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The Rabbits
by
Uses rabbits, a species introduced to Australia, to represent an allegory of the arrival of Europeans in Australia and the widespread environmental destruction caused by man throughout the continent.
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
September 15th 2003
by Simply Read Books
(first published 1998)
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The Rabbits by John Marsden and Shaun Tan is a book about environmental issues created by man.
After reading The Arrival we quickly became hooked on Shaun Tan's draftmanship. It's amazing how a book with very few words and mainly illustrations can send such a powerful message that will leave you pondering.
This story by John Marsden paired with Shaun Tan's visually stimulating illustrations makes this one that will stay with me forever. I thoroughly enjoyed talking and brainstorming with childr ...more
After reading The Arrival we quickly became hooked on Shaun Tan's draftmanship. It's amazing how a book with very few words and mainly illustrations can send such a powerful message that will leave you pondering.
This story by John Marsden paired with Shaun Tan's visually stimulating illustrations makes this one that will stay with me forever. I thoroughly enjoyed talking and brainstorming with childr ...more
We are a plague species. Using his unique, beautiful visual language, Tan explains just what that means.
...more
Illustrated by Shaun Tan, this book is just as good as The Red Tree in the way it takes very simple text and evocative pictures to communicate a complex, emotional message. When the Rabbits come to Australia, the native animals try to be welcoming, but soon find themselves overrun. Several pages gave me a lump in my throat; the images just do such a good job of communicating helplessness, loss, and grief. I admire how well Shaun Tan can produce such a monumental sense of space in his pictures.
I ...more
I ...more
Strangely the copy I took out of the library does not mention that this is an allegory of white people immigrating to Australia, I discovered this by reading goodreads reviews. Without that knowledge it reads like the story is about immigration destroying your country-which it was but I think the bit about Australia needs to be explained.
I'd love to give this two different ratings. One for the stunning artwork, which consistently says more and says it better than the text. My students and I pour over the art work for ages, looking at the use of a skull and crossbones style Union Jack, the 'logic' of maths and science symbols which were used to rationalise so much of what the early European settlers did in Australia, the numbers attached to everything, the repeating of motifs throughout the book. As a visual literacy text, I easi
...more
So. . . this is a pretty obvious allegory posing as a children’s book, but which will be of interest mainly to Leftist adults. It portrays white Europeans as big rodents moving into, say, Australia or North America and bringing all their baggage and bulldozing the native peoples and environment. And the story (although, this is really a story only by the greatest distortion of the term) ends with this line, dripping with bathos: “Who will save us from the rabbits?”
It’s such a strange, hypocritic ...more
It’s such a strange, hypocritic ...more
I read this in the collection Tan "Lost & Found". I liked it, although Marsden is more heavy-handed in his point-making than Tan, who tends to be more about subtly observing and depicting mood.
I can see why some readers complained that it seemed anti-immigrant, but I think for Australians or people who know a bit about colonial history the mapping is so historically direct that it is obvious what is being described (i.e. English colonialism in Australia and destruction of the ecology). ...more
Aug 31, 2008
Relyn
rated it
did not like it
Recommends it for:
nobody
Recommended to Relyn by:
I love the illustrator
What is it with all the fables and allegories being published for children?? KNOCK IT OFF!! Give us a good story! Yikes, I really hated this book! It's like here's some gorgeous art served with a heaping helping of guilt and a lesson or two. YUCK. I read it because I love Shaun Tan's art. But, please!
...more
Poignant book to include in the canon of my future classrooms
Finally! I've been trying to get hold of this book for ages.
It came in to the library today, so I sat down and read it. And re-read it. And read it again.
How amazing, all of these children's books that are written these days, designed to teach kids about unpleasant things in a less abrasive way.
The Rabbits is about colonization. The Rabbits are the English, arriving in Australia and making life hell for the native Australian animals. It's great.
I'm ashamed to say that I knew very little about th ...more
It came in to the library today, so I sat down and read it. And re-read it. And read it again.
How amazing, all of these children's books that are written these days, designed to teach kids about unpleasant things in a less abrasive way.
The Rabbits is about colonization. The Rabbits are the English, arriving in Australia and making life hell for the native Australian animals. It's great.
I'm ashamed to say that I knew very little about th ...more
I feel that the message of this book is so strong that it WARRENted not LITTERing this review with an aBUNNYdance of puns.
Seriously though, this made my HARES stand on end.
Seriously though, this made my HARES stand on end.
Ooooh, this is such a great picture book. The illustrations and text are a perfect marriage. Shaun Tan composes complex, layered images. John Marsden's text is spare and controlled. Pairing the simplicity of text with the rich illustrations makes the ideas raised in the book more resonant.
"The Rabbits" could be interpreted as just a cautionary allegory about man's effect on the natural world. However, the references to Australia's history are hardly subtle (the Union Jack in stylized form appea ...more
"The Rabbits" could be interpreted as just a cautionary allegory about man's effect on the natural world. However, the references to Australia's history are hardly subtle (the Union Jack in stylized form appea ...more
Tan illustrates this heart-wrenching story by John Marsden of a world overcome by things that don’t belong. Having just read Billy Bryson’s book about Australia, I knew immediately that the story was both about white people coming to Australia as well as the rabbits they brought with them that have destroyed so much of Australia’s wild beauty. The artwork is stunning as usual and, combined with the text, almost brought tears to my eyes.
I read this for school and found it to be very interesting and engaging(although it is short). I especially loved the art work I thought it was quite phenomenal. It was an interesting way to show Australias history regarding the British settlers and the native aboriginals.
Jan 10, 2017
Donald Armfield
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
childrens,
illustrations-art-favorites
"Who will save us from the Rabbits?"
...more
Dec 27, 2019
Abigail
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
Shaun Tan Fans / Readers Who Enjoy Allegorical Picture-Books
Shelves:
picture-books,
australian-children
A gorgeously-illustrated picture-book exploration of the cultural and ecological colonization of Australia. When the strange Rabbits arrive, the indigenous residents aren't sure just what to make of them, but by the time they realize that their elders were correct, that these newcomers don't "understand the right ways," they are already overrun. As the land is transformed, the indigenous residents find themselves marginalized and oppressed - even their children are taken from them. The book clos
...more
The illustrations in this book are incredible, they’re very unique. They have a bit of a gothic and abstract feel to them but also have a range of bright paint filled techniques. The use of colour and framing really adds depth and emotion to the story.
The story itself is about the colonisation of Australia and about how the Europeans came and changed their country- their landscape. It looks at the lack of communication between the rabbits and the narrator (who looks like a wallaby to me) which u ...more
The story itself is about the colonisation of Australia and about how the Europeans came and changed their country- their landscape. It looks at the lack of communication between the rabbits and the narrator (who looks like a wallaby to me) which u ...more
This book has so much potential as a great classroom resource. There are lots of levels of complexity to explore depending on the grade being taught. For instance, I've had a student teacher tell me they've used this with grade 4 (around 9 or 10 years old) about Canadian history and treaties with First Nations peoples. I see connections with higher grades related to colonization and imperialism. Also, great for teaching about allegory as a literary device in language arts.
Knowing the impact of r ...more
Knowing the impact of r ...more
This book smoulders with profound emotions and ruminations on the human nature and our history. The rabbits are, naturally, an allegory of humans, our greed, desire to dominate, subjugate and control. The change of the colour palette is worth noticing - the rabbits come to a world teeming with life, tranquility and exuberance, but when they commence their dire process of subjugation and they usher in a full-throttle industrial revolution, the colours become grim, murky and depressing.
This is no ...more
This is no ...more
The rabbits is a mesmerizing picture book which depicts the story of the colonisation of Australia. You know a book is a priceless treasure when it touches your heart .
The book gave me something text books and documentaries could not this picture book , through simple words , short sentences and brilliant images, allowed me to feel the raw emotions of the indigenous Australians . The solemn atmosphere and feeling from the book cannot be describe.
I praise John Marsden and Shaun Tan who succes ...more
The book gave me something text books and documentaries could not this picture book , through simple words , short sentences and brilliant images, allowed me to feel the raw emotions of the indigenous Australians . The solemn atmosphere and feeling from the book cannot be describe.
I praise John Marsden and Shaun Tan who succes ...more
This is a children's picture book, but I'm not sure younger children will "get it". It's ostensibly about the invasion of one species (rabbits) into a land already inhabited by another. The rabbits do all sorts of harm to the environment, and nothing is the same. Older children may grasp its allegorical meaning.
...more
Colonialism and the damage that it did in Australia, but told from the perspective of what white folks brought in that destroyed so much: rabbits. Still a story about colonialism, but the angle is fresh. And maybe more powerful for that. Great stuff.
Nov 22, 2020
Alice Bennett
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
identity,
ks2,
ks1,
year-3,
picture-books,
year-4,
historical,
animal-books,
reception,
year-1
Marsden has created a haunting allegory using rabbits to represent colonisation and the horrors it brought. It is the perfect book to teach children about aboriginal Australian culture and the rabbit plagues. Tan's intruding illustrations bring the words to life, using fingerprints to highlight the issue of identity and loss within the book and the history surrounding it.
I liked how the story was told from the perspective of the Australians (depicted as wallabies) so that the reader sees the im ...more
I liked how the story was told from the perspective of the Australians (depicted as wallabies) so that the reader sees the im ...more
This book is truley amazing - such deep and raw connections to history that people overlook. John Marsden and Shaun Tan aren't afraid to write political books and more people should be educated on their work.
...more
DO NOT LET YOUR YOUNG CHILD READ THIS BOOK!
This is one of those books that should not really be in a children's section. It is a book considered for grades 2-8, but I would highly suggest the book only for older kids. The illustrations, by Shaun Tan, are incredible (up to par in complication with David Wiesner). If you haven't gotten your hands on some of his weird images yet, I would highly suggest you do so.
John Marsden is known for his post-apocalyptic young adult stories including Tomorrow ...more
This is one of those books that should not really be in a children's section. It is a book considered for grades 2-8, but I would highly suggest the book only for older kids. The illustrations, by Shaun Tan, are incredible (up to par in complication with David Wiesner). If you haven't gotten your hands on some of his weird images yet, I would highly suggest you do so.
John Marsden is known for his post-apocalyptic young adult stories including Tomorrow ...more
It's a love-hate relationship with this book. Gorgeous illustrations and an allegorical message that should be light and deft but somehow comes across as being heavy-handed and a touch hypocritical.
It isn't a book for children which is why it's shelved on my 'pseudo-kids' bookshelf. It's going to go over the heads of most of them, even into their teenage years. Trust me, I've taught thousands of 12-17 year olds and, without an explanation about the parable/metaphor, the message about colonisatio ...more
It isn't a book for children which is why it's shelved on my 'pseudo-kids' bookshelf. It's going to go over the heads of most of them, even into their teenage years. Trust me, I've taught thousands of 12-17 year olds and, without an explanation about the parable/metaphor, the message about colonisatio ...more
This is a stunning piece. The visuals are simply amazing and worth poring over repeatedly. The text is an allegory, but quite a clever one. It's about the colonists who came to Australia, but they are represented here by rabbits, which in Australia were an invasive species. Mardsen is an Australian sci-fi writer and Shaun Tan is an incredible illustrator.
...more
I read this cold, years ago, and was deeply disturbed. It struck me as an 'art' book for adults. Now I see here that kids are reading it. I'll have to find a copy again somehow someday for a fresh look.
...more
::Attempts to Interpret the Metaphors::
"They only know their own country"
They apply their traditions, rules and instructions on the new land they have come to.
Red colors = Fire. Storm
White colonialism
This question is so confusing! but still it's a great story with its drawings and idea.
*** ...more
"They only know their own country"
They apply their traditions, rules and instructions on the new land they have come to.
Red colors = Fire. Storm
White colonialism
This question is so confusing! but still it's a great story with its drawings and idea.
*** ...more
The Rabbits is a story that depicts the intrusive destruction that an individual society or animal can cause to another. In the story rabbits invade a land that is already inhabited by a society. When the rabbits arrive, they take over. Many start building large cities that devastate the land. Further damages come when they start taking over the other animal’s food, making them sick with their own food. The native animals long for someone to come and help them end the harm the rabbits are causin
...more
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| MCC Children's Li...: wow | 1 | 1 | Mar 01, 2012 06:02AM |
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There is more than one author with this name in the database, see f.e. John Marsden
His first book, So Much To Tell You, was published in 1987. This was followed by Take My Word For It, a half-sequel written from the point of view of another character. His landmark Tomorrow series is recognized as the most popular book series for young adults ever written in Australia. The first book of this series ...more
His first book, So Much To Tell You, was published in 1987. This was followed by Take My Word For It, a half-sequel written from the point of view of another character. His landmark Tomorrow series is recognized as the most popular book series for young adults ever written in Australia. The first book of this series ...more
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