Dust Bunny Wants a Friend

by Amy Hevron

Follow an adorable little dust bunny on a quest to make a friend in this sweet and simple wordless picture book. Perfect for fans of Annie Silvestro's Bunny's Book Club .

Dust Bunny is alone--and lonely. So when a small bug passes by him, he calls out hi and tries to befriend her. But the bug keeps on moving, and Dust Bunny sadly says bye. Then he meets a cat . . . but when the cat sneezes, the dust bunny goes tumbling. And so it goes, one failed attempt to make a friend after another. That is, until a broom sweeps Dust Bunny into the bedroom . . . and what does he find under the bed? Yes, his mates! This is a very simple, very sweet, incredibly spare story of missed connection and friendship, anchored by the cutest little bunny around.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Childrens, Animals, Humor, Storytime, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

Author-illustrator Amy Hevron lives in Seattle, Washington. She draws inspiration from wildlife, nature, and travel. Amy is a two-time winner of the Portfolio Honor Award from the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

Reviews

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only read this if you enjoy dying from cuteness.



There's almost no text. It's for babies.



Dust bunny tries to make friends but nobody likes him/her.



Don't worry, it has a happy ending. :)

[The Library Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will NOT use (ugh) the incrediblY-overused-on-GoodReads "c" word. Instead I will call this sweet and adorable. Sweet without being saccharine, though it could have gone that way in less skilled hands, and I could hear my saccharine meter whispering in the distance.

A book with minimal words is NOT necessarily a "baby book," and this is definitely NOT a baby book.
A baby/toddler would just try to tear the pages and turn the book upside down.It is also not a book that would work well with a group. I did a bunny program this week, but wouldn't have tried it with a bunch of kids.

This is a one on one, nearly wordless book.It has a plot, but the plot needs help from a child sitting with you one on one, adding to the story. seeing what is happening. Going "awww" at the ending. Pair it with Jan Thomas's Rhyming Dust Bunnies, and you may never want to sweep under the bed again.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: Hi! Bye!

Premise/plot: The dust bunny that stars in this lovely new picture book is LONELY and in need of a few friends. But making friends--when you're a dust bunny--isn't the easiest thing in the world...or is it?!

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one. I loved, loved, loved the illustrations and the premise. This dust bunny may not be a rhyming dust bunny--like Jan Thomas' dust bunnies--but there is something sweet and adorable and funny about this one. It made me smile.

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 5 out of 5
Total: 9 out of 10

[Vern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very adorable.

[RJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm. I felt like the pictures were a little hard to parse - as an adult sitting with it in my lap, never mind across the room at storytime. And it's a low-text story that really requires you to parse the pictures. I do like that the whole thing seems to be a trick to convince kids that cleaning up helps dust bunnies find friends.

[Maureen Agnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the sadder side of picture book stories (sense of loneliness), and the message I got from it was...find your own tribe, but in this instance, the tribe looks the same...not an awesome message to get out of it, but still an enjoyable story.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many youngsters think of dust bunnies in exactly the way this book depicts them--literally, as little rabbits among the dust. Relying on illustrations that were created in acrylic and marker on wood that were then digitally collaged, the images show a dust bunny venturing forth into the larger world of its household in search of a friend. Although some creatures such as a cat and ants seem interested at first, eventually things don't work out, and the dust bunny remains just as friendless as he was at the start. Readers will note the human hands that dust him off a child's blanket and then sweep him off the floor--readers see only the human's shoes and a broom and the dust bunny. But this human did the dust bunny a favor since he's been swept right into the corner where others just like him are eager to greet him. This almost wordless picture book using the words "hi" and "bye" will have great child appeal. There is much to notice in the illustrations for careful readers who will see the Cheerio oat being carried by the ants, then hooked on the bunny's ear, and then swept away, for instance. This one is so very creative, and like another reviewer remarked, I'd love to see what might happen next.

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle

A simply adorable little book about a dust bunny looking for a friend. Such a cute idea.

This is a great book to read with young children. The story is told mostly through pictures in this nearly silent picture book. The only words used are "hi", "bye", and "achoo". I think many books struggle when this format is used, but this one thrives with its simple yet entertaining illustrations. There's no other way to put it; they are so cute.

Overall, a wonderful story that will make you feel slightly guilty about cleaning your house, but mostly just smile at that persistent little dust bunny. I honestly wish this was part of a series so I could see more dust bunny adventures. Great book.

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This clever picture book takes a look under the furniture at the life and longings of a little dust bunny who is searching for a friend. With spare text (hopeful "hi" and sad "bye") and warm illustrations rendered on wood and digitally collaged, young readers see the dust bunny getting hopeful at the approach of ants, cats, and even a broom. But how is the dust bunny ever going to make a friend? This could be a great mentor text for young writers wondering about the life of the unseen parts of our world and also a nice way to start a discussion about how to be a friend to those who seem to be invisible in our day to day lives.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone craves love, even a lone dust bunny under a chair. In this almost wordless book (words are limited to “hi,” “bye,” “achoo,” and “byeee!”), Amy Hevron makes her debut as an author with the story of a little dust bunny seeking friendship with all the wrong creatures (a bug, ants, a cat, a teddy bear) which gives young bookworms lots to “read” in the humorous and colorful illustrations (rendered in acrylic and marker on wood and collaged digitally). When Dust Bunny finds himself swept under a bed by a broom, he finally discovers his people, a community of dust bunnies who happily welcome him.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dust bunny is sitting under a chair and wanting a friend. He says hi to everything that goes by – ants, a bug, and the cat. Unfortunately, he needs the cat sneeze which blows him around. Next, we see a broom that sweep all these bugs and the dust bunny to another spot where the dust bunny finds friends. The dust bunny is illustrated as swirls around the shape of a bunny. Such a cute story with great illustrations.

[Juliana Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

With only two words, 'hi' and 'bye', the story of a lonely dust bunny is told. As tiny creatures pass by him, he only says 'hi' and 'bye'. No one stays long enough to develop a friendship. Then a giant broom sweeps the dust bunny up, but instead of being caught in the dust bin the dust bunny escapes to a safe place under a bed where he meets lots of other dust bunnies.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This nearly wordless narrative cleverly manly uses the words hi and bye to tell the story of a dust bunny looking for a friend. Illustrations provide predictive clues about what might happen as potential friends come and go. Fun book to share with early readers enough times that they can try reading it on their own.

[CTWard · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, simple book on making friends. The book has few words, one a page if that, and relies heavily on illustrations. A good story-time book due to full page illustrations and the ability of the reader to narrate to the audience what is going on in the story without having to stick to the written text on the pages.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations couldn't be cuter. And there's a sweet message here about not giving up on friendship, even when it seems that no one has time for you. But I can't be excited that dust bunny only finds friends when it finds the other dust bunnies -- what, you'll always be alone until you learn to hang out with your own kind? Not the greatest conclusion.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is purely told through illustrations. There are no words except for "hi!" and "bye!". At first glance, it might look or sound annoying, but it's actually not annoying at all. Even though the same words repeat with different characters there is lots of emotion within those words. I quite enjoyed this book. It's really cute and the drawings are really cool. Love the little dust bunny!

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a story based on words, but on visuals. It is a very simple story, but still cute.

Not a good book for story times though.
Recommended to people who have a little one still starting to grasp speech and artists who need inspiration for cute characters.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very simple story about a lonely dust bunny. Dust bunny tries to make a friend with ants, the cat, and a teddy bear with no luck. The illustrations are very cute and readers will feel for dust bunny as it tries to make friends. A cute little read.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish the dust bunnies in my house were this cute! Not a great pick for a readaloud, but this nearly wordless book works well to convey loneliness and the desire for a friend. (Don't worry; there's a happy ending. :))

[Brandi Kutz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will admit that the illustrations are absolutely adorable! But I was a bit disappointed that the only words were "hi" and "bye." I don't think I could use it well in a storytime because of that, unless I am filling it up with a story in my own words. So cute though!

[Izabella Bensing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Modern Fantasy
PreK-Kindergarten Reading Level

This was a book with almost no words, so you have to investigate the pictures to piece together the story. I like the idea of it, fashioning a character from a silly phrase we’ve created. It would be a great book for discussion!

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

A mostly wordless picture book. A dust Bunny keeps saying hi and bye to various creatures, but he really wants a long-lasting friend. The artwork was cute... But actually dust bunnies are gross, so I didn't really appreciate this.

[David Eichelberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book with a happy ending. Great pictures. Can't wait for the sequel.

[Amanda Zirn Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, I just melted all over my desk. Wow, this is the most adorable book! I will never look at a dust bunny the same again.

[Jessica Furtado · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adorable illustrations. A simple story about finding friendship.

[ErinTheLibrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charming illustrations, mostly wordless.

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

SOOOOOO CUTE!!!

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short book that's nearly wordless. You have 'hi' and 'bye' as the dust bunny tries to find friends who don't leave.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cuteness overload. A keeper.

[Syntha Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute