Missing: One Stuffed Rabbit

by Maryann Cocca-Leffler

After losing Coco the class pet at a shopping mall, second-grader Janine learns that the stuffed rabbit has mistakenly been given as part of a toy distribution at a local hospital

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1998

About the author

Maryann Cocca-Leffler of NH, is the Author and Illustrator of over
60 books for children. Maryann’s book, Janine (2015) and its new sequel, Janine and the Field Day Finish (2016), were inspired by her daughter, Janine. Together they have developed a corresponding website, www.janinesparty.com with a mission to help change public perception of children with disabilities. Other books include, A Homemade Together Christmas, Bus Route to Boston and Bravery Soup.
Now a playwright, Maryann wrote a play based on her Princess KIM books. Princess K.I.M. The Musical won a National New Play Festival in 2012 and has had sold out performances on the East and West coasts. Princess K.I.M. The Musical is now represented by Stagerights.com, a licensing agency in LA to bring the play National.

Maryann grew up in the Boston area (read Bus Route To Boston!) and attended Massachusetts College of Art and Design where she received a BFA in Illustration. Her very first book, Thanksgiving at the Tappletons’ written by Eileen Spinelli, was published in 1982 and has been re-released in 2015 as a classic. When not in her studio, Maryann is traveling, visiting schools and attending her play.

If you are interested in a school visit, please check out the VISITS link on my website:
www.MaryannCoccaLeffler.com
www.JaninesParty.com
www.PrincessKimTheMusical.com

Reviews

[Jami Butts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: In this contemporary realistic fiction book "Missing: One Stuffed Rabbit" is about a second grade class who has a stuffed pet rabbit named Coco as their class pet. All of the students are waiting anxiously to find out who is going to get picked to take Coco home with them for the weekend. Janine is so excited when she gets picked to take care of Coco. She takes Coco everywhere with her and is loving having the pet around but when Janine goes shopping with her family and brings the stuffed rabbit along with her but then she ends up losing it in the mall and has no idea where she left it. Monday soon came and it was time for her to tell her class that she had lost Coco. They had all made plans to search for the rabbit and they later find out that Coco was given to a little girl with a broken leg in the hospital by mistake. By the end of the story the children all decide that the little girl needs Coco more then they do so they let her keep the Rabbit.

Age Range: I would say that this book is for the primary age ranges. Any child in the elementary school years I think would really enjoy this book and be able to understand it. At the younger years they can really learn a lesson about giving and at the older years they can grasp the meaning of the story just a little bit more and understand it in depth.

Artistic Elements: This book has very colorful, bold and lively colored pencil drawned illustrations on every page. This draws the children into the book and really gets them wanting to read it. Very kid friendly illustrations.

Recommendation: I would 100% recommend this book it is a great way for children to learn a good message about thinking about people who are less fortunate then you are. It teaches children to not get discouraged even if something negative happens don't worry about it because it can end up turning into a major positive like it did in this story.

[Ashley Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. This book is a great book that students can relate to! I would use this book to talk about missing toys and finding them. I would also use this book to talk about what we can do to help others.