Richard Scarry's Naughty Bunny

by Richard Scarry

A naughty little bunny tries to be good, but sometimes it's just too hard.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Animals

24 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

RICHARD SCARRY is one of the world's best-loved children's authors EVER! In his extraordinary career, Scarry illustrated over 150 books, many of which have never been out of print. His books have sold over 100 million copies around the world, and are currently published in over twenty languages. No other illustrator has shown such a lively interest in the words and concepts of early childhood. Richard Scarry was posthumously awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Illustrators in 2012.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just when I think my nephew has become a hardened teenager full of sour vinegar, he does something innocent. Tonight, he chose a book from the golden books on the family shelves and wanted to read this. We both laughed at this little bunny and the naughty things he did. He even admitted that the bunny was like him alot. Then, with a smile on his face he said, ‘there are some great ideas in this book for tomorrow.’ He laughed and I think he was joking. I hope he was joking.

Richard does a great job here painting a picture of a little boy and all the ways they can drive a person crazy. I mean this is spot on. Drawing on walls and pushing children, etc. It can be so frustrating and then they have a day they are so sweet. Art imitates life here in this one.

The nephew gave this 4 stars. The niece did not read with us.

[Emkoshka · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover illustration says it all: bunny in a sailor suit holding a saw! This is not like the Richard Scarry stories I grew up with; it's better! Naughty little bunny is your typical terrible toddler, but damn cute too for all the mischief he makes: drawing on walls, not finishing his food, plucking chicken feathers to make a cap. Maybe it's because I'm also reading Dorothy Edwards's My Naughty Little Sister at the moment, but naughty children are so much more interesting than well-behaved ones!

[Aljaz Motion Cut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lesson learned, everyday you have the opportunity to improve

[Denise Elwyn McKenzie Elwynmckz McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being good needs a little encouragement.

[Sagan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Note from Mom: My son does his own ratings and this is really what he thought. He seemed increasingly confused as the story went on. I think he only finished it because it was so alien to him he couldn't turn away. He liked the hugging, but he didn't like the main character. He asked if there were really kids like that and said (emphatically) he didn't want to be friends with them.

I love Richard Scarry, but I think this book is probably better for a family where going to your room is a punishment (it's a reward for keeping things tidy here) and kids get rewarded for trying and failing (my kid gets a hug).

Not that there's anything wrong with that, every family does what works, but it made zero sense in the context of our family life, (which, admittedly, relies heavily on the philosophies of Yoda and Mr. Rogers.)

[D.S. Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite children's book. I get it: the bunny doesn't mean to mess up, misbehave, and be bad, but he does. He's a child, and as angelic as we wish our kids to be, all children make mistakes. This book is about the parents paying attention to, disciplining, and forgiving their child. The parents do not ignore the misbehaviors of their naughty bunny who becomes genuinely sorry and is full of love. He is a cute long-eared character who has the ability to grow through his remorse, and he tries to be better tomorrow than he is today. The theme is mature, yet easy for kids to grasp.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Naughty Bunny tries so very hard all day to be good. Although he's trying he gets in to so much trouble that he wears his Momma out. At the end of the day his Momma tells him that it makes her sad when he's bad and she wished he would be good. So he told her he would try and be good the next day and the next day he was really good because he knew his Momma didn't want to be sad. Richard Scarry's books are always so nicely written and illustrated and often (like this one) teach a lesson.

[Jillian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I made a crack on Facebook about the cover image - I called it "sociopathic rabbit." And after reading the book, I have to say I was probably right. :-p
Naughty little Bunny gets up so all sorts of shenanigans - some harmless, some not so very. Sure, he's probably the human equivalent of 3 or 4, but discipline seems to be pretty lacking in his life. Mother just gets exasperated and sends him elsewhere instead of actually addressing the problematic behaviour.

[Mandy J. Hoffman · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this book is all about a bunny who is naughty and I didn't really like the whole take on it, it wasn't quite a "not to read" because it did lead to some good conversation with my kids about obeying and disobedience. Most likely this is a book for the parent to preview before sitting down to read with kids...even though it's a simple little book.

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good book. One of my favs when I was a wee little lassie

[Maryellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My very favorite as a child!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this as a child; one of my favorites.

[Tristan Doane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book shows that even the naughtiest of children can be taught to be good. We all do bad things by accident, but for good reasons; we just don't see it yet.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's interesting to read these older Golden Books in this era.

[Beth Huddleston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old fashioned and endearing . . .even though the title is rather eye catching.

[Jelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book when I was a child. The pictures are great, as per usual for Richard Scarry. However, I have never understood what the book is trying to say, since the first time he draws on the wall, he is punished, but at the end of the book, when the bunny paints "I love Mommy" on the wall, nobody minds it. Additionally, many of the actions the bunny does in the book that are labeled as "naughty" are not intentionally naughty, but rather accidental or just neutral. Cluttering his room? I don't see the naughtiness there.

[Jared Pangier · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple story of a bunny who tries his best to be good—only after being extremely naughty. This cute story shows how hard it can be for parents to scold their kids, who are naughty, when they are also extremely cute and loving—and when their naughtiness is filled with curiosity and admiration for the parents. While I rated this book above Scarry's The Gingerbread Man and Rabbit and His Friends, my daughter would not. She didn't like how the cover illustration didn't match the internal story. But she's only four, so what does she know? More than we know, it seems:)

[Megan (ReadingRover) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best part of this book is the part where little bunny fucks up his bestie William for being a snitch. Then William’s mom calls little bunny’s mom and the looks on their faces as they are talking are the best! 3.5 stars

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, since I bought the book, I am a Bunny, I thought that I needed to buy, Naughty Bunny. Interesting that Naughty Bunny before the book, I am a Bunny! So, M, for his birthday, I bought both for him. Both of the books, are sweet!

[Beanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My husband and son both adored this book. I.... didn't. Maybe I'll like it on a day where I'm less stressed out. Maybe.

[Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was alright but mommy thinks when I get older this will give me bad ideas.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was hilarious. Would I read it for a storytime? No. Would I give it to a child? Probably not. Would I buy it for myself? Yes. Would I buy prints of the illustrations? Absolutely.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as a kid, as well as most Golden Books! This reminds me of how my mom called me “bunny” growing up, as well as the fact that I was, indeed, a naughty child ❤️🐇😈

[Lydia]

I liked the cover of the bunny holding the tooth saw and the story in no way delivered. Saccarrine. A good lesson for weird kids about judging books by their cover.

[King Kimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Scarry is one of my childhood favorites. I remember reading this as a child, and so when a customer returned the board book version, I had to reread.

[Caroline · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book and character had zero redeeming qualities.

[Lindsay Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my childhood favorites!

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow ...he is naughty!

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The message is likely confusing for young ones.