Little Rabbit Foo Foo

by Michael Rosen, Arthur Robins (Illustrator)

Now with sheet music to help you sing the song as you reenact the story.

"Littler Rabbit Foo Foo riding through the forest, scooping up the goblins and bopping them on the head."

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Fantasy, Poetry, Humor

32 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1990

About the author

Michael Rosen, a recent British Children’s Laureate, has written many acclaimed books for children, including WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, and I’M NUMBER ONE and THIS IS OUR HOUSE, both illustrated by Bob Graham. Michael Rosen lives in London.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[[ J o ]]

Little Rabbit Foo Foo is an absolute little shit. Riding through the forest on his red motorbike, hitting all the inhabitants on the head with a red mallet, being the most anti-social Leporidae since Peter 'Quick Fingers' Rabbit and his Sylvilagus cronies, he doesn't care who gets hurt and even the Good Fairy can't psycho-analyse any kind of understanding.

My favourite book as a child, it is a wonderfully illustrated and splendidly rhyming tale of a naughty rabbit being a nuisance. I'm fairly certain this is the reason I love Goblins as much as I do. I doubt I can blame it for my love of flail maces, though.

[Amy]

Terrible. Why is little rabbit Foo foo acting the way he does? No explanation or context. Neither is any effort made to teach Foo Foo the error of his ways. No character development, no redemption, just retribution.

Also what on earth is a goonie? And what’s to stop “little Goonie Foo Foo”, continuing on his head bashing conquest - as the last picture very much eludes to.

[Alice Nachir]

This book is a cheeky, fun short book which is simple to read. A naughty little rabbit called 'Rabbit Foo Foo' rides through the forest annoying all the other animals; from worms to tigers. He enjoys bopping them on the head with a mallet and rides away on his bike giggling at his antics.

A fairy comes down and warns Rabbit Foo Foo to stop bopping the animals over the head and gives him three chances to stop, warning him that she will turn him into a 'goonie' if he carries on. Little Rabbit Foo Foo does not listen to the fairy and continues to bop animals on the head.

At the end of the short story, the fairy turns Little Rabbit Foo Foo into a 'goonie' and there is a funny illustration of the goonie at the end of the book. The images are very bright and funny and are sure to amuse children.

I would recommend this book to KS1 children as it is very simple. However, during my placement, year 6 used this book to turn it into their own role plays during literacy. They used the book to write up their own play-scripts on laptops, made props and acted out their work in groups, making it cross-curricular with ICT, drama and literacy. They thoroughly enjoyed themselves!

This book also carries messages that younger children may learn from. The messages could be: we should respect others, not hurt others, and listen to those who know what is best for us.

[JTownsend]

Updated Little Rabbit Foo Foo! He now rides a motorcycle! The drawings are colorful and detailed. The expressions and body language on the characters are expressive and add to the storyline. The changes in Little Rabbit Foo Foo are especially obvious. They rhyme/song is catchy and the moral is clear; decisions lead to consequences- make good choices. As the Bangor Police Department website says: "Keep your hands to yourself, leave other people's things alone, and be kind to one another. ..."
The back cover has the music for the story as well as the words. This could easily be acted out with puppets or hand motions while singing it. Some basic percussion instruments might be fun to add. It could make a good performance piece. The rhyming story is short. It is easy to get caught up in it and miss the wonderful supporting illustrations. Be sure to have your children examine them and discuss them. You will likely have to read this a few times. It is a catchy tune.

[Cara]

This is perfection in 26 pages... not one word out of place, not one word too many, there were laughs, there were shocks, there was a beautiful building of drama to the ending with a dramatic climax that I just didn't see coming... will definitely be reading it again... possibly around 15 times a day, if today is anything to go by...

[Sophie Crane]

This book is so catchy we love it. The illustrations are great too. It is all about a naughty rabbit who doesn't listen to the good fairy. It is a really fun, rhyming read.

[Shaun]

Wow, Little Rabbit Foo Foo is an asshole tbh and completely gets what he deserves in the end. You can’t go around acting like that, man. This guy rides his motorbike through the forest, aggressively chasing and capturing other forest-dwellers, and then assaults them by bonking them on the head with a hammer! Red flag behaviour, hello. Even when he got a good talking to, multiple times by a magic fairy, he didn’t even try to change his behaviour in the slightest. I guess some folks you just can’t get through to. He’d probably make a good politician.

[Mrs G]

Little Rabbit Foofoo is a very naughty bunny indeed and deserves his terrible fate - he had plenty of warnings after all! Gorgeous illustrations with lots of detail and a repetitive text that make it an ideal story to learn by heart. Lots of book chat to be had with this one. A classic.

[Gemma]

Little rabbit Foo Foo never gets old!
My sons young and old both love this.
The simple, repetitive text and slightly violent illustrations adds to its charm and appeal.
This is a timeless book that I can see myself reading to my grandchildren.

[Kimberly Azpeitia]

The nostalgia that this book brought me 😩🥺

[Abby Turner]

Very goofy but the kids loved it.

[Kt Wakeling]

Read it multiple times when I babysit always a crowd pleaser, love doing the voice for the fairy

[bibi dumbuya]

i love thsi book its so good

[RavenNoir]

Still entertaining. This was one of my son's favorite stories when he was little... a bit unconventional but I remembered it as hilarious, although now because of heads being bopped (tapped) might be considered "violent." A picture book of an illustrated song, sheet music at the back of it.

Genres also included: Picture Books, Animals, Humor

[RLL22018 Danielle Razo]

I enjoyed this book! As a kid, I would always be upset that Little Rabbit Foo Foo did not listen to the fairy the first time! The illustrations wee cute and colorful and were not overly detailed. The story line was easy to follow: the rabbit had three chances to shape up or he would face a consequence. I like that justice was served and that respect was the theme.

I think kids would enjoy this book. I think it is important because the book teaches kids not only to stand up to others (fairy), but to listen to others when they are being bothered. The fairy warned the rabbit that he did not like what he was doing, and he ignored her. As a result, the fairy gives him a taste of his own medicine.

[Frances Coe]

A very clear message! Suitable for EYs

[Ella]

This is a fun book for children to read along with together. There is a lot of repetition in the book which allows children to pick up the words quite quickly. This book was highly requested by my year 5 class and was read to them despite it being aimed at much younger children. The children were all very excited and followed along with the book eagerly. I thought this showed the importance of using picture books across the whole of primary school, even in upper KS2.

[Iain Brown]

Didnt like this much. Irritating little song sticks in your head !!
Its a bit violent for todays PC world - 'bopping on head'
Great illustrations.
Good message about consequences of not doing as told. Makes a change to not have idle threats that we often see from parents these days.
Whats a goonie ?? a question that would be asked.
Can rabbits catch tigers??
Not a very realistic consequence - being turned into something else.

Good message - strange dipiction for me.

[Susan Morton]

Beware ... this book is an ear worm!

[Natalie Catherine Davidson]

This is a great book for children under 7. The book is a great way of reinforcing appropriate behaviour for children.

In the book little rabbit Foo Foo displays bad behaviour and it's given three chances to change his ways. This provides great discussion points on on on having children identify what the bad behaviour was and if it's the type of thing they should be doing in school. This could then lead to the discussion of the the do's and don'ts for the children's behaviour.

In this book little rabbit Foo Foo goes around what 10 creatures on the head. This provides opportunities to discuss the feelings of both little rabbit foo foo and the characters he hurts. This could be a good opening to discuss the behaviours of children in the class and how their actions can affect others or make others feel.

In the story the good fairy give us little rabbit Foo Foo three chances to change and repeatedly reminded him how many chances are left when he ignores her warning. Teachers are also able to discuss with children the idea that you are only given so many chances before action has to be taken full stop in the case of little rabbit Foo Foo he was turned into a Goonie but, for the children it could be having to go to the headteacher.

[Sadiyah]

When listening to Michael Ronsen read this story, the children were encouraged to join in each time he said 'Little Rabbit Foo Foo', because he always used the same tone and voice when saying so. This was repetitive and the children loved this! When looking at the storybook, the pictures were nice and bright for the children to admire and ask questions when they wished.

A discussion was bought up about the characteristics the rabbit may have and how the children may relate to 'Little Rabbit Foo Foo'. It's important to discuss new vocabulary such as 'goonie' as some children had never heard of this before.

There could be a range of different morals to this story such as being kind to others and making sure we don't do anything to upset or hurt someone.

Overall, it is an enjoyable book to read aloud to children as it can spark discussion and engagement from the children. It is important that as the reader, you read the book aloud enthusiastically.

