Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
Bibliography:
Brown, Margaret Wise. Runaway Bunny. HarperCollins Publishers, 1942. ISBN: 0-06-443018-9.
Summary:
This classic and well-loved book chronicles a young bunny's futile attempt to run away from loving care of his mother, and her steadfast vows to do whatever it takes to keep him with her. As the young bunny threatens to do things like turn into a fish to swim away, or hide in a garden out of sight, his mother counters his threats by claiming that she will become a fisherman or a gardener and spend her time finding him once more. In the end, the bunny decides that if it really is impossible to escape his mother's love, he may as well remain a bunny and enjoy it. Between each scenario is a colorful, two-page illustration of the young bunny's transformation and his mother's attempts to find him. This beloved book is brought to us by Margaret Wise Brown, the author of Goodnight Moon and Big Red Barn.Thoughts:
Though written in 1942, this is a timeless tale that resonates with today's children and parents. I laughed to myself as I read of the young bunny's resolve in his runaway attempts and his boldness in making his plans known to his mother, as this is an exchange seen by all parents from their children at some point in time. Though the illustrations are a bit outdated, the story is just as relevant today as it was at its first publishing. In comparison to similar tales of parent/child love, such as Love You Forever, by Robert Munsch, this to me has a less tear-jerking, more practical response to the child's struggle for "freedom" and the parent's expression of unconditional love.
Reviews:
"Within a framework of mutual love a bunny tells his mother how he will run away and she answers his challenge by indicating how she will catch him. Warmth prevails."- School Libaray Journal (Starred Review)
"Many children may wonder what it would be like to strike out on their own, but seldom imagine it as beautifully as the little bunny in this classic tale... This picture book edition of the beautiful fable is perfect for even the smallest listener. Clement Hurd's black and white and colorful, dream-like illustrations grace spreads throughout the book, bringing to life perfectly the imagination of the young and the depth of love a parent has for a child. Children and the adults who love them will treasure this story." - Bethany Miller Cole, Children's Literature
Ideas for Use:
After reading Runaway Bunny, the librarian may ask review questions to help remember what the young bunny wanted to turn into as means of escape. Brainstorm other ideas for the young bunny to use as a way to escape from somewhere or someone by providing a prompt such as, "If I were going to turn into anything, it would be ___," or "I would run away from ___ by turning into a ____."
Younger audiences may appreciate the story through re-telling with the use of a flannel board, displaying the scene that the young bunny describes, then recalling what the mother bunny will become to get her child back.
