mostly counting. And you may recognize Mino. He is very similar to other characters - like Max - found in Sendak books. My favorite Sendak is Chicken Soup with Rice and Mino resembles the star of that book also!
This is a counting book - from 1 - 10 and back again. But it's also a new edition, posthumously published, of a Maurice Sendak book! And the illustrations are, of course, delightful. Mino's expressions begin with delight and a bit of conceit and progress to increasingly more frustrated. Those pesky rabbits are annoying as they clamber all over him. So, of course, he makes them disappear.
This is a wonderful counting book for toddlers - especially since it includes the concept of none - which many counting books do not. Nothing seems simple but it really is a difficult concept to grasp. I think the book does a great job. The text is very sparse - mostly counting. And you may recognize Mino. He is very similar to other characters - like Max - found in Sendak books. My favorite Sendak is Chicken Soup with Rice and Mino resembles the star of that book also!
March 3, 2024
I think this book will be a hit or miss with children. I really enjoyed it and one of my grandsons did also. We read it a couple times and like me, he was adding his own words to the story as we flipped through the book together. My other grandson read the story and he wasn’t as thrilled with the book. My grandsons are both 4 years old. It’s an almost wordless picture book, that like the title implies, is about 10 rabbits and a little magician that makes them appear and disappear. I liked the simple, clear illustration on each page, and I liked that there wasn’t any other busy coloring or action taking place on the page. I think this is a good counting book for 1-10. 4.5 stars
February 6, 2024
If you grew up with Maurice Sendak then the newest book will melt your heart. It is surprisingly simple in both art and words but it still captures that feeling of being a kid and reading "Where the Wild Things Are" and "Alligators All Around."
This book features a boy who is a magician and some (many) rabbits. It counts to ten and back down again, fun for a toddler who is just learning to count.
This book features a boy who is a magician and some (many) rabbits. It counts to ten and back down again, fun for a toddler who is just learning to count.
February 8, 2024
Ten Little Rabbits takes the simplicity of counting to 10 and adds a whole bunch of humor that kids will immediately love and understand.
With fewer than 10 words in the entire book, Sendak relies on cardinal numbers and simple, but expressive, line illustrations to tell the story. And what a charming little story it is. Little readers will giggle out loud as they follow Milo’s magic show. This is one of those books that will be read over and over again.
With fewer than 10 words in the entire book, Sendak relies on cardinal numbers and simple, but expressive, line illustrations to tell the story. And what a charming little story it is. Little readers will giggle out loud as they follow Milo’s magic show. This is one of those books that will be read over and over again.
March 21, 2024
I'm confused; A google search says that this is an unpublished work and yet it has a 1970 copyright and I found old editions on Goodreads. Maybe this was in a collection or something previously.
This is a wordless counting book. It's cute enough with low expectations. I like how it looks like the rabbits are coming out of the hat, but we don't see how the rabbits are disappearing. They are just gone.
I feel the rabbits could be cuter. A fine book.
This is a wordless counting book. It's cute enough with low expectations. I like how it looks like the rabbits are coming out of the hat, but we don't see how the rabbits are disappearing. They are just gone.
I feel the rabbits could be cuter. A fine book.
March 30, 2024
This book by the amazing Maurice Sendak is being published 12 yrs after his death. Mino’s Magical Counting Show with no words, but classic Sendak illustrations, depicts Mino as he waves his magic wand and rabbits appear and disappear. The expressions on Mino’s face tells the reader how he feels about the rabbits.
May 23, 2024
A truly good counting book for the younger set who are learning to associate the count of objects with counting and with a numeral.
Simply using rabbits which come out of a magician's hate one-by-one and then return one-by-one.
I think my 3 1/2 year-old has an evolving sense of this after interacting with this book.
Simply using rabbits which come out of a magician's hate one-by-one and then return one-by-one.
I think my 3 1/2 year-old has an evolving sense of this after interacting with this book.
August 3, 2024
Almost wordless means the child will be able to memorize the words and read it to themselves. Which is a good thing, because this is funny and many children will consider it a favorite, worthy of many dozens of rereads. I mean, just look at the trouble that they're causing the young magician, and how vivid his reaction compared to their look of utter innocence. Too funny.
September 7, 2024
I am sure that I read this book when I was a child, but I have read it again to be able to date it. This is one of my favorite count to ten books. So inventive because you then count backwards to zero. Almost wordless, this book says so much through imagine and imagination. Always a pleasure to spend time with this wonderful author.
February 15, 2026
A simple story counting from 1-10 and back 10-1 as a little boy performs magic, conjuring rabbits out of a hat that get more and more out of control before he puts them back. His expression reflects the number of rabbits (happy at 1, exasperated at 10 and happy at 1 again).
A nice early concept book. Nearly wordless.
A nice early concept book. Nearly wordless.
February 6, 2024
his enchanting picture book introduces the beloved author to a new generation of readers, encouraging them to count from one to ten and back again as they watch the magic unfold before their very eyes.
February 7, 2024
4th star is for the magician's expression(s)
The missing 5th star is because of the use of "none" rather than "zero" - a missed educational opportunity. Though Google disagrees with me and you might too.
The missing 5th star is because of the use of "none" rather than "zero" - a missed educational opportunity. Though Google disagrees with me and you might too.
February 7, 2024
A simple counting book with yes ten little rabbits and Mino, the magician. Sendak's version of a counting book is just perfect for that toddler/preschooler just grasping the idea of counting. Can't wait to share with my grandson.
February 23, 2024
A magician makes rabbits come out of his hat - counting from 1 to 10 - and then makes them disappear again - counting backwards to 1. With delightfully expressive illustrations, this is a wonderful preschool counting picture book from a beloved children's illustrator.
February 27, 2024
Wordless Picture Book
Readers see the magician pull rabbits from the hat until he has ten. Then he makes them disappear again until all of them are gone. I love the expressions on the magician's face with each additional rabbit.
Readers see the magician pull rabbits from the hat until he has ten. Then he makes them disappear again until all of them are gone. I love the expressions on the magician's face with each additional rabbit.
March 8, 2024
I feel so bad giving Maurice Sendak a lower rating but it's kind of a dumb counting book.
For adults that will laugh at the detail of illustrations of the magicians frustration. But honestly......ugh
For adults that will laugh at the detail of illustrations of the magicians frustration. But honestly......ugh
April 4, 2024
Apparently republished in 2024 after being originally published in 1970, Sendak is alive again with this drawings, but this is really what it amounts to- a boy magician who goes from having 0 rabbits to 10 and back down to 0 again when they disappear.
A counting book.
A counting book.
April 24, 2024
This is a republished book with updated color illustrations. It’s a cute counting book, with expressions on the boy’s face changing from smug to annoyed as the rabbits increase in number. Like that there is the concept of none.
May 15, 2024
On stage a magician makes ten rabbits appear out of his top hat, and by counting backwards makes them disappear one by one.
It’s a satisfyingly simple book for children learning to count and count backwards.
It’s a satisfyingly simple book for children learning to count and count backwards.
May 20, 2024
A young magician conjures ten, count 'em, TEN rabbits out of his hat, but when they upstage him, he sends them back one at a time. That's it. No cute surprise ending. Nothing.
Sendak's written and illustrated some AMAZING books, but this isn't one of them.
Sendak's written and illustrated some AMAZING books, but this isn't one of them.
June 5, 2024
Mino the child magician counts and makes rabbits appear (1 - 10), and then slowly subtracts them one by one until he has none. It's a simple, quick, and engaging book - especially to my 4-year-old who loves to count to 10.
August 23, 2024
A classic gem with Sendak's classic style. A fun counting book for the very young readers and learners, as well as a nostalgic trip back in time that shows his playful and expressive approach to illustration which is very unique and identifiable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews