Bunnies' ABC

by Garth Williams (Illustrator)

A beloved 1950s Little Golden Book about the alphabet is back in print and ready to hop into young readers' hearts everywhere!
 
This classic Little Golden Book, by the illustrator of Charlotte’s Web, is a go-to alphabet book for every child’s library! Adorable bunnies scamper and play as they introduce an animal for each letter. From Alligator to Panda to Zebra, Garth Williams’ expressive animals come to life for the littlest readers.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Animals

23 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1954

About the author

Garth Montgomery Williams was an American artist who came to prominence in the American postwar era as an illustrator of children's books. Generations of children picture their favorite fictional characters as drawn by Garth Williams. Thus the unforgettable dapper mouse, Stuart Little, or the kindhearted spider, Charlotte and her pig friend, Wilbur. And many other animals (bears, dogs, kittens, crickets) fantastic creatures (elves, fairies) and children and grown-ups in books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, George Selden, Charlotte Zolotow, Else H. Minarik and many others. Garth Williams was also the writer of seven children's books, like Baby Farm Animals, but it is primarily as an illustrator that he will always be remembered. His most controversial book was Rabbit's Wedding, written and illustrated by him in 1958, for it stirred racial issues.

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This would be best presented as a companion to other alphabet books. The pictures are cute but the animals featured are eclectic, to say the least! A quick read with bright colors...I think it would be more suited as a board book for the appropriate target age.

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

This has been another book brought back by the past and one that truly isn't much to write home about. As a starter ABC book it does have its good points while is definitely more a book to work on being interactive with young readers rather than having them learn to read.

First of all the alphabet is both provided in capitals and lower letters so the readers of the book get a chance to see how both letters look side-by-side. Second of all the page presents the reader with just one major subject that begins with the letter itself thus helping children to get to know what may start with that particular letter.

The illustrations are a bit off for me when I look back at it. Although bunnies are normally small, these particular ones are tiny, especially when compared to the subject. Knowing that the author is hoping the bunnies are just background help to the alphabet most of the subjects tower high above the said bunny or seem like dinosaurs.

At the same time each entry has its own little bunny doing something in the background whether it is copying the animal on the page, providing it food, providing emotional response or just doing whatever the author chose it to do. Fortunately to keep the reader alert the bunnies aren't all the same while each has also been presented with various personalities that can be seen by what they are doing.

All in all it is a wonderful little bit of a starter for very young readers but otherwise not a hefty read to pass the time.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh, how I love Garth Williams!

[Sylvester (Taking a break in 2023) · Rating 4 out of 5]

5* art (Garth Williams again) lovely BIG illustrations
4* concept

[Nicola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miss 4 likes it because of the little bunny illustrations. There's some interesting alphabet choices - like the Xenurus unicinctus: an armadillo native of the tropical parts of S. America.

Miss 4 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

[Dr Mona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ask kids: how did the little spider save piggy? Well, by writing the words 'SOME PIG' in a web above the head just before s/he was scheduled to be killed for food. Kids love farm life. Kids love the main characters and the story. As teachers, we have to improve their comprehension. How about drawing them deeper into the story through a discussion of author's themes as exemplified by determination, loyalty, friendship.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the artwork. I love the little bunny on each page. I did not like the animal choices to match the alphabet. As an ABC book- G for giraffe makes it useless. Also the mix of short and long vowels. (alligator and unicorn). Frustrating.

[Mara Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an animal alphabet book.

3 topic ideas:
Alphabet - letter names and sounds
Animals
Habitats

[Monica Tomasello · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the illustrations by Garth Williams

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Extremely basic but does the job. Also the bunny for each letter was interesting to follow through the pages.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic animal alphabet book from the 50's.

[Kylie Abecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best alphabet book. A couple of the animals even I didn’t know.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

An oldie - doesn't even seem to have an image for Goodreads!
But worth it for the delightful and realistic illustrations of animals.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A animal abc book with Garth Williams illustrations

[neem]

Ff for fish

[Maki ⌒☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mom saw a bunch of Golden Books when she went shopping the other day, and grabbed a couple of them for my daughter as an Easter present.

Bunnies' ABC was cute, although I question their choice in animals.

Ermine for E, instead of elephant? Really, book!

They really had to stretch to find something for X - they went with xenarthra, which is a type of armadillo. I'm pretty sure that's what it is, at least.



So they go with an incredibly obscure animal for X, but they used unicorns for U.

I am baffled by your choices in animals, book.

Still, the artwork was very cute, and apparently the book tastes good, since my daughter wouldn't stop licking the pages.

[Annabellecarter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bunnies' ABC by Garth Williams is a very easy ABC book for very young readers. The book literally goes through each letter of the alphabet (one per page) and places a different animal with each letter of the alphabet. The illustrations are great and take up most of the page; allowing children to comprehend the name of the animal, the letter it starts with and what each animal looks like. I imagine this would be one of the books that young children first use when starting to read.

[Winslow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many of the more exotic animals you are interested in appear in this book: an ibis, ermine, xenurus, and especially the yak. You always say "uh oh" and pick up the hay that has slipped out from the bunny rabbit's armful of hay, and feed it to the horse. You also learned about hot air balloons here.

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute bunnies interact with a plethora of animals in this ABC book.



A classic!

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The bunnies help take readers the through the alphabet. Clear illustrations help to identify the words.
If you're wondering what X stands for, it is xenurus.

[Elizabeth]

Odd choices of animals, like "E" for ermine and "X" for Xenurus.

[The Book Box]

Mommy and Daddy have read this to me several times as I learn the ABCs.

[Everett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is actually called “Bunnies’ ABCs” in the collection book I have. I like that there are more exotic animals for some of the letters.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another very good children's' book by Garth Williams