The Runaway Bunny
The Runaway Bunny book cover

The Runaway Bunny

Board book – Picture Book, January 24, 2017

Price
$8.99
Publisher
HarperFestival
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0061074295
Dimensions
5.1 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
Weight
8.8 ounces

Description

Since its publication in 1942, The Runaway Bunny has never been out of print. Generations of sleepy children and grateful parents have loved the classics of Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd, including Goodnight Moon . The Runaway Bunny begins with a young bunny who decides to run away: "'If you run away,' said his mother, 'I will run after you. For you are my little bunny.'" And so begins a delightful, imaginary game of chase. No matter how many forms the little bunny takes--a fish in a stream, a crocus in a hidden garden, a rock on a mountain--his steadfast, adoring, protective mother finds a way of retrieving him. The soothing rhythm of the bunny banter--along with the surreal, dream-like pictures--never fail to infuse young readers with a complete sense of security and peace. For any small child who has toyed with the idea of running away or testing the strength of Mom's love, this old favorite will comfort and reassure. (Baby to preschool) “Delightful. What mother, human, or rabbit, doesn’t want to keep that new little one in their sight at all times?” — Brightly 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. Margaret Wise Brown, cherished for her unique ability to convey a child’s experience and perspective of the world, transformed the landscape of children’s literature with such beloved classics as Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny . Other perennial favorites by Ms. Brown include My World ; Christmas in the Barn ; The Dead Bird ; North, South, East, West ; and Good Day, Good Night . Clement Hurd (1908–1988) is best known for illustrating Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny , the classic picture books by Margaret Wise Brown. He studied painting in Paris with Fernand Léger and others in the early 1930s. After his return to the United States in 1935, he began to work in children's books. He illustrated more than one hundred books, many of them with his wife, Edith Thacher Hurd, including the Johnny Lion books, The Day the Sun Danced , and The Merry Chase . A native of New York City, he lived most of his life in Vermont and California. Clement Hurd (1908–1988) se graduó de Yale University. Estudió pintura en París en los años 1930 con Fernand Léger, entre otros. Allí fue donde desarrolló su estilo característico, compuesto de colores de fuerte contraste. Hurd estuvo casado con la escritora Edith Thacher Hurd, con quien también creó muchos libros que se convirtieron en favoritos de los niños. Read more

Features & Highlights

  • HBO Max animated special premieres March 25, 2021!
  • The Runaway Bunny
  • by Margaret Wise Brown, beloved children’s book author of
  • Goodnight Moon
  • , in a sturdy board book edition, perfect for little hands.
  • “If you run away,” said his mother, “I will run after you. For you are my little bunny.”
  • A little bunny keeps running away from his mother in this imaginary game of hide-and-seek. Children will be profoundly comforted by this lovingly steadfast mother who finds her child every time.
  • The Runaway Bunny
  • , first published in 1942 and never out of print, has indeed become a classic. Generations of readers have fallen in love with the gentle magic of its reassuring words and loving pictures. The sturdy board book pages make this edition of the beloved story perfect for babies and toddlers.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(3.1K)
★★★★
25%
(1.3K)
★★★
15%
(773)
★★
7%
(361)
-7%
(-361)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Neither perfect Nor horrible

Creepy? I wonder about people who use the word 'creepy' when something is far less than 'creepy'.

Too many reviewers presenting bad reviews pretend they have a great understanding of the child psyche or literature - or both. One reviewer goes so far as to suggest that it is wrong to associate non-rabbit traits, such as swimming, to a rabbit. If you are one of these reviewers, find something more useful to do with your time. Another reviewer suggests that the book is teaching children to runaway in the grocery store.

The book is actually a simplified and child-oriented version of Voltaire's Candide, where after travelling the world looking for personal freedom and adventure and a more interesting place to live, Candide ends up back at his old home by his OWN free will to tend his garden, having survived all other misadventures.

Although I don't find the book remarkable, it is guilty of none of the overstated negative traits -- even if the overprotective Parent who fears a book with a message of an "overprotective Parent" may see it this way.

Yes, the subject is running away - it is the title of the book.

And yes, almost all children at almost any age entertain the idea at least once. And many parents fear the child's thought almost as much as the unlikely juvenile act itself.

The mother does NOT always chase down the little bunny. Sometimes she places herself in a position of passive access or support, at the expense of her own freedom. This is natural for a parent. And the mother is not forcing her will on the child or breaking the will of a child - the book clearly illustrates that the bunny has come to his own decision to stay at his home, even if the rationale is unclear. You might say that it is because he can't get away from his mom -- EXCEPT for the illustrations where he is going TO his mom. If the book were longer, and without a mother, then maybe the bunny would give detailed descriptions of why being a fish is not fun. But this is a book for a child, who does not yet depend on reason but on seemingly arbitrary boundaries defined by adults. And he finally decided his current boundaries aren't all that bad.

If you are an adult, and you are reading this book and feeling oppression, get some counseling.
131 people found this helpful
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FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION

This was the FIRST book I bought when I was pregnant with my first child. I was browsing in a bookstore and recognized it IMMEDIATELY from childhood. I have read this book to my daughter since she was 1 month old and it is still one of her very favorite books! (She is 2 years old now.) Margaret WISE Brown was definitely WISE to write this endearing book which demonstrates the depth of a mother's love for her child.
The storyline is simple yet spellbinding--the bunny wants to run away from his mother. Each time he imagines he is something different and his mother matches his imagination by becoming whom or whatever is needed to find him: he's a fish, she's a fisherman; he's a rock, she's a mountain climber; he's a flower (crocus), she's a gardener; and my personal favorite (as a child and still today) he's a bird, and she's the tree that he comes home to; and more.
This is a very special book in so many ways. The bright colors on every other full page spread make the book more captivating because of the contrast from the black and white illustration on the previous full page. (In other words, the color alternates with black and white.) But the story of the mother's love which makes the bunny realize how lucky he is to have a mother who would literally follow him to the ends of the earth to be with him and protect him and just love him...THAT is what touches me the most.
Bottom line, this book should really be available in a gold edition because that is what it will always be worth to me and my daughter. I highly recommend this to all--both young and old. (Check out GOODNIGHT MOON as well.)
Thank you, Margaret for such a heart-felt story of love; and thank you, Clement for your bright and joyful illustrations!
127 people found this helpful
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Want to love it...

I really really want to love this book because I love Good Night Moon and this story is so cute until you get to this page (see attached photo). Every time my husband and I read that page to our little boys, it bothers us so returning it today. Sorry, just being honest.
68 people found this helpful
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There are much better books capturing HEALTHY parental love

This book was received as a gift and there are certainly parents who love it. But I must say that my wife and I were creeped out when we read it to our two-year-old daughter, who didn't like it much either.

First question: WHY does the bunny want to run away from his mother so badly?? It soon becomes clear enough. She threatens to stalk him wherever he goes. There is little love or support expressed, instead it comes across as, "you'll never escape my clutches, no matter how hard you try." No wonder he keeps trying to get away.

A much healthier message would be, "I will always love and support you as you explore the world and develop your own identity." Those looking for a book conveying parental love could check out "Guess How Much I Love You" (although it does contain some competitive overtones). Those looking for a God allegory could try "You Are Special."
33 people found this helpful
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Imaginative Story with Neat Ties to Good Night Moon

My toddler daughter and I love to read this story. The illustrations are wonderful and reminiscent of Good Night Moon. We also love the "Easter eggs" we see in reference to Good Night Moon (and vice versa). This book displays the same painting of the cow jumping over the moon on a later page while Good Night Moon features the painting of Mommy bunny "fishing" for Baby bunny. Plus, I believe the bunny in Good Night Moon is the same bunny in Runaway Bunny. My 2-year-old has been in awe of these similarities recently and always insists we read this story along with Good Night Moon.

At first, I didn't think I was going to like the story of Runaway Bunny. I didn't really like the thought of a child wanting to run away from his/her mommy. But after reading the whole story, I realized the point of the story is not about a child running away from his/her mommy. It's about a mommy (or daddy or other loved guardian) letting a child know that they will be there for them always, in good times and in bad. That's what I get out of this book and what I hope my daughter learns too. It's a very imaginative story with a sweet ending. We checked it out of the library a few times before I finally decided to order it to add to our home library. I recommend it!
27 people found this helpful
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A Smothering Tale

I bought this book as a result of reviews here at Amazon,
and was horrified at what I found. In the story, the child
rabbit wants to separate from his mother. For each method
he comes up with, the mother tells how she will, in effect,
hunt down the child. I did not get the feeling of the mother's
love from this; rather, I felt that the mother was asserting
her "ownership" over the child. Had she expressed her love
and sadness that the child wanted to run away, and her support
for him, this could have been a wonderful tale. Instead,
I find it frightening to contemplate for an adult, no less
a child. . .
26 people found this helpful
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A Tender Story, Beautifully Told

I will always be there for you. That sentiment, that commitment, is at the heart of this book. My favorite book by this renowned author, its clever, reassuring story and captivating pictures will soothe your infant or toddler.
And when and your little one is asleep, read it again, to yourself. Don't be surprised if its simple beauty mists your eyes a little. A book that will be treasured for years to come.
26 people found this helpful
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The Runaway Bunny, Recommended for Age 2 1/2 & Older

The Runaway Bunny is a comforting story that promotes Social/Emotional development in young children age 30-36 months, who are beginning to separate easily from parents in a familiar setting. It is also appropriate for the 30-36 month age range, because children are then able to listen to longer stories & recognize the outline/silhouette picture of the baby bunny "hidden" in the trout stream, on the mountain, among the crocuses, in the tree, as a sailboat, etc. The small board book & the lap-reading size are great for 30-36 month old children. The book also comes in a paper-page format for children who can turn paper pages without ripping them.
24 people found this helpful
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Psycho Rabbit Mom Stalks Her Own Baby

This book is NOT cute. It is NOT poetic. It's like a horror movie where the mom has gone insane and hunts down her child who dearly wishes to escape her.
I understand that most people see this book as a mother reassuring her baby that she will be there for him no matter what he becomes and where he goes... But it doesn't read that way at all. If you were to read this book not knowing that it was a children's book, you would be scared.
I found it menacing. I own it but I don't read it to my baby. I don't want her to feel that it's likely that a mom would treat her baby this way. It's evil stuff.
Check this book out of the library if you must. Don't buy it.
24 people found this helpful
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If He Wants To Go So Badly, Let Him Go

I am going to be a father in a few days and I picked up this "charming" little book. I could not believe how uppity this bunny was. To be honest with you, this insolent little lagomorph shows no remorse whatsoever for the trials and tribulations he is obviously eager to put his (possibly unhealthily) devoted mother through. He ends up staying only because he realizes he just can't get away from his mom.
I can't imagine letting my impressionable young daughter get away with this attitude!
22 people found this helpful