P.J. The Spoiled Bunny

P.J. Funnybunny #3

by Marilyn Sadler

P.J. Bunny finally learns that if he wants people to play with him he can't always have his own way.

Genres: Childrens, Animals, Picture Books

32 pages, Paperback

First published March 12, 1986

About the author

With a degree in fine arts, Marilyn Sadler assumed she would be an illustrator. But when early in her career she was presented with an opportunity to write, she seized it and quickly discovered that she had found her true love. No sad, sappy stories for her, however. She likes to make herself laugh, and with that her characters usually end up looking pretty silly for one reason or another.

Her first children’s book featured a fastidious little English boy named Alistair Grittle and was originally created for the English publisher, Hamish Hamilton, as well as for Simon & Schuster in the United States. Having created a boy with such perfect behavior, she then turned her attention to a not so perfectly behaved little boy. His name was P.J. Funnybunny, and he has existed in a series of books for Random House, including the highly prestigious Dr. Seuss Cat In the Hat series.

Marilyn’s television credits include two PBS Reading Rainbow programs featuring Alistair, an Alistair program for the BBC, three ABC Weekend Specials featuring P.J. Funnybunny, and a show based on her children’s book, "Elizabeth and Larry", for Showtime’s Shelley Duvall’s Bedtime Stories.

Between 1999 and 2004, The Disney Channel produced three Original Movies based on her book, "Zenon, Girl of the 21st Century". Each of Disney’s Zenon movies had exceptionally high ratings, with Zenon, Girl of the 21st Century and Zenon the Zequel among the highest rated shows in the history of The Disney Channel.

In 2004, Playhouse Disney began production on Marilyn and Roger Bollen's animated series, Handy Manny. Handy Manny premiered September 16, 2006, as the highest rated Playhouse Disney series premiere of all time. In 2009, Marilyn was nominated for an Emmy Award as Executive Producer of Handy Manny.

Reviews

[Alicia Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

For: bunny fans; readers wanting a book about learning to share control.

Possible red flags: spoiled, bossy behavior.

[Matt Mazenauer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yikes! The bunny doesn't go from spoiled to learning to share, he goes from aggressive contrarian to no longer voicing his opinions lest his friends not play with him. Terrible lesson.

[Sally Staples · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about how P.J. has to have his way with his friends. P.J.'s friends have to play what he wants, let him blow out the birthday candles at parties, etc. One day his friends have had enough and play what they want. P.J. does not like this so he decides to play with his sister and her friends so they will play what he wants, but P.J. does not like playing with them. He would rather play with his friends even if it is not what he wants to play.

[Jenna Arntz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would be a great book to read to elementary school age students. P.J. Is used to getting everything that he wants and his friends are upset with with him because he can never do things the way they want to. When P.J. Is left out he starts to understand that he has to consider his friend's feelings as well. This book would be a good tool to help teach my students that they cannot always have things the way they want them.

[Alysia]

I would use this story in situations where I found one child being bossy to their friends. I would have the children practice being considerate of others and every time I recognized the children being good friends they would get stars on a chart that would accumulate points for a end of the week surprise for each of them, to help motivate them to be considerate to one another.

[Lauren Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

P.J. the Spoiled Bunny is about a spoiled bunny who always gets his way and discovers that he needs to cooperate with his friends. This would be a great book to keep in the classroom when a student thinks their way is the only way. The illustrations are really cute and the vocabulary is probably meant for 3rd or 4th grade.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The moment PJ's pig friend disappears from the page, my two year old asks "Where's the pig?". Turn the page "Where's the pig?". I don't know if he's learning how to not be a spoiled bunny, but he enjoys the animals and the funny names like Honey Bunny.

In July 2023, the 3 year old boy now loves for us to read PJ the Spoiled Bunny with his stuffed animal bunny named Flopsy.

[Cws]

JEAR2-Sad

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a funny book about our favorite funny bunny who gets too much and becomes spoiled. It was a funny read. This a funny way of teaching about greed and being spoiled.