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The Whispering Rabbit
A rabbit who swallows a bee that proceeds to fall asleep in his throat attempts to wake the bee gently with quiet whispers
24 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1965
9 people are currently reading
285 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Wise Brown
394 books1,215 followersMargaret Wise Brown wrote hundreds of books and stories during her life, but she is best known for Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny. Even though she died nearly 70 years ago, her books still sell very well.
Margaret loved animals. Most of her books have animals as characters in the story. She liked to write books that had a rhythm to them. Sometimes she would put a hard word into the story or poem. She thought this made children think harder when they are reading.
She wrote all the time. There are many scraps of paper where she quickly wrote down a story idea or a poem. She said she dreamed stories and then had to write them down in the morning before she forgot them.
She tried to write the way children wanted to hear a story, which often isn't the same way an adult would tell a story. She also taught illustrators to draw the way a child saw things. One time she gave two puppies to someone who was going to draw a book with that kind of dog. The illustrator painted many pictures one day and then fell asleep. When he woke up, the papers he painted on were bare. The puppies had licked all the paint off the paper.
Margaret died after surgery for a bursting appendix while in France. She had many friends who still miss her. They say she was a creative genius who made a room come to life with her excitement. Margaret saw herself as something else - a writer of songs and nonsense.
Margaret loved animals. Most of her books have animals as characters in the story. She liked to write books that had a rhythm to them. Sometimes she would put a hard word into the story or poem. She thought this made children think harder when they are reading.
She wrote all the time. There are many scraps of paper where she quickly wrote down a story idea or a poem. She said she dreamed stories and then had to write them down in the morning before she forgot them.
She tried to write the way children wanted to hear a story, which often isn't the same way an adult would tell a story. She also taught illustrators to draw the way a child saw things. One time she gave two puppies to someone who was going to draw a book with that kind of dog. The illustrator painted many pictures one day and then fell asleep. When he woke up, the papers he painted on were bare. The puppies had licked all the paint off the paper.
Margaret died after surgery for a bursting appendix while in France. She had many friends who still miss her. They say she was a creative genius who made a room come to life with her excitement. Margaret saw herself as something else - a writer of songs and nonsense.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 29, 2018
I found “The Whispering Rabbit” in a local thrift shop, by the great Margaret Wise Brown and a long time American artist who is new to me, Cyndy Szekeres. She has illustrated forty books. Margaret created hundreds: always conjuring new ideas that would educate little ones with a few complex words. She insisted on writing and illustrations catering to the way kids absorb stories. She regrettably died of a burst appendix. Scores of friends said she lit up a room with her vivacious enthusiasm about everything. I would have liked her and am glad I discovered her recently. But last year, I found her lamb hardcover among family books, after Mom gave them to me. I am glad the work of this exceptional woman is everywhere because she created all of it with love.
“The Whispering Rabbit” is about a very caring, respectful rabbit protecting a bee who zoomed into the path of his yawn. Isn’t that heartening? If unimaginative, critical people get over a heretofore untapped plot: Margaret’s genius factors in. This bee not only flew into an herbivore but fell asleep therein. The rabbit’s goal is to think like a bee, until he brainstorms just the right sound to awaken the sweet little guy.
With cautious whispering efforts that are not harmful: he tries sound after sound, using his mind as much as auditory verbal communication. It seems as far back as 1948, Margaret was cognisant of meditation and telepathic animal communication. In practising these: the intention of the heart, guided by the mind, succeeds at reaching and communicating with its target. I would not be surprised to learn that Margaret was ahead of her time spiritually. Though I gave three stars for not being as emotional as other storybooks, it evidences immense profundity and is illustrated prettily.
“The Whispering Rabbit” is about a very caring, respectful rabbit protecting a bee who zoomed into the path of his yawn. Isn’t that heartening? If unimaginative, critical people get over a heretofore untapped plot: Margaret’s genius factors in. This bee not only flew into an herbivore but fell asleep therein. The rabbit’s goal is to think like a bee, until he brainstorms just the right sound to awaken the sweet little guy.
With cautious whispering efforts that are not harmful: he tries sound after sound, using his mind as much as auditory verbal communication. It seems as far back as 1948, Margaret was cognisant of meditation and telepathic animal communication. In practising these: the intention of the heart, guided by the mind, succeeds at reaching and communicating with its target. I would not be surprised to learn that Margaret was ahead of her time spiritually. Though I gave three stars for not being as emotional as other storybooks, it evidences immense profundity and is illustrated prettily.
July 20, 2019
Enjoyed reading it, will definitely read this to my students during summer school.
January 8, 2008
This is one lengthy book that I've been able to endure re-reading more than most. It's also the wordiest book ever to hold my preschooler's attention. For lack of a better word, it's a "gentle" book, and I and my daughter enjoy it.
March 19, 2017
A wonderful addition to the 75th anniversary for Little Golden Books with the re-releasing of "The Whispering Rabbit". The illustrations are absolutely sublime and gorgeous. The story is sweet and simple. A wonderful gift for a baby shower.
February 23, 2018
Yawning rabbit swallows a bee. He tries to wake the bee but can only whisper. The gopher tells him to make the quietest sound he can make to wake the bee. He tries different sounds and finally finds the perfect sound to wake the bee. Then he goes to sleep.
January 27, 2023
"Den lilla drömkaninen" på svenska. En av mina favoritböcker från barndomen.
January 10, 2025
The little rabbit yawns a very big yawn and a bumblebee flies into his throat. The bumblebee falls asleep in there, and the little rabbit can only whisper with the bumblebee blocking his throat. If the rabbit can make a small sound, the bumblebee might wake up. Rabbit tries all kinds of different sounds, until finally he finds just the right type of sound to wake up the bumblebee.
I love the whimsy in this book! It's so cute and magical!
I love the whimsy in this book! It's so cute and magical!
October 22, 2019
Get ready to yawn at the beginning of the book because the little rabbit yawns a bunch of times. It literally made me yawn. Lovely illustrations though. They are absolutely adorable. The story is sweet, but some of the text is very small. I understand the meaning behind the same text, but I had to really look to see what the text was. The background was also dark so that didn't help either. The rabbit basically swallowed a bee and the bee fell asleep so the rabbit had to make multiple sounds in order to wake the bee up so the bee could get out of the rabbit's mouth/throat. The descriptions of the sounds the rabbit made are really beautiful.
January 6, 2017
How is this only the 36th most popular Margaret Wise Brown book on here?! I had to scroll down for ages. I guess it can only be a testament to how amazing her more popular books are, of which I've only read the wonderful Goodnight Moon.
This book is adorable, full of one of the cutest rabbits in our long tradition of rabbit books. His search for tiny sounds to carefully wake up the bumblebee sleeping in his throat is a wonder, and Cyndy's illustrated animals have so much character and expression... not to mention those gorgeous apple blossoms.
Yep, a true gem of a Little Golden Book!
This book is adorable, full of one of the cutest rabbits in our long tradition of rabbit books. His search for tiny sounds to carefully wake up the bumblebee sleeping in his throat is a wonder, and Cyndy's illustrated animals have so much character and expression... not to mention those gorgeous apple blossoms.
Yep, a true gem of a Little Golden Book!
December 17, 2013
Given to O while visiting friends. She enjoyed it enough to read it multiple times in a day. Cute story.
March 1, 2017
-Version illustrated by Annie Won-
The little rabbit makes quiet sounds to wake up a bee she swallowed, so she can go to sleep.
Peaceful, cozy pictures + poetic, calm words= Perfect for bedtime
The little rabbit makes quiet sounds to wake up a bee she swallowed, so she can go to sleep.
Peaceful, cozy pictures + poetic, calm words= Perfect for bedtime
May 29, 2020
Good grief! How could it be that I am almost as old as the Little Golden Books? You know the ones I'm talking about with the gold book spine and lovely children's stories? In honor of their 75th anniversary, this book was reissued with some new illustrations. When a little rabbit can no longer speak very loudly after swallowing a bee, he searches for his voice and follows the advice of various animals. Nothing seems to work, and he is still only able to whisper. Eventually, he comes up with a solution and a way to get that bee to come back outside. I can remember reading this book when I was little and wondering what would happen if I kept my mouth opened and a bee flew inside. The book is still just as oddly charming now as it was back then.