[Cammie Thurston]

Little Rabbit Foo Foo was another book I loved to listen to and read on my own. My mom would read this book out loud to me and almost sing it because it kind of goes together as a song. It is about a naughty rabbit that was rude to all of the animals in the forest. The good would fly down and tell the rabbit that he had a certain amount of chances before he was turned into a gooney. This book is entertaining to children because it gives human characteristics to animals. It also is a little bit of a fairytale because it includes a fairy, goblins, and a gooney. This is another book that I would love to read aloud to my class because I have fond memories of my mom reading this book to me. Kindergartners or first graders would enjoy this book because they could learn to read it on their own but also like it when someone read it aloud to them.

[Paxton Bleich]

This is a great classic. A must read children's book to be read in lower elementary. It goes along with the song "Little Rabbit Foo Foo riding through the forest, scooping up the goblins and bopping them on the head." The hare goes through the forest scooping goblins and bopping them on the head. He gets warned but he does not listen. The hare then gets turned into a goon!

This book I gave 5/5 stars. It is such a funny, upbeat book. Children love to sing along to this book. You could also make this book into a play for children. I would definitely include this book in my classroom to incorporate a fun upbeat book.

[Clemmie Hill]

A favourite of mine as a child, and re-reading it was so much fun. Little Rabbit Foo Foo has a habit of riding around the countryside on his motorbike bopping creatures on the head with his red mallet. Though, all this destruction comes at a price- the Good Fairy gives him three chances to change or she'll turn him into a goonie. Detailed and whimsical illustrations help to capture the imagination and a repetition of the phrase 'bopping them on the head' makes this story humorous for children. A great read and talking point, demonstrating that actions have consequences.

[Caleb Harris]

One of my favorite books from my childhood, and one I'm glad to be sharing with my own children now. My one beef with the book is that it's not entitled "Little Bunny Foo Foo" (the way my mother always read the book to my illiterate child self), which rolls off the tongue much more easily than "Little Rabbit Foo Foo." However, from this book and from We're Going on a Bear Hunt, clunky wording that could have easily been improved is what I've come to expect from Rosen.

Nevertheless, a fun story--and the illustrations are priceless.

[Sue Wickstead]

What Nanny sue and Alexander (aged 2 think)
This was a book Nanny used to read with her reception class she also knew it as a song to sing too. Her class would act it out and sing it along with role play being Naughty Rabbit Foo Foo and the Good Fairy.
Some of the class particularly liked putting on a ‘Goonie’ face at the end.
Alexander wasn’t too sure at first but he did like pulling a cross face when the good fairy told Foo Foo off.
He wasn’t sure of the book until Nanny sang the song without the book.
He now likes the story and the song as well as being Rabbit Foo Foo.

[Stephen]

This is a short story that has interesting and colourful drawings and is suitable for EYFS & KS1 learners.
This story is about little Rabbit foo foo who rides through the forest and scoops up worms, tigers, and goblins and then wollops them on the head.
The good fairy comes down from the sky to warn rabbit foo foo not to treat others that way or else he will face a punishment.
I would use this story to teach children not to hurt other people or animals because if they do then they will be warned of a punishment.

[Aysia Stephens]

My daughter’s home choice book from school.

I like the count down / warning in this story. It adds an element of hidden numeracy / maths for little ones.


Little rabbit foo foo is disobedient, (I don’t like him) but his behaviour is rewarded with a consequence that he was warned about.

I think children like the fact that little rabbit foo foo is playing up and testing boundaries. The consequence is a good message in my opinion, that when we choose not to listen you will be reprimanded in some way - for most children that is.

A older story that is still very relevant for today.

[Faye Ulph]

A really funny book about a naughty rabbit which I think children will love! The naughty rabbit was mean to the animals in the woods and received lots of warnings about what would happen and in the end his actions left a consequence and he became a goonie! The book is full of catchy lyrics, repetition and rhythm for children to join in with and there is no real definite end so it is a perfect opportunity to ask children ' what may happen next?'.

[Melanie MYD]

My daughter loved this book when she was at nursery and infant school. We recently recommended it for my 18 month year old neice and she absolutely loves it. Such a crazy and nonsensical story really about a rabbit doing naughty things and being threatened by the good fairy who is consistent with her promise when the rabbit's behaviour does not improve. I think the appeal for young children is the repetition of phrases and the fun illustrations. It has a lovely rhythm to the text too.