Tippy-Tippy-Tippy, Hide!

by Candace Fleming, G. Brian Karas (Illustrator)

Knocka-knocka-knocka! That's the sound of three little bunnies on Mr. McGreely's doorstep, begging to come inside for the winter. But while Mr. McGreely shared his carrots with the bunnies last summer, he has no intention of sharing his house! So... Hammer Bam! Smack Slam! That's the sound of Mr. McGreely boarding up his windows to keep the bunnies out in the cold where they belong! The trouble is, no matter what Mr. McGreely does, the pesky pufftails have a way of sneaking inside -- and taking his things to make a warm, cozy nest for themselves. Will Mr. McGreely ever get the best of these infuriating flopears? The three wily bunnies from Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! return in a sequel that's even funnier than their first adventure.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Humor, Rabbits, Animals, Fiction, Storytime

40 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 23, 2007

About the author

I have always been a storyteller. Even before I could write my name, I could tell a good tale. And I told them all the time. As a preschooler, I told my neighbors all about my three-legged cat named Spot. In kindergarten, I told my classmates about the ghost that lived in my attic. And in first grade I told my teacher, Miss Harbart, all about my family's trip to Paris, France.

I told such a good story that people always thought I was telling the truth. But I wasn't. I didn't have a three-legged cat or a ghost in my attic, and I'd certainly never been to Paris, France. I simply enjoyed telling a good story... and seeing my listener's reaction.

Sure, some people might have said I was a seven-year old fibber. But not my parents. Instead of calling my stories "fibs" they called them "imaginative." They encouraged me to put my stories down on paper. I did. And amazingly, once I began writing, I couldn't stop. I filled notebook after notebook with stories, poems, plays. I still have many of those notebooks. They're precious to me because they are a record of my writing life from elementary school on.

In second grade, I discovered a passion for language. I can still remember the day my teacher, Miss Johnson, held up a horn-shaped basket filled with papier-mache pumpkins and asked the class to repeat the word "cornucopia." I said it again and again, tasted the word on my lips. I tested it on my ears. That afternoon, I skipped all the way home from school chanting, "Cornucopia! Cornucopia!" From then on, I really began listening to words—to the sounds they made, and the way they were used, and how they made me feel. I longed to put them together in ways that were beautiful, and yet told a story.

As I grew, I continued to write stories. But I never really thought of becoming an author. Instead, I went to college where I discovered yet another passion—history. I didn't realize it then, but studying history is really just an extension of my love of stories. After all, some of the best stories are true ones — tales of heroism and villainy made more incredible by the fact they really happened.

After graduation, I got married and had children. I read to them a lot, and that's when I discovered the joy and music of children's books. I simply couldn't get enough of them. With my two sons in tow, I made endless trips to the library. I read stacks of books. I found myself begging, "Just one more, pleeeeease!" while my boys begged for lights-out and sleep. Then it struck me. Why not write children's books? It seemed the perfect way to combine all the things I loved: stories, musical language, history, and reading. I couldn't wait to get started.

But writing children's books is harder than it looks. For three years I wrote story after story. I sent them to publisher after publisher. And I received rejection letter after rejection letter. Still, I didn't give up. I kept trying until finally one of my stories was pulled from the slush pile and turned into a book. My career as a children's author had begun.

Reviews

[Cheryl]

I won't rate, because I must be missing something. I didn't like the first Muncha... book, and I like this even less. I guess kids empathize with the bunnies getting away with naughtiness? And don't get me wrong, the bunnies are not into peaceful coexistence. Leaving "bunny drops" on the man's pillow is going to tick him off no matter how compassionate he might rather be.... I do like books that are 'open to interpretation' but this series just doesn't work for me. The language is fun, though!

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a surprise hit we randomly picked up at the library. My four-year-old adored it! The cover is not as attractive as the illustrations inside.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can see my students laughing at the antics of the bunnies!

[Cindy Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, but very odd book. I love how the illustrations show movement & how Fleming describes things in groups of three (e.g., "wiggle nose, puff tails, flop ears"). I just couldn't get past the man bricking himself in the house to keep the rabbits out.

[Josianne Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

This probably works well as a sequel, but it was just a bit odd on its own. Didn't quite get why the man hates the rabbits so much that he bricks himself into his house. The rabbits look friendly and it's a cold snowy winter. Where's the compassion?

Must read the original first.

[Tricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

three bunnies repeatedly enter mr mcgreely's house during the winter. he is tormented and bricks himself in. strange.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

In an obvious effort to capitalize on the success of Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!, this is a sequel where the rabbits, faced with winter, decide to invade Mr. McGreely's house. I wasn't crazy about the fact that whole plot centered on Mr. McGreely failing to change his attitude at all after his last run-in with the rabbits. He's just unkind in this, essentially leaving the rabbits out in the cold rather than acting with compassion. He ends up miserable, literally trapped inside by his own efforts to keep the rabbits out. There's a lesson to be taken from it, but it's hard to watch a character regress just to get more mileage out of a popular story.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that some readers are not seeing 10 kids laughing and loving this book. My 5's love all 3 books. They understand Mr. McGreeley is a grouch and that the rabbits are kind of tormenting him. We're not looking for compassion or a moral (Muncha, Muncha, Muncha has one), we are looking for fun! And those three rabbits are definitely having some fun!

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great follow-up to the instant classic Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!. This time it takes place in the winter and those wily bunnies are trying to get into Mr. McGreely's home to stay warm.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

These bunnies just won't leave Mr. McGreely alone. Now that it's time for winter, he's ready to tuck himself in to his home and read, but the bunnies are now getting in the house from the mail drop to the chimney and he's got to find a way to keep them out- until it's so fortified that he's built himself into his home and can't get out!

I love these bunnies and the mischief they're causing.

[Christine Kallner · Rating 4 out of 5]

After loving Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! so much, we had to read the other two follow-up books. They are both very good, but the original is our favorite.

[Kaylynn Johnsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The bunnies are trying to escape the cold of winter. But the farmer has boarded, bricked, and stuffed up every entrance to his house. Then comes spring. And the farmer needs help getting out, guess who steps up to help? Bunnies!

[Villain E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. My kids never got into onomatopeia books. When the weather gets cold a group of bunnies wants to stay in an old man's house. They keep sneaking in, he keeps patching over their sneaking-in-routes until he completely boards up the house.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great for my preschool crew. They enjoyed trying to predict where the bunnies would attempt to break in the next night.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book kids would love with Mr. McGreely in it going to extremes to keep the bunnies out of his house. He boards up his house completely this time. Of course the bunnies still get in.

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another family favorite, my kids love this author!

[AMY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read-aloud. Kids will enjoy this one.

[Kim Stence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read aloud!

[Caroline · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first one of this trilogy is the only one worth reading, especially if reading aloud.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books that I think kids would find funny, but I was too irritated by the annoying rabbits and the old, grouchy man to get into it.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute follow up to Muncha Muncha Muncha

[Bridget R. Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. McGreeley is all settled in for winter. What he hasn't planned on is three industrious bunny rabbits who continually break into his house to escape the ferocious winter weather. Every time they get in , Mr. McGreeley boars up, bricks up, or stops up that entrance. Finally, Mr. McGreeley is free from bunny rabbits. But when spring arrives, he finds that he has trapped himself inside his house.

What I thought: Hilarious! I love the sounds Fleming uses when the bunnies sneak in. This would be a great read aloud wither for the classroom or story time, The illustrations were wonderful. I found myself pausing over them as I read the story.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as great as Muncha! The bunnies are still adorable, but the storyline was kind of bleh. A re-run of the original book, only with a winter and house setting. Some of the text didn't flow as well for me with the bunnies coming in, so it would make it hard for me to read in a storytime. But any kids who enjoy the bunnies antics will enjoy this book.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knocka-knocka-knocka!



That's the sound of three little bunnies on Mr. McGreely's doorstep, begging to come inside for the winter. But while Mr. McGreely shared his carrots with the bunnies last summer, he has no intention of sharing his house! So...



Hammer Bam! Smack Slam!



That's the sound of Mr. McGreely boarding up

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sequel to Muncha-Muncha-Muncha brings back the troublesome (but never nasty) rabbits to frustrate Mr. McGreely once again. Fleming provides all the best of a book for the young- simple but rich text, repetitive patterns, word play, and lovable characters in a silly situation. Brian Karas continues the appealing illustrations that made Muncha... such a hit.

[The Brothers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The bunnies from Muncha-Muncha-Muncha are back! Only this time it's winter and Mr. McGreely is putting away all the garden stuff. When it gets cold, the bunnies sneak into his house at night. This infuriates McGreely and he goes to great lengths to keep the rabbits out of his house. They, however, still manage to get the upper hand.

Illustrations are super fun.

[Lucia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those crazy rabbits are at it again and poor Mr. McGreely can't get a break. Please read to yourself or to a little one in your world, to share the joy of reading and the mischeviousness (is that a word?) of the three little puff-tailed friends.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

The follow up to "muncha muncha muncha", cute illustrations and great repetitions
Having worked all summer at keeping bunnies out of his garden, Mr. McGreely looks forward to a peaceful winter--if only he can keep those naughty bunnies from invading his home.

[Micah Walls · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just a fun book to read to students with interesting characters. The bunnies continue to make Mr. Greely infuriated time and time again. Just a great book to read to students maybe for reward, transition time from recess, or something of the sort. Great book!

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

That's the sound of three little bunnies on Mr. McGreely's doorstep, begging to come inside for the winter. But while Mr. McGreely shared his carrots with the bunnies last summer, he has no intention of sharing his house!