First Tomato

Voyage to the Bunny Planet #1

by Rosemary Wells

Claire's bad day at school is helped after a visit to the Bunny Planet, where she has the day that should have been.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Fantasy, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Rosemary Wells is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. She often uses animal characters to address real human issues. Some of her most well-known characters are Max & Ruby and Timothy from Timothy Goes To School (both were later adapted into Canadian-animated preschool television series, the former’s airing on Nickelodeon (part of the Nick Jr. block) and the latter’s as part of PBS Kids on PBS).

Reviews

[Allie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting a Rosemary Wells Bunny Book, but I did not expect a weird hard follow jaunt into SPACE?!?!? Neither of our copies have circulated in 5+ years but part of me wants to keep a copy because it's such an insane wacky nonsense acid trip. BUT logic is getting the better of me, and these books have lived long and fruitful lives so they're getting the axe.

RIP First Tomato (A Voyage to the Bunny Planet).

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire is having a bad day, but is transported to Bunny Planet, where she can experience a simply wonderful day instead.

Mother Tongue notes: This was a good lead into a discussion of the students’ worst and best days ever. They eagerly used expressive and descriptive language to tell their narratives.

This would pair excellently with “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Claire’s coping mechanism can be presented as a conscious decision that students could try on their own not so good days.

[Cheryl]

I read and reread this. And read the other reviews. And I still don't get it. Why is this child waiting for the bus in the dark all alone? How does a daydream come real in the winter? Or if it doesn't, then wtf did actually happen?

Unrated because I'm sure I'm missing something. We can trust that Wells meant something. And that even the most awful book doesn't get published *just* because of the reputation of the author. Please read it and explain....

[Shawn Deal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute little story about a bunny having his first tomato, how it was grown and turned into soup.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

A soft, sweet story that turns a child's rough day (spilled breakfast, snowy streets, boredom and embarrassment at school) into an imaginative journey. A "voyage to the bunny planet" allows Claire to dip into the day she would've preferred. What's interesting about this short tale is that this ideal day isn't what you'd expect from a child. There's nothing extravagant about it. All Claire wants is a sunny afternoon, with a plump, ripe tomato ready to be plucked from the vines outside her house, and a warm bowl of her mother's soup indoors. It's a quiet, tangible sort of dream.

[Fjóla · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wasn't sure what to make of this book or how to explain it to my son. I think he was feeling pretty ambivalent about it too. At some level it's sort of cute and so are the illustrations, but at the same time it's a sad story, even bordering on "disturbing".

I'm still looking to see whether on repeated readings it will win us over ...

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I was weirded out all the same. Not one of Wells' best books, but perhaps I should read more of the series to get it.

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

somewhere in a scrapbook there is a photo of four-year-old me sitting out in my mom’s garden on some cement blocks. it is a late summer day. I am caught mid-bite, devouring an entire large ripe tomato. there are maybe half a dozen cherry tomatoes lined up in front of me. this book is a large part of the reason that photo exists.

[Lynnette · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 22-month-old really loves this trilogy. He will sit through all three books in a row. They are cute little stories with simple yet effective storytelling and very pleasant rhymes. The pictures are soft and pretty to look at. I like that they encourage children to use their storytelling abilities and imagination to change their mood if they're re having a frustrating day.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really sure what type of storytime to put this in but it was cute quick read about a bunny having a bad day so she imagines going to another planet and picking vegetables for her mother for dinner but she really wants to keep the tomato. Toddler and up.

[Jan Bufkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never read a book of Rosemary Wells I didn’t love. Many of her picture books are better known than her Voyages to the Bunny Planet which are special favorites of mine. I better buy them now since they may go out of print.

[Hannah Garden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect little picture book.

[kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

sweet

[Charlotte Stribling · Rating 1 out of 5]

I should be compensated for completing this “book”

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this a thousand times and never tire of it. "It was there all along!"

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

What in the world did I just read?? SO this bunny has a bad day, but suddenly everything is fixed by her daydreaming? I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!!! Sure, daydreaming is therapeutic, but when LUNCH is a dreadful activity daydreaming just doesn't seem to be a fix-all thing.

Also, who would dream of TOMATOES????? I understand castles, outer space, queens...land of candy and chocolate...but tomatoes? Sorry Ms. Wells. I'm just not buying it. =|

[Alissa Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Far beyond the moon and stars..."

This is a wonderful story for young children and a family favorite.

After a terrible winter day at school, Claire is whisked away to the Bunny Planet. Here it is warm springtime. Her mother lovingly sends her into the garden for the first tomato of the season. Claire almost eats it, but takes it to her mom.

It is a loving story and has inspired us to acknowledge bad days in our house by saying someone needs a trip to the Bunny Planet.

[Annie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is basically made of two cute stories that fail to come together in any way. I usually really, really like Rosemary Wells for her honest take on parents and children. This book is confusing. I had to read it twice to understand what she was doing. The book is trying to be cute, and different. I guess I applaud her risk, but it didn't work for me.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire is having a particularly bad day. As she waits on the bench in the snow for her bus, she dreams of the Bunny Planet. On the Bunny Planet it is warm and sunny. Vegetables on the Bunny Planet are ripe. Claire finds a tomato for her mother. As she dreams of eating her tomato soup that her mother makes, her bus comes and she is back to earth.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reprinted and/or excerpt included in The 20th-Century Children's Book Treasury: Picture Books and Stories to Read Aloud.

[Megan Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ready this when I really needed something to soothe and comfort me. Rosemary Wells never fails to calm. I have loved her illustrations since I first discovered Moris' Disappearing Bag as a very young child. This one is pretty close to a classic children's storybook, though not necessarily my favorite of hers.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire's day isn't going as she thought it would. Spilled breakfast, wet cold feet, too much math, and a sad lunch. What else could go wrong? Luckily the Bunny queen whisks Claire away to Bunny Planet, and shows her what her day should have been like, with a trip to a summer garden, and the very first ripened tomato, and the joy it brings.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an odd story about a little bunny who escapes to Bunny Planet when she is having a rough day. We really enjoy Rosemary Wells' books and although this is not our favorite book, we still love her illustrations.

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations are very nice and the story is short. In it Claire doesn't like anything she eats, until she visits Bunny Planet. Afterwards, her mother makes her some tomato soup and Claire is very happy about it. A 2.5 AR level book.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author does something interesting here; whenever a character enters the bunny planet, there is a switch from third person to first. I also like the rhythm of the book; rhyming words create a wonderful foundation for reading aloud.

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

nothing goes right for Claire all day. While waiting for the bus she visits "Bunny Planet" to imagine the perfect day.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

claire is having a bad day. but its okay.the bunny queen rescues her from certain abyssal depression by showing her how her day should have been. god bless her.

[Cana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mommy says: When you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, a visit to the Bunny Planet (and to the vegetable garden) can save the day.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful soothing stories of making a bad day better with a trip to the Bunny Planet.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do miss the yummy tomatos that were grown in the backyard during my childhood. They were so choice.