Herr und Frau Hase - Königlich unterwegs!

The Bunnies #2

by Polly Horvath, Sophie Blackall (Illustrator)

Der Kronjuwel unter den Hasenbüchern!

Marlenes Eltern erben einen Bonbonladen in England, womit zunächst alle (Geld-)Sorgen gelöst scheinen. Die Familie siedelt von Kanada nach England über. Und selbstverständlich ziehen Herr und Frau Hase hinterher, schließlich können sie ihren Schützling Marlene nicht ganz sich selbst überlassen. Zumal Frau Hases feines Näschen die einmalige Chance wittert, Königin von England zu werden und damit endlich einen ihr angemessenen Titel zu erwerben. Doch sowohl Marlene und ihren Eltern als auch den Hases beschert der Umzug ziemlich viele Überraschungen.

Aus dem Englischen von Bernadette Ott

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Animals, Humor, Childrens, Fiction, Audiobook

385 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 11, 2014

About the author

Polly Horvath is the author of many books for young people, including Everything on a Waffle, The Pepins and Their Problems, The Canning Season and The Trolls. Her numerous awards include the Newbery Honor, the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, the Vicky Metcalf Award for Children's Literature, the Mr. Christie Award, the international White Raven, and the Young Adult Canadian Book of the Year. Horvath grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She attended the Canadian College of Dance in Toronto and the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in New York City. She has taught ballet, waitressed, done temporary typing, and tended babies, but while doing these things she has always also written. Now that her children are in school, she spends the whole day writing, unless she sneaks out to buy groceries, lured away from her desk by the thought of fresh Cheez Whiz. She lives on Vancouver Island with her husband and two daughters.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/pollyh...

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs. Bunny wants to be queen. Mr. Bunny (for so he is called) wants her to be happy, and to eat lots of carrot cake. Madeline wants to have a college fund, and her parents want to bring both organic vegetables and sugar to "the people."

Clearly, there is only one thing to do: take a cruise to England, and open a candy shop.

Along the way they meet snobby hedgehogs, Mrs. Bunny rescues a fox, the bunnies are nearly thrown overboard, and they attend a booksigning for Mrs. Bunny's first book alongside translator Polly Horvath that made me absolutely howl with laughter. It looks like this might be the last of the bunny books, and that is a shame!

[Rob Anybody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Auch der zweite Teil ist wieder sehr nett. Die Aufregung hält sich in Grenzen, aber es sind einfach so viele klasse und witzige Ideen in dem Buch, dass es mich zufrieden macht.

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a funny and clever book. I haven't read the first one, though I don't think that detracted from this in any way. I enjoyed the illustrations, the references to books and the humour. I intend to read the earlier adventures of Madeline and the Bunnys when I get the chance!

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. and Mrs. Bunny, that leporine couple whose story began in Polly Horvath's Mr. and Mrs. Bunny — Detectives Extraordinaire! , return in this second volume dedicated to their adventures. So too does their human friend Madeline, and her feckless hippie parents, Flo and Mildred. Bunnies and humans all find themselves sailing for England in this sequel, spurred on by Mrs. Bunny's desire to become queen on the one hand, and by Flo's surprise inheritance of a candy-shop on the other. Many misadventures ensue, as the bunnies learn to always reserve a first-class berth on bunny cruises, and the humans discover that candy shops aren't as profitable as they hoped. The most important question - how will Madeline afford college when her parents are no help to her in saving for it? - is eventually resolved quite happily, after all have returned to their homes in Canada...

Although it had its moments, I cannot say that Lord and Lady Bunny - Almost Royalty! was the equal of the first. I simply wasn't as engaged by it, finding that I was able to put it down for a day or two without any desire to pick it back up. The exchanges between the bunnies were still amusing, but otherwise I found that some of the humor and charm of Mr. and Mrs. Bunny was missing. As with the first book, the human elements of the story were the weakest, with the various candy-shop travails of Madeline's family proving to be tedious rather than entertaining. That said, I did enjoy the book-signing scene, in which Mrs. Bunny is indignant to discover that her 'translator,' Polly Horvath, has been given credit for writing her book. The author's self-portrait here was amusing, as was the depiction of the fuss made over "Oldwhatshername," AKA J.K. Rowling. With the caveat that it isn't quite up to the standard of the original, I'd recommend this one to anyone who enjoyed the first Mr. and Mrs. Bunny book.

[Karen Maurer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would get a higher rating if it weren't so hard to follow. But some people LIKE all that jumping around so... Wait! This is a book about BUNNIES!!! Jumping around? Bunnies? Of course! Changing the rating, right now from 3 to 4 stars.

I love Mr. Bunny - for so he is called - and Mrs. Bunny and the way they tell stories. I also like their enthusiasms and need for adventure.

And the humans in these books are equally likeable - Madeline and her hippie-dippie parents and her brilliant eccentric Uncle and her best friend, Katherine. And Prince Charles. And Starlight Heavens - well, she is not actually likeable - at all - but with a name like that? Come on.

There is a very famous author - besides Mrs. Bunny, that is - in this book, known as Oldwhatshername, and a not so famous translator. These cameo appearances just add to the mayhem.

Just sit back and enjoy a trip across the Pond with the Bunnys and their human friends.

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

I used to tell my children bedtime stories by making up any fool thing that came in to my head and what bubbled up came from the slag heap of my unconscious where pop culture sifted down and my own experiences mouldered. My kids were entranced, all of it was new to them. They couldn't tell outright plagiarism from brilliant creativity or a bad joke from good. When you have such an uncritical audience you can indulge.
However, rambling like that does not deserve its own published work.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a silly, but entertaining sequel to Mr. and Mrs. Bunny — Detectives Extraordinaire!. It's the second book in The Bunnies series by Polly Horvath (and Mrs. Bunny, of course).

Their adventure to England is nonsensical and implausible, but nonetheless humorous.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic sequel to Mr. and Mrs. Bunny—Detectives Extraordinaire! I think there were some missed opportunities to incorporate more from Mr. Bunny. I would have loved to see some of his chapter titles in the book, for example. The bunnies (and most of the humans) are wonderfully distinct characters. I didn't realize how much I missed Flo and Mildred's infuriating antics until I started reading about them again. Definitely recommended to people who enjoy zany kid lit. This could be a Newbery 2015 contender, especially given the success Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures this year.

[Arminzerella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. & Mrs. Bunny are back! They’ve decided to rest on their laurels so far as detective work is concerned. Mrs. Bunny’s new scheme is to become Queen of the rabbits, and she figures her best chance is to go to jolly old England, where they’re capable of giving out titles. Coincidentally, the Bunny’s human friend Madeline is also headed across the pond. Her somewhat scatterbrained, but well-meaning parents have inherited a candy shop and are looking to make some quick money so they can buy 30 acres of farmland in Hornby (their Canadian island home) to grow organic vegetables and fund Madeline’s college dreams. As it turns out, both social-climbing and money-making scheme are more difficult than anyone could have expected. Simply fraught with hilarity. Fans of the first book are sure to enjoy the continuing story. Who doesn’t like reading about talking, writing, detecting, soon-to-be-titled bunnies?

[Leona · Rating 5 out of 5]

another hilarious mr and mrs bunny book. laughed out loud so many times and quoted the book a bunch too. "chompies" are now a friday night ritual at my house. the devotion of these bunnies to helping a little human girl is so heartwarming. hope there are many, many more books in this series.

[Kris (My Novelesque Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

review to come

[Pauline Rutschow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. Who knew rabbits were so clever?! Lots of 'jokes' in this one.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as the first, but still a choice book to read out loud. Mr. Bunny (for so he is called) is a hilarious character and a great partner with Mrs. Bunny.

[Khanh · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this delightful sequel to Mr. and Mrs. Bunny—Detectives Extraordinaire! , our favorite well-intentioned and absurdly proper rabbit couple, now self-anointed Lord and Lady Bunny , embark on a new series of misadventures. Having retired from detective work, they set their twitchy sights on ascending the ranks of English nobility—though, of course, their definition of “royalty” is rather… creative. Meanwhile, Madeline, ever the sweet and sensible center of chaos, finds herself swept once again into the Bunnys’ bizarre orbit, balancing her human practicality against the bunnies’ endless pomp, confusion, and tea-fueled nonsense. Her hippie parents remain happily adrift and oblivious somewhere on the fringes of civilization, adding just the right touch of mayhem to the mix.

I loved this second installment as much as the first. It carries the same sharp wit, warmth, and joyful absurdity that made the original so memorable. Madeline continues to be a quietly shining heroine—kind, clever, and endlessly patient with her eccentric lagomorph companions. The Bunnys, for their part, are as hopelessly misguided and charming as ever, marching through their own world of misinterpreted human customs and rabbit logic.

It’s an utterly silly, wonderfully clever story that somehow balances genuine heart with pure nonsense. By the end, I was laughing out loud and wondering if perhaps I, too, should begin insisting people address me as “Your Grace.” After all—if two bunnies can do it, how hard can it be? Hee hee.

See fellow Goodreads user Kerri's review here:

[https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lord and Lady Bunny- Almost Royalty! is the second book in the series. I did enjoy this book although I wouldn’t say it is as high of caliber as the first book. The plot is still quirky although the troubles tend to be more monetarily related instead of fox related. I would say this book has a lot of commentary on social class and how that can make people act. This commentary of course is delightfully hidden amongst the strange characters and the equally strange plot line.

I wouldn’t suggest reading this book unless you’ve already read the first book. This isn’t a book that I think works well as a standalone book. It is a book that I would suggest reading if you or your child has just finished the first book and desires to read more about Mr. and Mrs. Bunny.

[Rick Stuckwisch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful sequel to Mr. & Mrs. Bunny -- Detectives Extraordinaire. In fact, I enjoyed it even more than the first book. Clever and entertaining, humorous throughout, and yet a great story, well told. The characters are endearing, and their interactions are winsome and witty. With this book, I believe we've now managed to read all of Polly Horvath's books over the past five months or so, and we've enjoyed them all. I'm still amazed at how distinctive in substance and style each one is. Here's hoping that Polly continues to write for many years yet to come.

[Kristin Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun and ridiculous light read! I needed to get this back to the library asap, so I took a break from Les Miserables to read it. Refreshing! I felt like I was flying through the pages as compared to Les Mis! Not sure who the targeted audience is, though. I found many references that kids wouldn't get and I looked up a few big words too. Perhaps a read-aloud that entertains both adult and 4th grader (a la Bugs Bunny)? Wish I had read book one first.

[Susan Bryson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not read the first one, and it wasn't a killer but it really would have helped. Laughed and enjoyed the writing very much, particularly the British/Canadian references. However, I felt the plot was wafer-thin and there was some sort of inside joke going on of which I was no part of.

[Allie Dooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Madeline and her family set off to England to make more money at the Sweet shoppe, Mr. and Mrs. Bunny also go to England when Mrs. Bunny decides she would like to become queen. I really enjoyed this book, I would definitely recommend it, I didn't want to put the book down.

[Suzanne Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

So weird. Made me laugh out loud quite a bit. A children’s book that would be completely lost on a child. Mix the human world with the talking animal world, British royalty, and some hippy parents. I couldn’t decide for awhile if the author was high or brilliant. Really fun read. 9/19

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute book which includes JK Rowling and Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles. Good story.

[Emi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dnf

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A silly and vague story but one that keeps you hanging on by its erratic surges of charm and wit. The dynamic between Mr and Mrs Bunny is golden.

[Kest Schwartzman · Rating 1 out of 5]

In which we have three families, each both dysfunctional AND unbelievable.

I gave up, based on hating literally every character involved an also the writer for thinking they might be likeable.

[Nicolette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Been reading to our granddaughters over Skype for a couple of weeks. Cute sequel to the first book Hope there is a number 3.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is sheet and total hilarious genius. 4th-graders at my library have named the series as their favorite books of all time. Read everything Polly Horvath writes and your life will be happier.

[Clara L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not quite on par with the first book, in my opinion. The story is still original and funny, however.

[Sondra Hammond Taber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rate a four for an adult as it is a youth book but a 5+ for a youth.
This is a #2 in a series. Enjoyed it enough to get #1