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Bunnybear

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Although Bunnybear was born a bear, he feels more like a bunny. He prefers bouncing in the thicket to tramping in the forest, and in his heart he’s fluffy and tiny, like a rabbit, instead of burly and loud, like a bear. The other bears don’t understand him, and neither do the bunnies. Will Bunnybear ever find a friend who likes him just the way he is?

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2017

1 person is currently reading
302 people want to read

About the author

Andrea J. Loney

19 books32 followers
Andrea J. Loney grew up in a small town in New Jersey and received her MFA in dramatic writing from New York University. Since then, she has worked various jobs, from screenwriter to toy designer to software trainer, and she even ran away to live with a circus. Today Andrea spends most of her time writing the kind of books that she wishes had been available when she was a child—stories that embrace and reflect the humanity of all children. She lives with her partner, their two cats, and a betta fish in Los Angeles, California. Visit her online at andreajloney.com.

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5 stars
259 (39%)
4 stars
234 (36%)
3 stars
99 (15%)
2 stars
37 (5%)
1 star
21 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
Profile Image for Michelle Schaub.
Author 15 books38 followers
February 9, 2017
This is a hip-hoppity, ROARing good book for anyone who has ever felt like their outside self did not match their inside self. A sweet story about acceptance.
Profile Image for Vivian Kirkfield.
Author 12 books158 followers
January 27, 2017
This book shines! I was totally engaged with this sweet bear who feels he is bunny-like. The illustrations will delight every parent and child who read this...and the well-done text helps children embrace who they are...and accept others as they are.
A perfect picture book!
Profile Image for Shannon.
8,352 reviews424 followers
March 26, 2023
This was an AMAZING book about trans animals, acceptance and it even made me tear up a bit. A must read for anyone wanting to teach their children about accepting others for who they are. The illustrations are beautiful too!! Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Danielle.
Author 2 books267 followers
July 16, 2017
Just wait til you meet Bunnybear and Bunnybear's new friend! Adorable and sweet in every way with a strong message of being true to yourself.

"You just look one way on the outside and feel another way on the inside. That's okay."
Profile Image for Rachael Marsceau.
596 reviews55 followers
May 10, 2017
Must the majority of children's books coming out these days be filled with such ridiculous propaganda? *sigh*
Profile Image for Kris.
3,574 reviews69 followers
June 11, 2020
So sweet, with a great message of acceptance. "You just look one way on the outside and feel another way on the inside. That's okay." This one would be a good, less controversial pick for a storytime with a message that even the most conservative of parents would have trouble objecting to. I mean, a bear who is really a bunny. What could be wrong with that? Oh, wait. I forget that "And Tango Makes Three" is still one of the most banned and challenged books in America. Never mind. If parents can object to two male penguins raising a baby penguin, they will object to this. Oh well. That's their issue. Read it anyway.
Profile Image for Keila Dawson.
Author 5 books36 followers
December 28, 2016
I am fortunate to have read an advanced copy of BUNNYBEAR. What a delightful story!

What should a bear do when he feels like a bunny? And other bears called you odd. He wiggled his nose, nibbled on strawberries, and bounced through the forest of course!

Author Andrea Loney tells the story about a bear who did what felt natural because "It made him feel free and light and happy." Even though others did not always understand, Bunnybear finds out he is not the only animal whose identity is at odds with social norms. Readers will celebrate the importance of staying true to who you are on the inside despite what you look like on the outside.

Profile Image for Rebecca .
2,056 reviews7 followers
March 20, 2017
Awesome picture book about not quite fitting in.
Bear feels like a bunny- he loved to bounce thru the forest, wiggle his nose and nibble on strawberries. He did not fit in with the other bears, so he follows a bunny. Favorite line "bunny whispers were his favorite" sigh- beautifully written..
Good for all grades. A good first day of school read.
Profile Image for Kaethe.
6,570 reviews534 followers
December 10, 2022
Closing out today's stack of picture books is the sweet and cheerful tale of a bear who feels like a bunny, and who therefore doesn't feel right with the other bears. And who among us hasn't felt different from those around us, and different from how we look?
Profile Image for Jessica Brown.
585 reviews7 followers
March 31, 2017
A wonderfully illustrated, sweet story about self-acceptance. BunnyBear does not feel like a bear, and GrizzlyBun does not feel like a bunny. They find happiness and belonging in the friendship that accepts each other for who they are. I love it. I could easily see this being read/taught alongside "Red: A Crayon's Story".
Labeled for Preschool Storytime. Best appreciated by the older crowd, 4+. I think it'd be good for a Rising Readers storytime about "belonging" or "acceptance". I think I could do one with this, Red, and XO, OX for acceptance and self-love.
Profile Image for Diana Murray.
Author 29 books272 followers
February 27, 2017
Manages to be both funny and warm, all while delivering an important message of acceptance without being preachy. The writing is so good. Each word is perfectly chosen and the text and art work together seamlessly. With characters like "BunnyBear", "GrizzlyBun", and "the elder bunny", how can you go wrong? Adorable.
Profile Image for Marta Timbrook.
104 reviews1 follower
February 22, 2017
I totally judged this book by its cover and it paid off. The illustrations that grabbed me were complimented by excellent, accessible writing with a warm, wonderful message of acceptance and being yourself. Can't wait to read it with my preschool groups!
Profile Image for Carmel.
1,192 reviews22 followers
June 11, 2017
I wish I had this book as a child! But what a wonderful read for my kiddos (the 6 year old, although old for picture books, got a lot more out of it than my 4 year old).
This was a great conversation starter. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Charlotte Glaze.
Author 1 book4 followers
August 4, 2024
Mediocre storytelling that sold through the publishing house through promoting that bears could be bunnies and bunnies could be bears if they feel like that inside. AKA promoting gender disphoria for young children.
Profile Image for Alison Goldberg.
Author 6 books15 followers
April 7, 2017
A wonderful picture book about staying true to who you are and finding friends who accept you the way you are. A joyful story with unique characters and adorable illustrations.
Profile Image for Rebecca.
127 reviews
July 8, 2019
Cute book about being who you are no matter what others say.
Profile Image for Mary.
3,630 reviews10 followers
July 5, 2021
This a story about a bear, Bunnybear, who feels more like a bunny than a bear and a bunny, Grizzlybun, who feels more like a bear than a bunny. They don't feel like they really belong anywhere until they find each other. A sweet picture book that celebrates differences and acceptance.
Profile Image for Molly Neko .
27 reviews23 followers
February 22, 2017
This book is adorable! The main protagonist is a bear and all he wants to be is a bunny. The other bears don't really accept Bunny Bear, so he leaves home to seek out the bunnies, who in turn treat him the same way. Along the way he meets and makes friends with someone similar to him. This is a wonderful book that can teach not only kids, but people of all ages about acceptance and that we can be anything we set our minds to.
49 reviews
September 13, 2018
This book is about a young bear who feels like a bunny inside. BunnyBear, is made fun of and neglected by fellow bears, so he feels like he does not belong at his den. BunnyBear follow a rabbit hole and there, other rabbits tell him to go because he is not a bunny. BunnyBear then finds a rabbit friend who feels like a bear. They both got along very well and made each other feel safe by not judging each other. In the end, all of the animals in the forest got together and put their differences aside, and they realized that is it okay to feel and be different.
I liked this book and its message of helping young kids accept and feel accepted when a friend is different. Usually, children go through situations like this and this book serves as a tool to explain to children that it is okay to be different. Also, this book has great, fun, vivid illustrations. To this book, I would add more content to the part where he finally gets accepted by his fellow bears to make children make more text-to-self or text-to-world connections.
Profile Image for Dr. T Loves Books.
1,515 reviews13 followers
September 21, 2019
What it's about: Bear is a bear, but he doesn't feel like a bear inside; he feels like a bunny. But when he starts to act like a bunny, everyone is very confused. "Why do you want to act like something you're not?" the other animals ask. But Bear is acting like himself, and doesn't see why that should be a problem. Eventually, the other animals see his point, and some of the other forest animals realize that what they feel like inside is not what they look like outside, either.

What I thought: I bought this book purely for the cover, because it is disgustingly cute. But the story is so sweet! Children will love it.

I also think this could be a great middle and high school book. It provides an excellent primer for LGBTQIA+ issues - because it doesn't matter what your outside looks like if that's not who you really are on the inside.

Why I rated it like I did: A) The art is really, really cute. B) The story is adorable. C) It has such a kind-hearted message - kids of all ages can learn from it.
Profile Image for Taneka.
720 reviews15 followers
November 14, 2018
Bunnybear feels different in his family. He loves to sit up on his hind legs, wiggle his nose and hop. After running away from his family and being sent away by the bunnies, he feels so alone. Is there anyone out there that knows how he feels? Is there any other place for him to call home.

This book was recommended in a comment section about an article of a man that burned some LGBTQ books in Iowa.

Dorr burned David Levithan's "Two Boys Kissing," Suzanne and Max Lang's "Families, Families, Families," Gayle E. Pitman's "This Day in June" and Christine Baldacchino's "Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress."


https://www.desmoinesregister.com/sto...

This lovely picture book teaches acceptance. Illustrations are nice and bright. A good story for any age.
50 reviews
October 22, 2018
Bunnybear is an incredible book that teaches a very important lesson for children to understand. The story is about bear who called himself Bunnybear, because though he was a bear, he felt like a bunny on the inside. The other bears were mean to Bunnybear because he was not acting like a bear, so he decided to run away. After the bunnies did not accept him, he met Grizzlybun who was a bunny but felt like a bear. These animals teach the incredible lesson that it is okay to look one way on the outside but feel another way on the inside. This is important for children to understand, especially in the world today. This is an amazing book with an educational and interesting story. The illustrations are bright and help to show the characters emotions in support with the text.
Profile Image for Jenna Grodzicki.
Author 42 books34 followers
December 7, 2017
Bunnybear is a fabulous book about acceptance and being true to one's self. Bunnybear is a bear on the outside, but on the inside he couldn't feel more differently. He believes he is a bunny, but both the bears and the bunnies refuse to accept that. When Bunnybear runs away and meets Grizzlybun, he knows he has found his tribe. Will the other bears ever learn to accept Bunnybear for who he really is? Any child who has ever felt different will relate to this story. The illustrations are beautifully done and complement the text nicely. This book is sure to become a bedtime favorite!
Profile Image for Blaine Gerdes.
55 reviews1 follower
October 15, 2018
The illustrations in this are amazing, the colors are super bright and inviting to the readers eye. The book is about a bear who bounces through the forest when alone and wasn't like the other bears. He loves his den because he doesn't fit in with the other bears and doesn't feel welcomed there. He tries to fit in with the bunnies because that's what he feels he is but he isn't welcome there either. He finally meets Grizzlybun who is just like him, in the sense that they are both trying to fit in and aren't like the others.
50 reviews
December 7, 2018
Although this book is a simple read, I truly enjoyed it and loved the connection I saw in it. I though this book could be used as a connection to the transgender community. Though is may not have been the authors intentions, I can see how this book can be used in classrooms today as a loose connection. Bunnybear felt more like a bunny than he did bear. Some students may be going through this gender crisis and can heavy relate to this. This is a great book to keep in the classroom as it can heavy relate to some students.
47 reviews
October 24, 2018
It is hard to rate any book on acceptance lower than 5 stars. Books like this did not exist while I was growing up. This book on diversity is about a bear who feels different on the inside than what he looks on the outside. It's a book that children who don't quite fit in can relate to. It's a book that encourages finding a supportive community that accepts you for just the way you are; those are your true friends. 10 out of 10; would recommend!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews

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