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Rabbit School
A story of two young bunnies as they go off to Rabbit School, deep in the woods where they are taught everything a good rabbit must know. They learn about the tastiest vegetables and plants and how to make their garden grow; how to paint Easter eggs in bright colours so they can call themselves Easter bunnies.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1924
About the author
Albert Sixtus
40 books3 followersAlbert Sixtus (1892 - 1960) was a German author of children's books, best known for the Häschenschule ("rabbit school") books.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 26, 2022
Even though I mildly enjoyed Albert Sixtus' Die Häschenschule (and did indeed very much like Fritz Koch-Gotha's realistic but still magical and fantastical accompanying illustrations) when my maternal grandmother read this classic German language picture book to me in 1970 (when I was four years old), especially the textual and visual representations of the strict male teacher who brooked absolutely no dissent or tolerated much individuality amongst his little anthropomorphic rabbit pupils actually made me seriously and lastingly dread the first day of school (and considering that my first day of school was in 1973, I now realise that for three years, every time I thought of Die Häschenschule, and every time the book was read to me, I dreaded school, I was terrified of the possibility or perhaps even the probability of a strict and in all ways draconian teacher). Of course, school ended up not being all that horrible at all for me (except perhaps for mathematics and physical education), but the anticipation of perhaps encountering a very strict teacher who would immediately and even seemingly gleefully punish any and all supposedly misbehaving students, any and all perceived mistakes certainly was not at ALL pleasant in any way (and when I tried to ask my grandmother about that very possibility, her comments that she hoped my teachers would indeed be strict disciplinarians and that she herself had much thrived under such tutelage really did not help things except to teach me to shut up, to keep silence and many of my thoughts more and more, and increasingly to myself).
Now I would in NO WAY go so far as to ever claim that Die Häschenschule (or its English language translation Rabbit School) should not be read by and to children, but I do feel and find it necessary to point out that some of the more traditional, dated and old-fashioned "authority figures like teachers are always supposedly right" viewpoints and philosophies featured and feted might need to be (and actually really should be) both discussed with and explained to children (and personally, I also do not really AT ALL now enjoy or appreciate the depiction, both textually and visually, of the fox as a villain, as simply and utterly a dangerous and nasty monster par excellence, as I am in fact getting rather sick and tired of the many many big bad wolf and/or sly, evil fox type of classical children's stories). Two and a half stars, rounded up to three stars, as Die Häschenschule is considered a classic and as it was published, as it was penned in 1924, is of course and also by necessity of its time.
Now I would in NO WAY go so far as to ever claim that Die Häschenschule (or its English language translation Rabbit School) should not be read by and to children, but I do feel and find it necessary to point out that some of the more traditional, dated and old-fashioned "authority figures like teachers are always supposedly right" viewpoints and philosophies featured and feted might need to be (and actually really should be) both discussed with and explained to children (and personally, I also do not really AT ALL now enjoy or appreciate the depiction, both textually and visually, of the fox as a villain, as simply and utterly a dangerous and nasty monster par excellence, as I am in fact getting rather sick and tired of the many many big bad wolf and/or sly, evil fox type of classical children's stories). Two and a half stars, rounded up to three stars, as Die Häschenschule is considered a classic and as it was published, as it was penned in 1924, is of course and also by necessity of its time.
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April 9, 2020Um ein bisschen in Osterstimmung zu kommen genau das richtige Buch und einfach eine schöne Kindheitserinnerung ✨
March 24, 2018
A German (Easter) classic from 1924 with lovely pictures by Fritz Koch-Gotha. It's to be enjoyed not criticized, although the depicted school methods and role models are surely a thing of the past.
November 20, 2012
"When the fox snaps at your heel,
Don't become the villain's meal!"
My mother used to read this to me in Flemish, and I still remember wishing that I could be a bunny. Preferably one who lived in a cozy rabbit hole with my well-fed rabbit family. This German children's tale translates well into English and a David R. Godine book is always a treasure.
The tale works well in today's world, reminding children to be civil (a lost quality) and to be very wary of the sly fox (strangers). Oh how I long to once again have one of those boxy knapsacks stuffed with pencils and apples and homemade bread slathered with butter and chocolate.
Book Season = Autumn (when school starts and apples can be picked)
Don't become the villain's meal!"
My mother used to read this to me in Flemish, and I still remember wishing that I could be a bunny. Preferably one who lived in a cozy rabbit hole with my well-fed rabbit family. This German children's tale translates well into English and a David R. Godine book is always a treasure.
The tale works well in today's world, reminding children to be civil (a lost quality) and to be very wary of the sly fox (strangers). Oh how I long to once again have one of those boxy knapsacks stuffed with pencils and apples and homemade bread slathered with butter and chocolate.
Book Season = Autumn (when school starts and apples can be picked)
March 6, 2020
Originally published in 1924, Die Häschenschule (Rabbit School) is apparently one of the enduring classics of German children's literature, akin to Beatrix Potter's
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
. I wish I could say that I was surprised, as a consequence, that this 2009 translation marks its first appearance in English, but given the state of children's publishing, and the general shortage of translated children's books, I'm not.
Howsoever that may be, with a rhyming text - "Bunny Hans and Bunny Gretchen, / Paw in paw, they look so fetching. / Happily they skip along / With the gath'ring bunny throng" - that is fun to read aloud, and adorable illustrations by Fritz Koch-Gotha, Rabbit School is an appealing little book. Young readers will get a kick out of the subjects - from evading the wicked fox, to painting Easter Eggs - taught at this leporine school.
I do think that the scene in which the teacher disciplines Bunny Max by giving his ear a tug may be somewhat distressing for very sensitive children - although it is certainly no worse than the treatment accorded the little rabbits in Tao Nyeu's recent Bunny Days - so parents should be aware. The rhyming scheme also sometimes felt a little strained, although - given the difficulty of translating poetry - that was probably an unavoidable result of its transition to English. Despite these quibbles, this is a book I would recommend to young readers, particularly those who like bunny-type tales. It's about time it was available to English-speakers!
Howsoever that may be, with a rhyming text - "Bunny Hans and Bunny Gretchen, / Paw in paw, they look so fetching. / Happily they skip along / With the gath'ring bunny throng" - that is fun to read aloud, and adorable illustrations by Fritz Koch-Gotha, Rabbit School is an appealing little book. Young readers will get a kick out of the subjects - from evading the wicked fox, to painting Easter Eggs - taught at this leporine school.
I do think that the scene in which the teacher disciplines Bunny Max by giving his ear a tug may be somewhat distressing for very sensitive children - although it is certainly no worse than the treatment accorded the little rabbits in Tao Nyeu's recent Bunny Days - so parents should be aware. The rhyming scheme also sometimes felt a little strained, although - given the difficulty of translating poetry - that was probably an unavoidable result of its transition to English. Despite these quibbles, this is a book I would recommend to young readers, particularly those who like bunny-type tales. It's about time it was available to English-speakers!
April 13, 2020
Für die Osterzeit musste auch einfach ein passendes Buch her, weshalb ich spontan zu "Die Häschenschule" gegriffen habe.
Die Geschichte ist super süß und einfach passend zu Ostern. Es handelt von Hasenhans und Hasengretchen, welche einen Tag in der Hasenschule verbringen.
Die Texte sind in Reimform geschrieben und lassen sich flüssig lesen.
Zwar ist das Buch ein kurzer Lesespaß für zwischendurch, aber trotzdem sehr schön.
Von mir gibt es 3,5 von 5 Sterne.
Die Geschichte ist super süß und einfach passend zu Ostern. Es handelt von Hasenhans und Hasengretchen, welche einen Tag in der Hasenschule verbringen.
Die Texte sind in Reimform geschrieben und lassen sich flüssig lesen.
Zwar ist das Buch ein kurzer Lesespaß für zwischendurch, aber trotzdem sehr schön.
Von mir gibt es 3,5 von 5 Sterne.
April 2, 2026
Nett geschrieben
March 8, 2012
I found this book at a library book sale. I think I found it on a final 'free' day of the sale. Since it's published by David Godine I snapped it up since they always offer unusual and interesting books. Once I got it home though I wondered if it was still available since it was a translation of a German book from 1924. It's so rare to find translations of children's lit, especially of older books, but maybe some parents avoid them since they are 'foreign' and worry that their kids won't be able to relate to the situations.
My son loves any kind of story about animals, especially small animals like bunnies. He likes the story, and the artwork is very impressive, it really holds his attention. Each painting is a detailed work of art, not just a quick drawing. He does enjoy the book, but at two years old it might still be a bit too old for him. When we get to the page showing the teacher pulling on the ear of one of the bunnies he says 'I no like that page Dada!'.
My son loves any kind of story about animals, especially small animals like bunnies. He likes the story, and the artwork is very impressive, it really holds his attention. Each painting is a detailed work of art, not just a quick drawing. He does enjoy the book, but at two years old it might still be a bit too old for him. When we get to the page showing the teacher pulling on the ear of one of the bunnies he says 'I no like that page Dada!'.
August 25, 2013
A hair-raising tale of rascally rabbits learning to be bonnie bunnies. Rare to find a translation of a German kids' book, especially one from the 1920s. You will love reading this one to your kids.
December 26, 2025
call me too woke and a snowflake, but this book is not it
“lustig sind die hasenjungen, toll wird da herumgesprungen. doch die mädchen knabbern stumm an dem frühstückskraut herum.”
ich versteh, dass das buch 1924 rauskam und es zur damaligen zeit kein drama war, aber können wir bitte aufhören sexismus weiter unkritisch zu propagieren? thank you, man hätte die szene einfach anders schreiben können, es sind literally nur zwei sätze zu ändern
PLUS: ich kann es nicht mehr lesen, wenn der fuchs als objektiv böses dargestellt wird, ich bin’s so satt🥲
“lustig sind die hasenjungen, toll wird da herumgesprungen. doch die mädchen knabbern stumm an dem frühstückskraut herum.”
ich versteh, dass das buch 1924 rauskam und es zur damaligen zeit kein drama war, aber können wir bitte aufhören sexismus weiter unkritisch zu propagieren? thank you, man hätte die szene einfach anders schreiben können, es sind literally nur zwei sätze zu ändern
PLUS: ich kann es nicht mehr lesen, wenn der fuchs als objektiv böses dargestellt wird, ich bin’s so satt🥲
January 22, 2021
5 stars, purely for the magical, expressive artwork. Wow, Fritz Koch-Gotha. You speak to me with your ink and watercolors (?) through a century!
My German is basically preschool level, so I could stumble my way through this. Some ye olde Germanne words tripped me up. Yes, it's super old fashioned.
My German is basically preschool level, so I could stumble my way through this. Some ye olde Germanne words tripped me up. Yes, it's super old fashioned.
March 24, 2017
Ein wundervolles Bilderbuch das, trotz seines Alters, immernoch gern vorgelesen wird zu Ostern.
June 3, 2020
Einfach ein Klassiker, und exzellent gereimt.
October 2, 2021
Völlig aus der Zeit gefallen und in diese Schule würde heute auch niemand ernsthaft gehen wollen, aber die Reime sind herrlich fließend und stimmig und die Illustrationen detailreich.
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December 28, 2022Meine Oma konnte noch mit 92 alle Verse auswendig. Das war immer sehr rührend, die Nostalgie aus ihrer Kindheit.
January 28, 2023
A cute children book with great illustrations. This would be perfect for school-children.
December 16, 2025
Es ist so süß und niedlich. Für mich als Hasen - und Kaninchenliebhaberin nochmal mehr. <3
Zitat aus dem Buch:
"....
Wär ich nicht ein Kindelein,
möcht' ich gleich ein Häschen sein!"
Zitat aus dem Buch:
"....
Wär ich nicht ein Kindelein,
möcht' ich gleich ein Häschen sein!"
February 12, 2016
One of my favourite books as a kid!
July 8, 2022
*editionem latinam legi
April 17, 2022
Wirklich herzallerliebst, schade dass ich diese Geschichte erst als Erwachsene entdeckt habe.
February 10, 2012
Kinderbuch-Klassiker
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews