The Bunny Book

by Patricia M. Scarry, Richard Scarry (Illustrator)

A daddy bunny plays with his baby bunny and says, “What will our baby be when he grows up?” Everyone, from the baby’s mother to big sister to Great Aunt Bunny, seems to know: a clown, a policeman, a candy store owner. But the baby only nibbles on his carrot and looks wise . . . for he knows what he will grow up to be!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Rabbits, Classics, Family, Animals

24 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1955

About the author

Wife of author-illustrator Richard Scarry, Patsy often collaborated with him and with other children's books creators.

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I have not been successful in getting grandsons to let me read this to them, I haven't tried very much either. This is a DAD-SON book. It is absolutely darling. Daddy bunny throws his baby bunny in the air and asks the all-important question, "What will our baby bunny be when he grows up?" That sets off a series of family speculations on the career choices open to baby bunny. But as is often the case, the little one is wiser than his elders and he is more interested in his vocation than his career. Careers after all are merely what you do to earn money. VOCATIONS are who you ARE. They define your self-identity and relationships to everyone else in your life. They take priority over careers because they will be there before, during and after whatever jobs you happen to do while you discover what your career is supposed to be.

And what Vocation did baby bunny want to be? He wanted to BE a daddy rabbit just like his own loving daddy rabbit!

So, I'll be dropping this off for my dear son-in-law for him to read to those precious baby rabbits of his. 💗❤️💗 If that is their vocation, may they grow up to be the wonderful daddy that he is!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This covers a variety of jobs a child might dream up for themselves or family members as they guess what they will be when they grow up. It is fun to see kids react to the various careers such as doctor, lifeguard, lion tamer, mailman, etc. So many parents try to guess what their child will be so it can be a fun read for them too.

[The Celtic Rebel (Richard) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful Richard Scarry classic that I enjoyed as a child and have equally enjoyed with my grandchildren and children. Wonderful little story with great illustrations as you imagine all the things baby can be when he grows up.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I knew what the little baby bunny chose to be when he grew up, I would ask for this book to be read again and again. An absolute favorite!

Ages: 3 - 7

Here’s a few of our bedtime favs: watch my reel!

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[Danny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm glad I turned out to be a daddy bunny.

[Ruby · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I loved it when the little bunny wanted to grow to be a dad."

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute for kids

[Rob · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the message that the Baby Bunny will forge his own path (regardless of family influences) is one I can get behind, Baby Bunny clearly has some naïve beliefs about parenting. On the one hand, you could argue that this children's book is progressive for it's time (a stay-at-home dad? rock!) but Baby Bunny hasn't thought through the financial implications, the responsibilities he'll still have as the Papa of — what was it? — four baby bunnies of his own. Not that the rabbit relatives don't have some cockamamie ideas of their own (e.g., a pilot that jumps out of a plan for fun!?) but at least there's some income involved. Given the garden, the overalls, and the hoe wielding by Baby Bunny in his fatherhood fantasy though, I'm thinking there's a tacit acknowledgement on his part that he'll take up farming (maybe running a local CSA?) even while disavowing that path on the previous page.

ALSO: Like so many "good" and/or "classic" children's books, this one ends with the characters settling in to bed. Anyone else notice this? Given how storytime immediately precedes bedtime in this household, I must say that I like how this sets the tone.

[Jenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pelle Puputin vanhemmat ja muut sukulaiset arvuuttelevat, mikä pienestä Pelle Puputista kasvaa isona. Samaan aikaan lukija saa arvuutella, miksi Pelle Puputti on päättänyt tulla kunhan kasvaa isoksi.

Varsin suloinen ensikirja perheen pienimmille luettavaksi. Hyvin nostalginen lukukokemus!

[Katherine C. Hirstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Serge Smagarinsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this more than I expected. I was surprised to see that the text wasn't written by Richard despite the cover showcasing his name as the main contributor, much like Tengren's Tawny Scrawny Lion. Perhaps this was common in the era when this book was weitten as opposed to today's picture books which are an equal collaboration between author and illustrator. Another throwback of this time is illustrations featuring a father smoking a pipe - which can also be found in Curious George - and something I find rather amusing as a modern day reader when this would not be acceptable in children's picture books.

Other than that, the illustrations are warm and impressively done. Some of them show an item which has inspired the suggestion on that page, eg when baby bunny is playing with a stuffed toy lion, the suggestion is a lion-tamer. This occurs in a few of the illustrations but I would have liked to see it throughout.

The text allows for exploration of a number of topics such as different professions and members of an extended family (which is a must for any rabbit to know).

[Two Hearts Homeschool · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this Golden Book over and over as a child. As an adult I realized for the first time what a beautiful ode this is to the vocation of fatherhood!

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my very favorite children's book. Ever. I tear up every time I read it. Why, you ask?

Well, the book is all about the bunny's relatives speculating on what the little bunny will be when he grows up...a policeman, a candy store owner, a train engineer, a clown, a cowboy, a farmer, etc. But the little bunny just chews on his carrot and looks wise, because he knows what he will be when he grows up: a daddy rabbit. He will have lots of little bunny children to feed, to tickle, and to tuck into bed at night.

Oh, I just love this book.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the newer picture-book size edition and glad of it. Normally I don't like animals in clothing, or females in long housedresses, etc., but these illustrations just charmed me. And the plot and theme are wonderful. This would make a good father's day gift to an expectant or new daddy.

[Marya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit that were the titular character female, this book would be a little...demeaning (women can only be mommies?). But since the bunny is a boy, it's sweet to see that he wants to be a daddy. He now just needs someone to tell him he can be both a daddy AND something else.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two stars for the dull and dated "story" about what a baby bunny will be when he grows up. Four stars for the always-beautiful Scarry illustrations.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those old childhood reads of mine that I slightly remember more for the events of the book just since of how cute I thought it was at the time. But fortunately being able to read it as an adult I can quite understand how very much important this book is and that it was a book ahead of its time.

The whole Bunny family is gathered together and somehow end up on the subject of what their youngest family may be when he grows up. As a result each member has a different idea about what may be the best job for their little one and what that job would entail. Meanwhile the little bunny just quietly sits and absorbs what everyone else is saying instead of adding to the general thoughts.

But the special part about this story is the end part on which it is shown what the little bunny wants to be when he grows up. Although he isn't really ambitious and has his whole life planned out to reach that particular goal it is a reminder of the beauty to others who want to do the same in their life and no matter the gender they may be. And furthermore it is a reminder of how much one's family may be able to influence one's own decision.

The book is full of detailed and brightly colored illustrations very reminiscent of any of the Scarry's works. These anthropomorphic bunnies are adorably cute but also so very full of personalty even though they weren't given with any individual personalities of their own.

All in all this is a cute story for children, especially when they are learning about different types of jobs, and one that would make for a great Father's Day read tradition as well.

[Ebookwormy1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a favorite story from childhood. We read it in Richard Scarry's the Best Storybook Ever. The illustration and text are heartwarming and wholesome. The story turns on the warmth, joy and blessing of being a part of a family and aspiring to raise a family.

It wasn't until the following article came to my attention online that I discovered it was available as a stand along title. Highly recommended.

Sunde, Joseph. "Fatherhood As Vocation in Richard Scarry's The Bunny Book" acton.org, May 8, 2013
https://blog.acton.org/archives/53412...

For the full storybook, see...
Richard Scarry's Best Storybook Ever, Scarry, 1950
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Leah McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books was my favorite book as a child! I love e story being told. The baby bunny’s family are all predicting what baby bunny could potentially have as a career one day. All of the predictions are so ambitious. I love the pictures that go a long with each guess as well. The ending is super special and precious. All around a great read🤗

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baby bunny's family is guessing what he will grow up to be, but baby Bunny knows he wants to become a daddy Bunny. It's very cute, and the illustrations are wonderful. Plus, the underlying message that baby Bunny considers being a dad a full-time job is very wholesome and refreshing, for the time this was originally written or even by today's standards.

[Hannah Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Numerous members of the bunny family, both immediate and extended, take turns guessing what the baby bunny will be he grows up, but baby bunny isn't swayed and knows what he will be--a daddy rabbit! Featuring Richard Scarry's classic illustrations that are warm and detailed, this is a cozy book to discuss different jobs with the super sweet ending of baby bunny grown up with all his children.

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute story of a family's hopes and dreams of a baby bunny and the baby bunny's hopes and dreams.
Brilliantly illustrated by Richard Scarry.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 10 out of ten points.

[Terri Rowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bunny Book is one of the books I will be using for a future cookie fan art project. This was one of my favorite books as a child. It was still enjoyable to read now. It is such a soothing, sweet story.

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of "I Am A Bunny" will flock to these kindred illustrations, and honestly, it is pretty adorable how this little baby bunny's only aspiration is to be a good parent, echoing his own loved-up childhood.

[Pavithra Sivananthalingam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do agree with the bunny in wanting to be a bunny... because it's fun to be one

[P.S. Winn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about what you can be when you grows up and delightful to see the baby bunny wants to be a bunny like daddy.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute kids book.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

read to Rylee by Carol

[Kole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forge your own path Baby Bunny! Do something that earns money though....

[Leah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s an okay book. Love the illustrations. Spoiler: the bunny wants to grow up to be a dad, so if for whatever reason you want to avoid the topic of dads, avoid this book.