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The Bionic Bunny Show
As an ordinary rabbit in real life is portrayed as a bionic bunny on his television series, the reader views all the production efforts that provide that illusion.
31 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
126 people want to read
About the author
Marc Brown
552 books385 followersMarc Tolon Brown is perhaps best known for his series of children's books about Arthur the aardvark, which was turned into an animated television show on PBS. Brown is a three-time Emmy Award winner, for his role on the television show inspired by his books.
He lives on Martha's Vineyard and in New York City with his wife, Laurie Krasny Brown. He has three children, sons Tolon and Tucker, and daughter Eliza. The names of his two sons have been hidden in all of the Arthur books except for one: Arthur's Tooth.
He lives on Martha's Vineyard and in New York City with his wife, Laurie Krasny Brown. He has three children, sons Tolon and Tucker, and daughter Eliza. The names of his two sons have been hidden in all of the Arthur books except for one: Arthur's Tooth.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 14, 2019
I thought that the book would be more imaginative and full of magic.
Unfortunately it was the opposite of this.
Unfortunately it was the opposite of this.
November 18, 2019
This is both fiction, and nonfiction. It tells the tale of Wilbur, an actor rabbit, who plays 'The Bionic Bunny' on a TV show. So, the bit about rabbits being actors, is fiction (yes, really!), but the other part of the book is nonfiction. They take you behind the scenes of 'The Bionic Bunny Show', and let you see how a TV show is actually produced.
If the child in your life ever watched the TV show Arthur, they are already familar with the Bionic Bunny, and may enjoy this book.
If you'd like to show a child what really goes on in a superhero show, this book is perfect.
3 Stars = I liked the book.
If the child in your life ever watched the TV show Arthur, they are already familar with the Bionic Bunny, and may enjoy this book.
If you'd like to show a child what really goes on in a superhero show, this book is perfect.
3 Stars = I liked the book.
April 4, 2011
Remember watching “The Bionic Bunny” on the TV series “Arthur?” Well, did you know that there was a book made during the 1980s called “The Bionic Bunny Show” that preceded the famous superhero bunny in the “Arthur” series? “The Bionic Bunny Show” is a children’s book by Marc Brown and Laurene Krasny Brown about the movie star life of Wilbur and how he portrays the world’s greatest superhero! “The Bionic Bunny Show” is a truly hilarious and informative book about movies that children will love for many years!
I never would have thought that the popular Bionic Bunny that resurfaces a lot on “Arthur” would be introduced in this book! Marc Brown and Laurene Krasny Brown has done a great job at both writing and illustrating this book about the life of a mild-mannered bunny and his acting job. I loved the way that Marc Brown and Laurene Krasny Brown made this story extremely hilarious and informative at the same time as Wilbur keeps on botching up his lines and surprisingly acts the opposite of Bionic Bunny as Wilbur is portrayed as a weak and wimpy character, while Bionic Bunny is portrayed as a strong and brave character and that just shows how much of a great actor that Wilbur really is! I also loved how Marc Brown and Laurene Krasny Brown provided a television word bank at the end of the book so that it would help children understand about the words used in the television business like the words “actor,” “control room” and “director.” Marc Brown’s illustrations are extremely hilarious and creative at the same time, especially the image of Wilbur looking so skinny and wearing glasses while his character Bionic Bunny is so muscular and strong and it really brings out the drastic change that Wilbur goes through in becoming his alternative ego. I really loved the image of Bionic Bunny himself as he wears a blue jumpsuit and a red cape and has a large red “B” on his shirt and he also ears some cool looking tennis shoes that supposedly makes him look taller (I would love to have such tennis shoes myself!) I also loved the illustrations of the different camera equipment used for the show as children can easily see how movies are created and I loved the way that Marc Brown inserted a comic strip styled story within the book as the story flips back and forth between Bionic Bunny’s adventures (comic book styled) and real life which involves Wilbur messing up his lines and informing the audience about the film industry.
All in all, “The Bionic Bunny Show” is a great introduction to the world of television and also a great introduction to the superhero Bionic Bunny that every child will enjoy reading about for years to come! I would recommend this book to children ages four and up since the material is not too difficult to understand.
I never would have thought that the popular Bionic Bunny that resurfaces a lot on “Arthur” would be introduced in this book! Marc Brown and Laurene Krasny Brown has done a great job at both writing and illustrating this book about the life of a mild-mannered bunny and his acting job. I loved the way that Marc Brown and Laurene Krasny Brown made this story extremely hilarious and informative at the same time as Wilbur keeps on botching up his lines and surprisingly acts the opposite of Bionic Bunny as Wilbur is portrayed as a weak and wimpy character, while Bionic Bunny is portrayed as a strong and brave character and that just shows how much of a great actor that Wilbur really is! I also loved how Marc Brown and Laurene Krasny Brown provided a television word bank at the end of the book so that it would help children understand about the words used in the television business like the words “actor,” “control room” and “director.” Marc Brown’s illustrations are extremely hilarious and creative at the same time, especially the image of Wilbur looking so skinny and wearing glasses while his character Bionic Bunny is so muscular and strong and it really brings out the drastic change that Wilbur goes through in becoming his alternative ego. I really loved the image of Bionic Bunny himself as he wears a blue jumpsuit and a red cape and has a large red “B” on his shirt and he also ears some cool looking tennis shoes that supposedly makes him look taller (I would love to have such tennis shoes myself!) I also loved the illustrations of the different camera equipment used for the show as children can easily see how movies are created and I loved the way that Marc Brown inserted a comic strip styled story within the book as the story flips back and forth between Bionic Bunny’s adventures (comic book styled) and real life which involves Wilbur messing up his lines and informing the audience about the film industry.
All in all, “The Bionic Bunny Show” is a great introduction to the world of television and also a great introduction to the superhero Bionic Bunny that every child will enjoy reading about for years to come! I would recommend this book to children ages four and up since the material is not too difficult to understand.
August 2, 2024
I was inspired to read this after watching the Reading Rainbow documentary on Netflix. My inner child loved this! A great introduction to media literacy and the difference between fantasy and reality. Wilbur didn’t learn his lines ahead of time for his job and the director created a toxic work environment with her sarcasm and cutting words, but those can just open the door for conversations about work ethic and how to talk to others politely.
February 25, 2022
This book predates the Arthur Series. I grew up watching Arthur the television show and Arthur watches this show everyday at 4:30. It's kind of neat how Marc Brown worked this into broadcasting, but the story just isn't as entertaining as the books about Arthur, his family and his friends. Children in the 80's probably got a larger kick out of it. I'll just say that it was okay...
February 11, 2023
A fun behind the scenes of Buster's favorite TV show from the Arthur series.
November 2, 2024
This was sad.
October 22, 2008
Genre: Picture Book
Reading Level: Early
Topics & Themes: Television. Actors playing superheroes. It takes more than a costume to make a superhero: at end of book Wilbur goes home and does not even have the strength to remove a lid from a jar.
Curricular Use: Read-aloud or shared. The children could get into all the dialogue and acting out the television scenes.
Literary Elements: Great action words/verbs: snapped, tied, switched, tested mumbled. Switches from reality to script of television show. Personification: characters are animals. A glossary of television terms at the end of the book. Humor.
Text & Pictures: Interaction between text and pictures. When the action is part of the television show, the illustrator uses frames to make the pictures appear to be on a television set.
Additional Notes: Carly's nomination for “Won't You Be My Neighbor” Award
Reading Level: Early
Topics & Themes: Television. Actors playing superheroes. It takes more than a costume to make a superhero: at end of book Wilbur goes home and does not even have the strength to remove a lid from a jar.
Curricular Use: Read-aloud or shared. The children could get into all the dialogue and acting out the television scenes.
Literary Elements: Great action words/verbs: snapped, tied, switched, tested mumbled. Switches from reality to script of television show. Personification: characters are animals. A glossary of television terms at the end of the book. Humor.
Text & Pictures: Interaction between text and pictures. When the action is part of the television show, the illustrator uses frames to make the pictures appear to be on a television set.
Additional Notes: Carly's nomination for “Won't You Be My Neighbor” Award
December 2, 2008
For Liane's Award
Level: Early
Genre: Picture Book
Topics: Television, acting, super heros
Social: the difference between real life and acting/fantasy
Curricular Use: Read-aloud (students would really get into the dialogue)
Literary Elements: a lot of action words/verbs, comic books elements, humor, irony
Strong connection between the pictures and text
Level: Early
Genre: Picture Book
Topics: Television, acting, super heros
Social: the difference between real life and acting/fantasy
Curricular Use: Read-aloud (students would really get into the dialogue)
Literary Elements: a lot of action words/verbs, comic books elements, humor, irony
Strong connection between the pictures and text
November 13, 2008
Mommy says: Ahh, another one by Marc Brown, creator of the beloved and oft-checked-out Arthur and DW books. This one wasn't as good, although we did learn a few thigns about how TV show and movie stunts are filmed and edited.
March 27, 2008
I think of this book every time I need Mike to open some kind of jar for me. This was featured on Reading Rainbow.
June 9, 2015
This was a great Reading Rainbow book and is so outdated now that we are in the digital age but still a lot of fun.
May 13, 2010
A lot of wardrobe, makeup and even camera angles transform tiny Wilbur into his super hero role. An introduction to television words and terms is provided. Seeing may not lead to believing.
July 31, 2015
Bionic Bunny Show a part of arthurs' tv show it is a story within the beloved books
May 12, 2014
Excellent book for teaching media literacy to children.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews