Kunoichi Bunny. Sara Cassidy. Illustrated by Brayden Sato. 2022. 20 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book]
First sentence: Hiss! Hiss!
Premise/plot: This is a nearly wordless picture book "in graphic novel form" [says GoodReads]. A little girl and her father are out for a stroll. Along for the ride, of course, is the girl's bunny, Kunoichi. Time and time and time again, the little girl intervenes and saves the day as situations and problems emerge. (For example, she throws the bunny at two fighting, hissing cats on the street. This distracts the cats and the bunny (and the girl) "save" the day.) After each incident, the dad finds the bunny and returns it to the girl. The day is PACKED with action and adventure. The book concludes with them being tucked in at night. (The bunny being newly laundered).
My thoughts: It is nearly wordless. I find it interesting that so many reviews call the girl whiny, bratty, etc. Other than a speech bubble with the bunny's name, the girl says nothing. The father doesn't seem angry or frustrated at having to pick up the bunny again and again and again. Just mildly perplexed. Like HOW does the bunny keep falling out of the stroller? Like how did the bunny end up over here? No indications of annoyance or anger.
I liked this book. I'm not sure I loved it absolutely. But I enjoyed it. I definitely didn't pick up "this kid is a total brat" vibes. If anything, I thought the kid was empathetic. Especially when she noticed the older woman on the bus (or form of transit) was lonely and had the bunny wave at her to bring a smile to her face.
© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers
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