March 8, 2022
Harmi, että lapsi ei ole ainakaan toistaiseksi kiinnostunut tästä kirjasta, sillä omasta mielestäni se on aika hurmaava. Pieni kani haukottelee niin isosti, että mehiläinen lentää sen suuhun nukkumaan. Kani ei voi nukkua kun kurkkua kutittaa, mutta kuinka mehiläisen saisi hereille? Kirjan loppuosa, jossa kani yrittää ajatella mahdollisimman hiljaisia ajatuksia, on tosi suloinen. Ihana iltasatukirja! Toivottavasti myös lapsi innostuu tästä enemmän joskus isompana.
February 7, 2025
Who can resist Margaret Wise Brown? I can't.
This is a cute story about a rabbit yawning....well....because he's really sleepy.
His mouth opens wide, of course, when he's yawning, and unexpectedly, a bumblebee flew into his mouth. What is he to do?
He asks several friends who have suggestions, but none of them seem to work. Except one. Who would that be? What did he/she say? Did the bumblebee ever come out? Read and find out.
This is a cute story about a rabbit yawning....well....because he's really sleepy.
His mouth opens wide, of course, when he's yawning, and unexpectedly, a bumblebee flew into his mouth. What is he to do?
He asks several friends who have suggestions, but none of them seem to work. Except one. Who would that be? What did he/she say? Did the bumblebee ever come out? Read and find out.
Read
October 10, 2022As a big fan of Margaret Wise Brown, I was excited to encounter yet another little animal story. I discovered it at the Golden Legacy: Original Art from 80 years of Golden Books at NIU in DeKalb, IL. Illustrations by Annie Won are delightful. Exhibit is there through October 15, 2022.
A true treasure to add to my collection of all books by and about Margaret Wise Brown.
A true treasure to add to my collection of all books by and about Margaret Wise Brown.
October 2, 2024
I recently started going through books from my grandmothers, reading ones both I remember and those I don't but are very old while I was babysitting a friends kid.
This is one I am don't remember this one being read to me but reading it I like it and can tell a big difference from books for children of today then those over 35 years ago.
This is one I am don't remember this one being read to me but reading it I like it and can tell a big difference from books for children of today then those over 35 years ago.
November 19, 2024
This is so cute that it made me lose my mind a little. Sweet, pastel, adorable art (Szekeres illus.), but not obnoxiously so. But the narrative is what won me: the invitation to creative invention which is so small, so gentle, so quiet, so thoughtful and sweet is a delightful, gentle premise and must make for a great bedtime book.
December 10, 2020
Book 1/108 books reading out loud on my fb page
This I found at Aldi and I really enjoyed reading this one out loud because of the whispering and having to think about the sounds that the rabbit was trying to make to wake the bee.
This I found at Aldi and I really enjoyed reading this one out loud because of the whispering and having to think about the sounds that the rabbit was trying to make to wake the bee.
June 27, 2023
What's the quietest sound you can imagine? An ant sipping water? A single snowflake falling to ground? A flower shifting toward the sun? A hummingbird blinking its eyelids? The echo of a final heartbeat?
March 14, 2019
Kinda weird.
January 13, 2020
Cute pictures and fun story to read to your little ones.
February 20, 2020
Cute lil rabbit
February 6, 2021
A cute little book that’s a great short, simple and calming read perfect for a bedtime tale.
June 28, 2021
The art is gorgeous but the story isn’t very impressive or memorable.
June 12, 2022
Cute LGB with sweet little illustrations.
May 20, 2024
Pure sweetness. How do you wake up a bee that has fallen asleep in your throat? You’ll have to read this short drink of loveliness to find out.
February 20, 2015
Kaitlyn Ramirez
The Whispering Rabbit
By: Margaret Wise Brown
Illustrated by: Cyndy Szekeres
The Whispering Rabbit is about an adorable little bunny who wakes up from a nap and starts to yawn, as he is yawning a bumblebee flies into his mouth and decides to take a rest in his throat. As bunny became well aware he started to ask his animal friends the owl, groundhog, squirrel what shall I do. They told him he would need to make quiet sounds to wake the bee up. Bee’s don’t respond to loud noises said the squirrel so you’re going to have to be extra quiet in determine what sounds he was going to make. Bunny just really wanted to go to sleep and get this bumblebee out of his throat before he went to bed. In the end, bunny was able to go to sleep and he made sure this time to close his mouth.
The story tale is a folk tale fable, it involves animals who try to help out this poor little bunny who needs to get the bumblebee out of his throat so he can go to bed. The author uses figurative language such as personification when the bunny was thinking of quiet sounds to get the bee out. Things such as the sound of snow melting, egg resting in the nest, a fly sneezing, and little thoughts like that are what engaged me as a reader even though this is meant for beginning readers. I also liked throughout the story how the bunny’s animal friends came together to try and help the bunny out. It shows the audience that you’ll see who your true friends are in times of need, and even though the animals didn’t stick around to physically help the bunny they gave him pointers on what he should do. In the end the bunny was able to take the advice his friends gave him and get the bumblebee out of his throat.
The author did a good transition in the beginning from going to dark to light in not much changed other than the background colors, you almost wouldn’t be able to notice it when you become so engaged on the book. Though the book was about the bunny the illustrations focused on the nature surrounding the bunny. Not too many stories do we see the illustrator draw more attention to the less important details in the book. For example if the bunny was on one page with the text below it, on the opposite side, the flowers would take up majority of the page and I thought that was neat. As a reader I felt a lot of joy because the bunny was surrounded by nature and most people see nature as a soothing feature in books and reality. When I read this book to my sisters second grade class they thought the bunny represented the Easter Bunny and it was amazing at how engaged they were even though I had to break the news that this bunny was the Easter Bunny in the end. Especially since this book deals with animals as the main characters, young children will get a kick out of this book.
The Whispering Rabbit
By: Margaret Wise Brown
Illustrated by: Cyndy Szekeres
The Whispering Rabbit is about an adorable little bunny who wakes up from a nap and starts to yawn, as he is yawning a bumblebee flies into his mouth and decides to take a rest in his throat. As bunny became well aware he started to ask his animal friends the owl, groundhog, squirrel what shall I do. They told him he would need to make quiet sounds to wake the bee up. Bee’s don’t respond to loud noises said the squirrel so you’re going to have to be extra quiet in determine what sounds he was going to make. Bunny just really wanted to go to sleep and get this bumblebee out of his throat before he went to bed. In the end, bunny was able to go to sleep and he made sure this time to close his mouth.
The story tale is a folk tale fable, it involves animals who try to help out this poor little bunny who needs to get the bumblebee out of his throat so he can go to bed. The author uses figurative language such as personification when the bunny was thinking of quiet sounds to get the bee out. Things such as the sound of snow melting, egg resting in the nest, a fly sneezing, and little thoughts like that are what engaged me as a reader even though this is meant for beginning readers. I also liked throughout the story how the bunny’s animal friends came together to try and help the bunny out. It shows the audience that you’ll see who your true friends are in times of need, and even though the animals didn’t stick around to physically help the bunny they gave him pointers on what he should do. In the end the bunny was able to take the advice his friends gave him and get the bumblebee out of his throat.
The author did a good transition in the beginning from going to dark to light in not much changed other than the background colors, you almost wouldn’t be able to notice it when you become so engaged on the book. Though the book was about the bunny the illustrations focused on the nature surrounding the bunny. Not too many stories do we see the illustrator draw more attention to the less important details in the book. For example if the bunny was on one page with the text below it, on the opposite side, the flowers would take up majority of the page and I thought that was neat. As a reader I felt a lot of joy because the bunny was surrounded by nature and most people see nature as a soothing feature in books and reality. When I read this book to my sisters second grade class they thought the bunny represented the Easter Bunny and it was amazing at how engaged they were even though I had to break the news that this bunny was the Easter Bunny in the end. Especially since this book deals with animals as the main characters, young children will get a kick out of this book.
March 7, 2020
Cute book, a very short story but nice. Nothing to special although I did like the gentle feeling illustrations.
August 3, 2020
Odotukset tälle Tammen kultaiselle kirjalle olivat aivan jotain muuta kuin mitä sisältä paljastui. Juoni oli aivan järkyttävän typerä: pieni kani haukottelee, kurkkuun lentää mehiläinen ja kani yrittää saada sen pois matkimalla hiljaisia ääniä, koska haluaa päästä nukkumaan. Toinen tähti ainoastaan suloisesta kuvituksesta.
April 19, 2009
This is a sweet, but odd story. I picked it out because it was written by Margaret Wise Brown, and we've read her "Good Night Moon" about a million times. This is more forgettable, but still a cute story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews