Like most 4-year olds (I suspect), my daughter loves animals. And, she has a special affinity for rabbits; i.e., bunnies of all sizes and shapes, and textures, such as chocolate bunnies; coloring book bunnies, stuffed bunnies, and assorted toy bunnies. You name it, we probably got it. We visit the bunnies at a local farm fairly regularly.

And, in keeping with the bunny theme, we usually pick up a bunny tale here and there at the weekly visit to the library for bedtime reading. One such recent pick was Astro Bunnies, written by Christine Loomis and illustrated by Ora Eitan [2001, G.P. Putnam’s Sons (Penguin Putnam), 28 pages].

“Can bunnies go to outer space?”
“No daddy, only astronauts can. In big rockets. And, they wear suits.”
“What if the astronaut was a bunny?”
“Hmmm… I don’t think so.”
“How do astronauts go potty?”
“Ask your mom; she toots in space.”
“Daddy! You get a time-out.”

Here, the tale of bunnies that go to outer space and back is to be accepted as a matter of fact.

Astro bunnies
See a star
Think they’d like to
Go that far

Ultimately, the bunnies are off in their rockets for a night-time ride into space.

Whiz and whoosh
The rocket races
Through the deep
And darkened spaces

But, as all bunnies do, they always come home.

Rockets fly and
Rockets roam
But bunnies always
Come back home

The story format of Astro Bunnies is that of a narrative poem with layered illustration by Eitan. The illustrations use mixed media and gouache (an opaque watercolor paint*) and achieve a rather imaginative, amorphous look. The artist adds in some shading and illumination effects, and the space scenes include some whimsical details. [The bunnies in space meet 3-eared alien bunnies.] The bunnies are recognizable as rabbits but also remain a bit ethereal in shape and look.

This is not a bedtime book with a moral tale or a life lesson attached to it. It is just a bit of whimsy for nighttime reading. I get the sense that the entire book is meant for a relaxing interval before bedtime; a bit of decompression before they find the sandman. In that regard, it seemingly works rather well. My 4-year old has enjoyed it as the last book we read at bedtime and slowly drifts off as the poem unfolds. For a while anyway… It was a definite “keeper” from the library visit.

The poem is easily read with a natural rhythm and meter. (The overflap material states it is written to the rhythm of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” That’s probably accurate, but I generally read it a bit slower than that treatment.)

The visuals are really the appeal for me here as Eitan has constructed a fantasy world of bunnies in space that pulls the reader in with little details (she uses wallpaper in one or two scenes), splashes of color and interesting shapes and constructions (three stars).

Sources
* See Peter and Linda Murray, The Penguin Dictionary of Art and Artists, Penguin Books, 1989.

www.penguinputnam.com



Recommended: Yes