How would you feel if one morning you woke up with a big-eared, wet-nosed bunny on your head? Would you be surprised? Happy? And what would you do if you learned the bunny's name was Fred and he liked it there on top of your head?
I have finally read the prequel and sequel to A Girl and Her Gator by Sean Bryan and Tom Murphy. Having read the entire trilogy (perhaps with more to come), I feel like my life is complete. These are some of my most favorite picture books of all time.
The genius started in 2005 with A Boy and His Bunny when a boy woke up with a bunny on his head. Boy and Bunny decided to roll with it. Stranger things had probably happened somewhere so why get upset over something so minor?
Boy's mother (I call him this because unlike the other series characters, the original Boy has no name although he does take the time to name Bunny Fred) was less adaptible.
You know, I hate to tell you, but it's got to be said. You have a great big bunny on your head!
This launches a lecture from both Boy and Fred on how rabbits peacefully coexisting on one's head in no way limits one's mobility or ability. You could read a book, lead an army, indeed even ride a bobsled with a bunny on your head. Thus enlightened, the mother recants and admits that Fred does look kind of cool on her son's head.
Her opinion was immediately thrown into question, however, when Boy's sister walked in with a small alligator on her head. (You will of course recognize my beloved Claire and Pierre from A Girl and Her Gator.)
I like these books because they are simple yet complex. The story is written and rhyme and could arguably be seen as a commentary on tolerance and the fact that different does not mean diminished. At the same time, the illustrations are presented on clean (usually white backgrounds) which makes them pop.
In terms of reading aloud, the book is large enough that the minimalist illustrations can be seen clearly. While entertaining, the text is not so dense as to bore children (or tire the reader). Really, aside from Boy not having a name--a fact that kind of made me crazy when I realized it--A Boy and His Bunny is just as entertaining as its sequel A Girl and Her Gator although the latter remains superior simply because of Claire and its general pinkness. After reading the sequel the fun continues in A Bear and His Boy.
You can find this review and more on my blog Miss Print
Wow. This is fabulous. A great book to use for beginning readers. Not too many words, large text, fun pictures to illustrate, and many repeated words. The rhyming is steady (even repetitive in some cases) and easily picked up--which makes for good learning to read as well as a good read-aloud. I think the preschoolers will find this hilarious. And I love the ending.
6/22/10 & 6/24/10 It was a quieter reception, but I think they still liked it. I saw smiles, and I view that as points. They liked the ending. And no one said it, but I bet they thought the bunny was cute, too. :-)
7/6/10 & 7/8/10 The other branch crowd LOVED it! Lots of smiles--including incredulous ones. But they looked intently at the pictures, and answered my questions, and loved the ending. A more obvious show that they enjoyed the book.
2/29/12 I will love this book forever and ever. It's just so wonderful. Both groups--the very large and the very small--loved it. Of course! How can one not love those pictures? Or seeing all the silly things one can do with a bunny on your head. I put this book in my Seuss-theme because I told the kids that it also rhymed and like Seuss it incorporated silliness. Today's reading was especially amazing because Kami made me a bunny headband. So I really did read a book--with a bunny on my head!
3/27/13 & 3/28/13 Fabulous, as always. Had to make a new bunny headband since the other one wilted over time. But kids who I'm sure where here last year when I did the book didn't seem to remember the book or the headband. Yay!
4/30/14 They loved the bunny on my head. And this was the best book for the day. Good thing it was the last! They laughed and smiled. They enjoyed nodding or shaking their heads if they agreed that things could or couldn't be done with a bunny on your head.
12/7/16 & 12/8/16 I don't know why it has never occurred to me to try this with a toddler crowd before! They are the perfect age, and my bunny hat was quite entertaining for them. Then it was the perfect lead in to have them make their own bunny hats for a very simple craft! Love it when it all goes wonderfully.
A boy wakes up to find a bunny on his head. His mother tells him that he will not be able to do anything with a bunny on his head but the boy proves her wrong. But in comes his sister with a...
This is hilarious. A boy wakes up with a bunny on his head, and talks about all the things he can do with the bunny (Fred) on his head. The rhyme/rhythm is sometimes a little forced, but it's funny and cute enough that it works. I think kids would need to be at least 3 to get the humour.
Funny. What can you do with a bunny on your head? The same can be done with or without a bunny anywhere. Drawings of generic boy and bunny puff up tail and dangle ears. Sequel with alligator could be fiercer.
Ok, I read this because it came up in a search for "Dark Site" and I thought, WTF. After reading it I still have no idea. It is cute and funny - no darkness that I could see. I bet little kids would find it funny and I liked the pictures, especially the scuba gear on the bunny.
Simple story, silly story. One day a boy wakes up to a bunny on his head. It's silly, and toddlers will love it. The repetitious text is sure to make it a storytime winner.
I'm quite certain you can read a book during storytime with a bunny on your head. Is it something I shall attempt? It's very likely. Though I'll stick to a bunny of the puppet kind.