Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Battle Bunny by Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett

I realized the other day that I rarely blog about picture books, and I don’t know why.  I LOVE PICTURE BOOKS!!!  So, I decided that I am going to focus on some wonderful picture books.  When I was a kid Little Golden Books were very popular.  Recently, Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett released Battle Bunny, a book that takes us back to the good old days of Little Golden Books.   Of course with about everything Mr. Scieszka does there is quite the twist.

Alexander received a lovely birthday book from his Gran Gran.  It is a sweet story about how Bunny celebrates his birthday.  Well, Alexander will have none of this.  Soon Bunny is transformed into Battle Bunny.  The real birthday boy crosses out words and lines and changes this cute bunny into a terrorist determined to destroy the forest.  It gets so bad in the forest that the President sends Air Force One to eliminate Battle Bunny.

I read this book to my third graders.  A funny thing happened on the way to enjoying the book.  First, the boys concern that Mr. Scieszka and Mr. Barnett were going to get into BIG trouble for writing in someone’s book, and passing it off as their own. Second, they thought it was disrespectful that they ruined Matthew Myers’ pleasant illustrations.  I was shocked that it took a while for these kids to get that Birthday Bunny is not the real book.


After the second read through the real laughter started.  Since that day the book has been in someone’s book box.  I have no idea what condition it will be in at the end of the year, but with every great book I end up purchasing another copy.

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