Bunbun & Bonbon: Fancy Friends

Bunbun & Bonbon #1

by Jess Keating

A lonely bunny named Bunbun meets a fancy candy named Bonbon in this young graphic novel.
Bunbun has it all: a delightful Bunbun nose, a winning Bunbun smile, a ridiculously cute Bunbun tail, and not one, but two adorable Bunbun ears. But Bunbun doesn't have a friend -- until Bunbun meets Bonbon. Learning how to be fancy and eating donuts for lunch are two of the duo's many adventures in this young graphic novel.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Friendship, Childrens, Animals, Comics, Humor, Fantasy

64 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2020

About the author

Jess Keating is an award-winning author, cartoonist, and zoologist, whose work has been featured in the New York Times, CBC, Buzzfeed, Parents Magazine, and more.

She is the creator of over a dozen fiction and nonfiction books, including Eat Your Rocks, Croc!, Shark Lady, Pink is for Blobfish, the Elements of Genius middle grade series, and the graphic novel series, Bunbun & Bonbon.

Get printables, videos, and more fun stuff for kids at https://www.jesskeating.com/

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bonbon: I have a purple candy shell, a sugary candy body, and not one but TWO sparkling candy eyes!
Bunbun: Oh my carrots, a talking candy!
Add two bowties--and Team Fancy is born. The illustrations are super cute and the story is a positive one about enjoying friendship. They definitely live in a world full of sprinkles and sunshine (even sunshine wears a bowtie). Really positive without much substance. Will definitely appeal to the chapter book set.

[Debbie Ohi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable and fun graphic novel debut from Jess Keating (whose middle grade novels I already adore)! You don’t need expensive and/or elaborate gear to be on Team Fancy — all you need is a little imagination, enthusiasm and a kindred spirit. I could easily see this book pairing up with a creative hands-on activity: putting together a Team Fancy Party!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS WAS SO DARLING AND SILLY!!!

[Melissa Mossing · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed many aspects of this, however many I did not. This reminded me a lot of narwhal and jelly. I liked the illustrations and colouring, however the choice of bonbon as a main character just doesnt hit home for me. I especially didn't enjoy when the fancy candy bonbon admits to not liking carrots so instead they eat donuts for lunch. This is not what I want to teach my already sugar obsessed child. There are so many amazing starter graphic novels out there about finding friends, unfortunately this isnt it

[Theresa Grissom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute graphic for younger elementary.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bunbun is a very bubbly bunny-- but no matter how friendly she is to the clouds, the flowers, and the birds, she still winds up lonely. One day she says hello to a colorful rock... but it wasn't a rock-- it was a Bonbon! Bonbon is a VERY fancy candy... so now that they have each other, they get to be the fanciest of friends! Fans of Narwhal and Jelly are sure to love Bunbun & Bonbon.

[Shari (Shira) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jess Keating, who delighted us with nonfiction books like PINK IS FOR BLOBFISH, has veered off in another direction. Graphics novels for younger readers! This is one is sure to capture the hearts of those fussy little girls who like bows, pink, ruffles, and sparkles. It is the story of the beginning of a beautiful friendship: Bunbun, the bunny and Bonbon...well, the bonbon. It is cuteness overload with sprinkles on top.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Graphic Novel
I received an electronic ARC from Graphix through Edelweiss.
Terrific language level for lower elementary and emerging readers. They may need help with some of the "fancy words" but the rest will be at their level.
Bunbun wants a friend and discovers Bonbon in the woods. The rabbit and the candy set off on a variety of adventures together and discover that friendship is the most important adventure of all.
Brightly colored illustrations draw readers in to share in the adventures.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bunbun is a lonely bunny in want of a friend until Bonbon comes along. These two fancy friends decide to have a fancy party and make another friend in the process.

Fancy Nancy fans who enjoy the big French words will appreciate the vocabulary in this. This is like a sugar rush in book form. It's an abundantly cute and friendly story, and bursting with cutesy illustrations and bright colors. Hand this to graphic novel fans who love cute friendship stories.

[raccoon reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a tale I'd catagorize as "High Silliness." Anything goes and nothing is over the top in regards to silliness. The wackier and more excited the better. My son and I both like these because we very easily tip over into High Silliness when we're getting worked up and it feels delightful to just let go and be super silly at times. If you like Johnny Boo then I think you'll like Bunbun and Bonbon. Here's to Fancy Friends!

[Tin Cheung · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adorable friendship stories between a bunny named, BunBun, and BonBon, which is a type of fancy chocolate candy. This book is broken down into five short stories (some very short) on their fancy adventures and donut lunch.

An excellent starter graphic novel. I think second graders would love this series.

[Ellon · Rating 2 out of 5]

At first I thought “a beginning reader graphic novel! Awesome!” But then there were really hard to read (fancy) words that make me think it’s not really a beginning reader book.
It’s kind of all over the place. Kids might enjoy the silliness but I found it a bit too random. I also didn’t like that one of the characters is a talking piece of candy...

[I _teach_muggles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first graphic novel from acclaimed author and illustrator Jess Keating and I thoroughly recommend that it hop hop hops its way into the lives of many young readers.

White rabbit Bunbun has it all. A perfect face with perfectly formed rabbit ears and nose, a wonderful smile and the most gorgeous tail. The one thing Bunbun does not have is a friend. And then along comes Bonbon. At first glance Bonbon appears to be a rock but is actually a talking purple candy and is just the friend that Bunbun needs. And together they will have a very fancy time…

Bunbun and Bonbon is a cute story about a lonely rabbit who just wants to find a friend and in Bonbon finds the perfect candy-shaped friend to enjoy all kinds of fancy things with. The delightful duo strike up an immediate friendship and bond over their shared love of everything fancy including bowties, words (croissant, chapeau and grandiose) even though they don’t know what any of them mean, music and foods (fancy French fries and fancy ketchup).

Clear paneling, vibrant colours and simple speech bubbles in bold font make this a really accessible and easy to follow read. The plot is simple, enjoyable and is very, very sweet. One moment of peril sees the duo stumble upon a snake who is also in need of a friend and is quickly welcomed to the fancy friends collective.

Will be thoroughly enjoyed by readers of Ben Clanton’s Narwhal and Jellyfish series.

Recommended for 5+.

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable, if simple, story about a bunny and a... candy...? Well, it's about friendship! Although, it's about the kind of friendship where you just walk up to someone like “look at this rock it looks like a potato” and suddenly become BEST FRIENDS.

You know, normal childhood friendships.

So, I think it's adorable from the viewpoint of nostalgia, but I have no younger readers to tell me how it looks from their perspective. It's like how Ponyo was well-received by adults fondly remembering what it was like being a kid, but kids didn't have remotely the same reaction. I don't know.

Recommended for readers who forgot what it was like being young! Believe me, a reminder always helps! (I guess, unless you were unfortunate enough to have a VERY unhappy childhood, in which case, I am unironically so sorry for you and I wish you didn't have to go through with that, and now my review took a weird turn, sorry.)

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an adult who enjoys children’s literature, I wanted to give this one 2 stars. The illustrations are bright and colorful, but the actual story of this early graphic novel is pretty bland and, at times, annoying.

However, as a librarian who frequently recommends books to emerging readers, I decided to rate it 3 stars. The artwork will draw children into the story, and the layout and vocabulary are appropriate for younger readers who are starting to read on their own (with the exception of the fancy words part, which would require adult help...and even some adults may struggle, I know I don’t know how to pronounce ‘chapeau’). The simplicity and repetitiveness, which I found annoying as an adult, will actually help children become proficient with their reading. There are definitely other early readers/chapter books/graphic novels that use simple vocabulary but still have engaging stories. This is not one of them, but it’s still good to have on hand, especially since there aren’t as many graphic novels for beginning readers out there.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

You’ll want to hop to it and read this utterly adorable graphic novel when it officially releases this Tuesday! Thanks to Scholastic Book Clubs, I was able to get my paws on Jess Keating’s joyful BUNBUN & BONBON: FANCY FRIENDS early and it plastered a huge smile on my face. Kind, imaginative, and yes, fancy, Bunbun and Bonbon are the friends everyone wishes they had and I’m so glad they’ve found each other! I loved seeing them share in their excitement and witness their fun! Keating’s debut graphic novel will cheer you up and melt your heart with its friendship story and brightly colored, welcoming illustrations that boast some of the cutest facial expressions ever. BUNBUN & BONBON is a delicious adventure tail....err, tale...that is sure to delight young readers!

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember the magical times when you were a little kid and you would hang out with your best friend, eat a ton of candy, and run around like crazy because the world was happy and bright and fun? This book encapsulates that feeling! Reading this colorful, exuberant book is like going into a candy store, grabbing fistfuls of jelly beans and skittles out of the bins, and then spinning around in circles in a green field under the sun when it's a perfect 70 degrees.

The color pallet is rainbow and unicorns and sparkles and will definitely cheer you up. The story is innocent and fun. Kids will LOVE this new book. I can't wait for more in this series.

[Mrs. Mazzola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bunbun is the happiest bunny, but is feeling a little lonely when he happens upon a wonderful talking Bonbon and they became immediate friends. This is an adorable new graphic novel / beginning reader series with bright bold illustrations and frequent use of exclamation points that will definitely appeal to young readers. Perfect for fans of Narwhal and Jelly.

*Thank you to Edelweiss+ and the publisher for a digital copy. All opinions are my own.*

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short chapters, easy text and cute animals make this title a good bet for graphic novel lovers who are newly independent readers. Bunbun is a cute white bunny who is looking for a friend, and finds one in Bonbon, a talking purple candy. They both love fancy things and eating donuts for lunch. Large graphic panels with simple text, cute colors and funny adventures combine for an easy reader high on appeal.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bun bun looks for a friend and finds a very unexpected one.

Cute, colorful, cheerful. Sure to be eaten up by lower grade kids. They also love Keatings nonfiction animal series Pink Is for Blobfish: Discovering the World's Perfectly Pink Animals

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young readers will enjoy this story of a bunny who needs a friend and finds...a bonbon? 

What I love about this early graphic book is that the text is manageable yet engaging. Donuts for lunch? Fancy parties? 

And, if they love the first book, there are more. It's a series! Yay!

I can't help but think it might be a good Easter basket gift, along with a bunny and some bonbons, of course. 

[Manda Marigold · Rating 3 out of 5]

This comic details how Bunbun the rabbit met and befriended Bonbon who is a piece of candy. They end up throwing a garden party together with Mr. Snake as a guest. The party had Bunbun and Bonbon's favorite food which is donuts. Throughout the comic, Bunbun and Bonbon form a tight bond with each other and become best friends. This is a colorful cutesy comic that would be perfect for young readers.

[Raven Black · Rating 2 out of 5]

While there are some great parts to this book, it really is a major overload for sugar. It's cute. It's sweet. There is a lot going on, but on a simple level. There is basic text, but it is for the reader who is proficient in a "middle early reading level." It also could work as a one-on-one reading. I am not the reader for this book, but I know there is an audience out there.

[Katie Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

A super cute beginning graphic novel that reminded me of Narwhal & Jelly, Elephant & Piggie etc. Lots of hopping, lots of excitement over sugar and sparkles, lots of fancy word use that will surely stump younger readers but open up great discussion and improve their vocabulary too. Very fun start to a new series.

[Arminzerella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bunbun is an adorable and perfect rabbit, but he really wants a friend. He discovers Bonbon (a talking piece of candy) one day and they become best, fancy friends and start using fancy words, listening to fancy music and having fancy parties. This book is EXTRA cute and EXTRA enthusiastic. Be prepared. For sparkly donuts.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine is trying out graphic novel style books for the first time. She thought this book was really funny, especially when Bunbun says, “Oh my carrots!” It’s cute how Bunbun and Bonbon both like fancy stuff. This is a fairly easy book, but still has some tricky words that she needed help with, so it didn’t raise her reading confidence as much as I hoped.

[alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book with an 8 year old who is working on her literacy, and it was awesome! She immediately told me that she needs more Bunbun and Bonbon, I think she really liked the silly nature of it all and the fun but easy to read onomatopoeia.
She gave the book 5 stars, but personally I wasn't AS entertained...so it's getting a 4 😂

[Deborah]

Bunbun had everything—except a best friend, until one day when… was that a rock talking? No, it was a purple candy! Or technically, a “bonbon”. Introducing fancy friends, Bunbon and Bonbon, a conceit that is perfectly absurd in the best, kid-like way. :)

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful early reader graphic novel here that explores friendship and finding your groove. Thanks to @kidlitexchange for this early review copy!
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I’ll be buying this for my elementary library for sure! How can you not love Jess’s work?!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an eARC courtesy of Graphix & Edelweiss in exchange for my honest review.

A silly tale of friendship that is sure to delight kids. The illustrations were super colorful and vibrant.

For libraries: This is a great example of an early reader meets graphic novel.