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The Runaway Bunny
The Runaway Bunny
Author: Margaret Wise Brown, Clement Hurd (Illustrator)
Clement Hurd redrew some of his pictures for this new edition of the profoundly comforting story of a bunny’s imaginary game of hide-and-seek and the lovingly steadfast mother who finds him every time. "Best of the Best" Children's Books 1966–1978 (SLJ) Outstanding Children's Books of 1972 (NYT)
Info icon
ISBN-13: 9780064430180
ISBN-10: 0064430189
Publication Date: 10/12/1977
Pages: 39
Reading Level: Baby-Preschool
Rating:
  • Currently 4.2/5 Stars.
 45

4.2 stars, based on 45 ratings
Publisher: HarperTrophy
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

annalovesbooks avatar reviewed The Runaway Bunny on
Helpful Score: 1
ISBN 0061074292 - I'm kind of surprised to find myself mostly up the middle on this book. Largely loved, it does have good points, but it's hardly the outstanding story I'd expected. I'd give it 2 1/2 stars but can't, so 2 it is.

A nameless little bunny says he's going to run away and his mother tells him she will follow him. As he plans to become various things to hide from her, she is equally imaginative in the ways she will find him.

There is a little of the stalker-mom in the mother bunny, but we're talking about (a) little kids and (b) bunnies. It is extraordinarily unlikely that the target age group of 0-3 is going to be freaked out by the idea that Mommy will do anything and go anywhere to keep you safe. That's actually a fairly comforting idea. It's the person who reads the book and the tone they use that makes the difference. Make "If you run away, I will run after you." sound like a threat and you've changed the entire sense of the book.

So it isn't the freaked out parents that make me two-star this book. It's actually the book itself. On the pages where there is text, the drawings are pleasant black and white drawings; where there is no text, the illustrations are almost all gaudily colored and badly drawn (with one exception, when the mother bunny is the tree that the baby bunny as a bird flies home to). The stark difference between these two styles just isn't attractive at all and, because a huge part of childrens' books is the illustrations, the board book edition of The Runaway Bunny just doesn't cut it.

- AnnaLovesBooks
hillcoker avatar reviewed The Runaway Bunny on + 18 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This was my very favorite book to read to my kids when they were little.
reviewed The Runaway Bunny on
Helpful Score: 1
This is such a sweet book that really sums up what it means to be a mommy. There is nothing you wouldn't do and nowhere you wouldn't go for your child. The book is one that your child will remember forever. Really sweet.
reviewed The Runaway Bunny on + 11 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is one of my favorites--I loved it as a kid, and loved reading it to my kids. The pictures are beautiful, and the story of a love that you can't get away from is profound.
Read All 27 Book Reviews of "The Runaway Bunny"

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reviewed The Runaway Bunny on + 20 more book reviews
a wonderful childrens classic
reviewed The Runaway Bunny on + 115 more book reviews
a classic!
reviewed The Runaway Bunny on + 61 more book reviews
Runaway bunny declares that he is running away but his mother vows to run after him if he does. So Runaway bunny imagines various other things he could become to prevent his mother from catching him. In each instance, his mother merely invents a new identity for herself to match his. If he becomes a flower, she will become a gardener. If he becomes a sailboat, she will become the wind. Because he will always be her little bunny. Very charming illustrations alternating between color images and black and white are used to demonstrate each of bunny's alternate incarnations. This book is used by the Before Five in a Row curriculum.
Ladybrook avatar reviewed The Runaway Bunny on + 31 more book reviews
A great book for little girls and boys between the ages of 3-7. Depicts a mother bunny's endless love for her baby bunny.
reviewed The Runaway Bunny on + 8 more book reviews
One of my favorites ! A simple story with beautiful illustrations .
angelkityn avatar reviewed The Runaway Bunny on + 21 more book reviews
Beautiful illustrations. Truly a classic!
reviewed The Runaway Bunny on + 3 more book reviews
Great story, great illustrations... love it!
lylasgrannie avatar reviewed The Runaway Bunny on + 12 more book reviews
This is a story for the older toddler younger child. A story of a mother who pursues her youngster with love no matter what he says. Why that rabbit child needs to try to run away from his mother made me pause.
reviewed The Runaway Bunny on + 552 more book reviews
Annotation
A little rabbit who wants to run away tells his mother how he will escape, but she is always right behind him; even if he changes into a fish, she will become a fisherman fishing with a carrot.

From the Publisher
Clement Hurd redrew some of his pictures for this new edition of the profoundly comforting story of a bunny's imaginary game of hide-and-seek and the lovingly steadfast mother who finds him every time.




From The Critics
Children's Literature - Bethany Miller Cole
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. The little bunny dreams of becoming a fish, a bird and even a "crocus in a hidden garden." With each new incarnation the bunny imagines, his mother promises to become a fisherman, a tree and a gardener so that she may still watch over, guide and protect her little bunny. Realizing that his mother's love is unwavering, the little bunny concedes defeat and decides he would be wise to stay home and just be himself. 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. 2005 (orig. 1942), HarperFestival/HarperCollins, and Ages 6 mo. to 5.
Bettyann avatar reviewed The Runaway Bunny on + 64 more book reviews
By the author of Goodnight Moon. Adorable book for young children ages 2 to 6.
reviewed The Runaway Bunny on
Used in Before-FIAR curiculum
squeaky2889 avatar reviewed The Runaway Bunny on
I bought this book because a good friend of mind was doing a talk for an organization for which I am the Coordinator and was basing her talk on this children's book. I needed to know what the book was about.... I think that the book is darling and reaches out to children in the most awesome way, letting them know how much they are loved. I really think though that children should rate this book based on their thoughts. Sorry but I have no young one in the house to base this review upon.
Carolyn
reviewed The Runaway Bunny on
The adventures a little bunny dreams about doing and about the bunnies mother who loves him and follows him on all his adventures because he is her little bunny! Very nice pictures!
reviewed The Runaway Bunny on + 15 more book reviews
A classic!

Book Wiki

People/Characters
a mother and child rabbit. (Primary Character)

Genres: