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Bunns Rabbit
For anyone who has ever felt different, Academy Award winner Alan Barillaro tells the deeply moving tale of a brave rabbit who sets out on a quest to save her home and family—no matter what it takes.
When Bunns is born with small but perfectly functional rabbit ears, the warren is abuzz with auguries. Surely such short ears spell bad luck for the community. Sheltered in her family’s burrow, Bunns listens to the rhythm of her mother’s heartbeat—Thump, thump, thump—a song of home and belonging. Her father explains that unlike a rabbit’s words or thumping feet, a heartsong cannot lie. But the unknown world of the meadow, the sounds and smells above, call to Bunns. When at last she’s ready to brave the staring and whispering of neighbors who fear her because she’s different, and the disapproving elders who threaten to banish her family, she finds a world beyond the warren where myths and riddles, magic voyages, and important new friends await. Can the “bad omen bunny” follow her own heartsong to a destiny—a wish—meant just for her? Academy Award–winning director, writer, and animator Alan Barillaro’s graceful storytelling, warm illustrations, and dramatic graphic panels weave light and dark into a seamless tapestry to enchant children and adults alike.
When Bunns is born with small but perfectly functional rabbit ears, the warren is abuzz with auguries. Surely such short ears spell bad luck for the community. Sheltered in her family’s burrow, Bunns listens to the rhythm of her mother’s heartbeat—Thump, thump, thump—a song of home and belonging. Her father explains that unlike a rabbit’s words or thumping feet, a heartsong cannot lie. But the unknown world of the meadow, the sounds and smells above, call to Bunns. When at last she’s ready to brave the staring and whispering of neighbors who fear her because she’s different, and the disapproving elders who threaten to banish her family, she finds a world beyond the warren where myths and riddles, magic voyages, and important new friends await. Can the “bad omen bunny” follow her own heartsong to a destiny—a wish—meant just for her? Academy Award–winning director, writer, and animator Alan Barillaro’s graceful storytelling, warm illustrations, and dramatic graphic panels weave light and dark into a seamless tapestry to enchant children and adults alike.
336 pages, Hardcover
Published October 7, 2025
18 people are currently reading
3516 people want to read
About the author
Alan Barillaro
4 books19 followersAlan Barillaro is the Academy Award–winning writer and director of the animated short film Piper and has been supervising animator on many other popular theatrical releases, including The Incredibles, Incredibles 2, WALL-E, and Brave. He began his career in animation at the age of sixteen and spent more than twenty-five years at Pixar Animation Studios. Alan Barillaro lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
November 14, 2025
Bunns is a rabbit born with short ears. Her parents worry that the superstitious rabbits in the warren will reject her, and they are right. The entire family is going to be evicted from their burrow, because the other rabbits think that Bunns will bring bad luck on the whole meadow. Bunns runs away on her own, hoping that with her gone, her family will be allowed to stay safely in their home. She meets the Spirit Fox who sends Monarch butterflies to lead her through the forest, where she will be tested. If she is found worthy, the Spirit Fox may grant her a wish.
This was a really beautiful fairy tale of superstition and magic legends of elemental spirits. I loved the folklore that the rabbits have about the spirits. It gave a depth of history to their world and their rabbit culture. The magical elements of the story are really interesting because they are wild and unpredictable. The spirits can seem cruel and heartless just as nature is cruel sometimes.
The best part of this book is how Bunns learns to listen to her own "heartsong". She can hear the heartsong of other animals to know if they are scared or sad or contented. But she loses touch with her own heartsong, and has to learn to ignore all the voices that are telling her she is worthless and unlovable because she is different. She finds her own balance and is finally able to accept the love of her friends and her family.
The artwork is utterly gorgeous on every page! This story is partly graphic novel and partly just text, but every page has some kind of sketch or artwork. The pages are glossy and full of color, so it's a very rich visual experience that brings the story to life!
This book has been marked as "Nothing Found" on the Screen It First website, indicating that there is no sensitive or objectionable content in the book. https://screenitfirst.com/book/bunns-...
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review.
This was a really beautiful fairy tale of superstition and magic legends of elemental spirits. I loved the folklore that the rabbits have about the spirits. It gave a depth of history to their world and their rabbit culture. The magical elements of the story are really interesting because they are wild and unpredictable. The spirits can seem cruel and heartless just as nature is cruel sometimes.
The best part of this book is how Bunns learns to listen to her own "heartsong". She can hear the heartsong of other animals to know if they are scared or sad or contented. But she loses touch with her own heartsong, and has to learn to ignore all the voices that are telling her she is worthless and unlovable because she is different. She finds her own balance and is finally able to accept the love of her friends and her family.
The artwork is utterly gorgeous on every page! This story is partly graphic novel and partly just text, but every page has some kind of sketch or artwork. The pages are glossy and full of color, so it's a very rich visual experience that brings the story to life!
This book has been marked as "Nothing Found" on the Screen It First website, indicating that there is no sensitive or objectionable content in the book. https://screenitfirst.com/book/bunns-...
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review.
September 24, 2025
This book is honestly gorgeous. It’s a little heavier than most, probably because of the paper they used, and every page has these beautiful full-color illustrations. They look like watercolor to me, soft and rich, and just really stunning. What I thought was such a cool touch is that sometimes the story shifts into a comic or graphic novel style, especially when there’s a story being told within the story. It breaks things up in such a fun way and makes the book visually stand out.
The story itself follows Bunns, who was born with shorter ears than the rest of the rabbits in her warren. Because of that, some of the others see her as different or even unlucky. But as you keep reading, it becomes clear that this isn’t just about her ears at all. It’s more about how she learns to listen to that little inner pull, her heartsong, and how she figures out who she really is, even when others don’t understand her. There’s such a warm thread of compassion in the story, and I loved how it touches on the idea of stepping out into the bigger world, even when it feels uncertain.
Even though it looks like a thick book, I flew through it because of the way it’s told. The mix of prose and graphic-novel style keeps things moving, and I honestly think it would make an amazing movie one day because the visuals are so striking already.
I really enjoyed this one and would definitely recommend it. You can read it with your kids, or if you’re like me and usually pick up darker reads, it might surprise you to see me with something like this. I don’t normally reach for cozy stories, but if it’s got a touch of magic or animals at the center, I’m all in. And this one gave me exactly that.
The story itself follows Bunns, who was born with shorter ears than the rest of the rabbits in her warren. Because of that, some of the others see her as different or even unlucky. But as you keep reading, it becomes clear that this isn’t just about her ears at all. It’s more about how she learns to listen to that little inner pull, her heartsong, and how she figures out who she really is, even when others don’t understand her. There’s such a warm thread of compassion in the story, and I loved how it touches on the idea of stepping out into the bigger world, even when it feels uncertain.
Even though it looks like a thick book, I flew through it because of the way it’s told. The mix of prose and graphic-novel style keeps things moving, and I honestly think it would make an amazing movie one day because the visuals are so striking already.
I really enjoyed this one and would definitely recommend it. You can read it with your kids, or if you’re like me and usually pick up darker reads, it might surprise you to see me with something like this. I don’t normally reach for cozy stories, but if it’s got a touch of magic or animals at the center, I’m all in. And this one gave me exactly that.
December 8, 2025
Amazing book! Such a sweet story! If there is a second, I will be reading it!
January 19, 2026
One day I was in a bookstore looking for books that might be similar to one I had had just written. I found several in the same young adult genre and noted where they were placed in the store. Of the five books I found that day, one stood out to me, Bunns Rabbit, and it was the one I purchased to take home with me.
I'm a grown adult, but I love reading young adult books that are family oriented, moving, endearing, and will leave me thinking. I don't like just reading a book, but learning something from it that will make me become a better person. This book had all of that, plus every page was beautifully illustrated (after every page read, I admit scrutinizing the pictures to visualize what I had just read). The pages are glossy, artwork is stunning, and the story was simple, yet exciting.
I read in short patches of time, maybe 30-45 minutes a day, and while this book had over 300 pages, it was generously illustrated with fewer words than art. I finished it this morning, after owing it for four days.
Its the story of Bunns Rabbit, a young meadow rabbit born with short ears instead of long ears like her six siblings. The elder rabbits in the warren were superstitious because Bunns stood out from other rabbits and blamed her as the cause of the Spirit Fox coming to foretell danger to the warren. She is about to be banished from the meadow and decided to leave home to get a wish fulfilled from the Spirit Fox. This begins an adventure to get her one wish, to have long ears, granted. In the process she overcame her fears, learned to trust other animals she met, and made lasting friendships.
It's a quiet, delightful book that young adults or adults will love to read. I commend Alan Barillaro on his writing and artistic abilities. I recommend it highly. FYI, I see a second Bunns book is coming out in 2026.
I'm a grown adult, but I love reading young adult books that are family oriented, moving, endearing, and will leave me thinking. I don't like just reading a book, but learning something from it that will make me become a better person. This book had all of that, plus every page was beautifully illustrated (after every page read, I admit scrutinizing the pictures to visualize what I had just read). The pages are glossy, artwork is stunning, and the story was simple, yet exciting.
I read in short patches of time, maybe 30-45 minutes a day, and while this book had over 300 pages, it was generously illustrated with fewer words than art. I finished it this morning, after owing it for four days.
Its the story of Bunns Rabbit, a young meadow rabbit born with short ears instead of long ears like her six siblings. The elder rabbits in the warren were superstitious because Bunns stood out from other rabbits and blamed her as the cause of the Spirit Fox coming to foretell danger to the warren. She is about to be banished from the meadow and decided to leave home to get a wish fulfilled from the Spirit Fox. This begins an adventure to get her one wish, to have long ears, granted. In the process she overcame her fears, learned to trust other animals she met, and made lasting friendships.
It's a quiet, delightful book that young adults or adults will love to read. I commend Alan Barillaro on his writing and artistic abilities. I recommend it highly. FYI, I see a second Bunns book is coming out in 2026.
August 28, 2025
A sweet animal adventure about being yourself and finding community. The ARC only has b&w illustration but I suspect this book’s appeal lies mainly in the full colour drawings that grace every page and make Bunns journey a visual feast. The story is entertaining enough but not terribly memorable or innovative. Kids who love animal stories will find it very engaging.
Thank you to Candlewick Press who kindly sent me an ARC for review.
Thank you to Candlewick Press who kindly sent me an ARC for review.
December 18, 2025
This book touched my inner child. Beyond the gorgeous illustrations, Bunns Rabbit has a fresh and accessible take on ideas of belonging, identity, and friendship. This should be part of every junior library and go on the shelf of anyone who remembers what it’s like to be different.
October 18, 2025
I remained consistently moved by the art
January 24, 2026
Absolutely a favorite book of the year, most likely of a lifetime. I feel like I’ll gain more from it every time I read Bunns’ story.
November 11, 2025
This is a beautiful, touching and poignant exploration of identity, self, and belonging. I cried a lot reading this but it was overall very heartwarming and lovely. The mixed novel/comic format was a really beautiful and accessible way to explore these themes.
December 26, 2025
3 stars for the story and 5 stars for the illustrations so I'll settle on 4 stars total. The inside flap of the book says it's a parable so I guess the lesson to learn is Listen to Your Heart.
I got caught up in the beauty of the illustrations and the powerful idea of a spirit fox but felt overall that the book didn't have enough of an original story or enough to say to make it something that I would recommend. Plus, it's long. And heavy. So what age is the book for? Maybe 9 and 10 year olds.
I got caught up in the beauty of the illustrations and the powerful idea of a spirit fox but felt overall that the book didn't have enough of an original story or enough to say to make it something that I would recommend. Plus, it's long. And heavy. So what age is the book for? Maybe 9 and 10 year olds.
October 17, 2025
What worked:
Bunns is a lovable, underdog character. Her short ears immediately make her different, and her parents are overly protective. They know the other rabbits are superstitious, and they don’t know how the Elders will react to her appearance. Bunns’ innocence and naiveté will cause readers to develop warm feelings for her and worry about her well-being. Bunns displays unexpected bravery when she leaves home alone to protect the rest of her family. Her curiosity, friendliness, and trust guide her through the forest, which she’s been told never to enter. Lingering insecurities complicate her life. Her adventure into the unknown soon becomes a quest to save the land and water.
The book’s format is unique, as it combines elements of a novel and a graphic novel. Side stories use many illustrations with accompanying brief text to describe the action. Several of these segments share folklore to establish the history of the world and introduce the Spirit Fox character. The main narrative often sounds like the retelling of a tale about Bunns and the Spirit of Land and Fire. All creatures fear the fox and are sure he will eat them or burn down the forest. However, the Spirit Fox takes an interest in Bunns, and their initial meeting takes on a friendly tone. However, Bunns inadvertently does something to anger the fox, and the rest of the story finds Bunn fleeing for her life. Will she be able to atone for her mistake in time to save everyone she cares for?
Bunns’ heartsong is an important element of the plot. It allows Bunns to sense others’ heartsongs and determines if they can be trusted or should be feared. All rabbits can hear each other’s heartsongs, but Bunns has a rare ability to hear the songs in other types of animals. No one has ever heard of that happening before. Rabbits and birds are not allowed to associate with each other, but Bunns becomes best friends with a hummingbird named Bee. She also befriends a loon they call Loon, and the three characters support each other with numerous challenges. Monarch butterflies always flock around the Spirit Fox, but Bunns is the only character able to hear the riddles that they sing. Bunns can’t figure them out, but they’re the key to resolving the plot’s main conflict.
What didn’t work as well:
It might be challenging to determine the appropriate target audience for this book. Bunns is a sweet, cute bunny, but that may not interest older readers. However, the story has deeper meanings and thinking that younger readers won’t understand.
The final verdict:
The deeper message in the story makes this book more fascinating than readers might first expect. The adorableness of Bunns makes her very likable and relatable, and readers will root for her to overcome her issues with being different. I highly recommend you try this book for yourself.
Bunns is a lovable, underdog character. Her short ears immediately make her different, and her parents are overly protective. They know the other rabbits are superstitious, and they don’t know how the Elders will react to her appearance. Bunns’ innocence and naiveté will cause readers to develop warm feelings for her and worry about her well-being. Bunns displays unexpected bravery when she leaves home alone to protect the rest of her family. Her curiosity, friendliness, and trust guide her through the forest, which she’s been told never to enter. Lingering insecurities complicate her life. Her adventure into the unknown soon becomes a quest to save the land and water.
The book’s format is unique, as it combines elements of a novel and a graphic novel. Side stories use many illustrations with accompanying brief text to describe the action. Several of these segments share folklore to establish the history of the world and introduce the Spirit Fox character. The main narrative often sounds like the retelling of a tale about Bunns and the Spirit of Land and Fire. All creatures fear the fox and are sure he will eat them or burn down the forest. However, the Spirit Fox takes an interest in Bunns, and their initial meeting takes on a friendly tone. However, Bunns inadvertently does something to anger the fox, and the rest of the story finds Bunn fleeing for her life. Will she be able to atone for her mistake in time to save everyone she cares for?
Bunns’ heartsong is an important element of the plot. It allows Bunns to sense others’ heartsongs and determines if they can be trusted or should be feared. All rabbits can hear each other’s heartsongs, but Bunns has a rare ability to hear the songs in other types of animals. No one has ever heard of that happening before. Rabbits and birds are not allowed to associate with each other, but Bunns becomes best friends with a hummingbird named Bee. She also befriends a loon they call Loon, and the three characters support each other with numerous challenges. Monarch butterflies always flock around the Spirit Fox, but Bunns is the only character able to hear the riddles that they sing. Bunns can’t figure them out, but they’re the key to resolving the plot’s main conflict.
What didn’t work as well:
It might be challenging to determine the appropriate target audience for this book. Bunns is a sweet, cute bunny, but that may not interest older readers. However, the story has deeper meanings and thinking that younger readers won’t understand.
The final verdict:
The deeper message in the story makes this book more fascinating than readers might first expect. The adorableness of Bunns makes her very likable and relatable, and readers will root for her to overcome her issues with being different. I highly recommend you try this book for yourself.
November 8, 2025
“‘What about our hearts?’ Bunns asked. ‘Don’t our hearts speak to us the same as our thumping feet?’” Bunns Rabbit is born different from the other rabbits—her ears are short instead of long—but she has a special gift: the ability to sense and appreciate the true nature of every animal she meets by hearing their heartsong. Because of her differences, the other rabbits believe Bunns is a bad omen destined to bring the wrath of the spirits down on them, and they decide to banish her family. Bunns sets out to find the spirit fox to ask him to change her ears so her family can stay in their home. Along the way, she meets others who help her see that what makes you different is also what makes you you.
The message of the book is lovely—that being different is what makes you special, that we should judge others by their intentions and actions rather than their appearance, and that you should believe in yourself and listen to your heart instead of the negative voices around you. The relationship between Bunns and her family is also beautiful; they never doubt or fail to support one another.
The artwork is truly phenomenal. It’s gorgeously executed—sometimes taking up entire pages, other times woven seamlessly with the text. The illustrations enhance the magical realism of the story, creating a world that feels familiar yet touched by myth and spirit. Each image deepens the narrative, allowing you to feel what Bunns and her friends and family feel. Even if you flipped through the book without reading a single word, you could still follow along on Bunns’s extraordinary journey. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
The message of the book is lovely—that being different is what makes you special, that we should judge others by their intentions and actions rather than their appearance, and that you should believe in yourself and listen to your heart instead of the negative voices around you. The relationship between Bunns and her family is also beautiful; they never doubt or fail to support one another.
The artwork is truly phenomenal. It’s gorgeously executed—sometimes taking up entire pages, other times woven seamlessly with the text. The illustrations enhance the magical realism of the story, creating a world that feels familiar yet touched by myth and spirit. Each image deepens the narrative, allowing you to feel what Bunns and her friends and family feel. Even if you flipped through the book without reading a single word, you could still follow along on Bunns’s extraordinary journey. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
February 23, 2026
Bunns is born with short ears. The elder rabbits determine it's a bad omen and decide she and her family must be exiled from the warren. To save her family and gain a wish from the Spirit Fox, Bunns leaves the warren in the night and goes on an adventure with far-reaching implications.
The writing is age-appropriate but still flexes the occassional big vocab word. It's an emotionally and philosophically thoughtful story that invites the reader to introspection, with room for exploring different facets while not overexplaining them. The obvious message is 'follow your heart' but there is so much else going on that I love about this book:
1. rabbits (rabbits!!!!!!)
2. gorgeous nature illustrations that flow from page to page
3. Sometimes it breaks out into comics to tell stories within the story
4. There's a disability metaphor here that I appreciate; Bunns is differently abled but by no means incapable, and her difference is actually a strength
5. use of mythology
6. good modeling for parent, friend and sibling relationships
The writing is age-appropriate but still flexes the occassional big vocab word. It's an emotionally and philosophically thoughtful story that invites the reader to introspection, with room for exploring different facets while not overexplaining them. The obvious message is 'follow your heart' but there is so much else going on that I love about this book:
1. rabbits (rabbits!!!!!!)
2. gorgeous nature illustrations that flow from page to page
3. Sometimes it breaks out into comics to tell stories within the story
4. There's a disability metaphor here that I appreciate; Bunns is differently abled but by no means incapable, and her difference is actually a strength
5. use of mythology
6. good modeling for parent, friend and sibling relationships
October 25, 2025
This book was created by an amazing illustrator who has worked for Pixar for more than twenty-five years.
Once in a meadow full of rabbit families, a litter of bunnies was born and one of them had tiny ears, not the tall ears the rest of the rabbits had. This caused the rest of the warren to be very fearful that she was bad luck. Bunns did have small ears, but while the rabbits communicated by their thumping feet, she had an amazing ability to hear heartbeats or an animal’s heartsong. That didn’t matter to Bunns as all she wanted was to have ears like her siblings and the other rabbits in the meadow. When Bunns learns of a magic fox that can grant a wish, she ventures out of the meadow to find him to wish for normal ears.
Between the storyline and the extensive soft, dreamlike illustrations, this book is totally magical.
Once in a meadow full of rabbit families, a litter of bunnies was born and one of them had tiny ears, not the tall ears the rest of the rabbits had. This caused the rest of the warren to be very fearful that she was bad luck. Bunns did have small ears, but while the rabbits communicated by their thumping feet, she had an amazing ability to hear heartbeats or an animal’s heartsong. That didn’t matter to Bunns as all she wanted was to have ears like her siblings and the other rabbits in the meadow. When Bunns learns of a magic fox that can grant a wish, she ventures out of the meadow to find him to wish for normal ears.
Between the storyline and the extensive soft, dreamlike illustrations, this book is totally magical.
February 13, 2026
This is an unusual book. It opens like a graphic novel and scatters such pages elsewhere in the book while the others look like picture book pages and lavishly done illustrated book pages.
Note: The rabbits are European rabbits that burrow often creating a warren or maze of burrows. New World rabbits do not burrow.
Bunns is a young rabbit born with short ears in a colony of very conservative long eared rabbits. They consider her a bad omen and seek to exile her. She leaves on a quest to find the Spirit Fox, spirit of land and fire, to get a wish granted for long ears.
This quest takes her through many dangers. She finds new friends, often breaking taboos of her home warren.
The book is a fantasy novel definitely written for middle grades. However, the simple story resonates with everyone as it is a search for self. The illustrations are more than worth the time to read this book.
Note: The rabbits are European rabbits that burrow often creating a warren or maze of burrows. New World rabbits do not burrow.
Bunns is a young rabbit born with short ears in a colony of very conservative long eared rabbits. They consider her a bad omen and seek to exile her. She leaves on a quest to find the Spirit Fox, spirit of land and fire, to get a wish granted for long ears.
This quest takes her through many dangers. She finds new friends, often breaking taboos of her home warren.
The book is a fantasy novel definitely written for middle grades. However, the simple story resonates with everyone as it is a search for self. The illustrations are more than worth the time to read this book.
September 6, 2025
This is not a childrens book as I thought it was. It is a juvenile chapter book but the chapters are small and the illustrations are adorable so I think a caretaker could still read it to a small child, just a little at a time. BUNNS RABBIT is about a rabbit names Bunns who was born with short ears which the elders of the Warren felt was a bad omen, therefore the family was to be banished from the meadow. This story is steeped in old world lore and superstitious and the adventures of Bunns and her friends, Bee and Loon, were beautifully done. Based on the ending, I do anticipate this is just the beginning though 😉 Thank You NetGalley for the arc of this unexpected lil' gem 💎
September 16, 2025
I just finished this and wow, my heart is still thumping!
Bunns is born with unusually short ears, a bad omen, in her warren but her heartsong tells the real story: courage, curiosity, and a destiny all her own. When the world outside the burrow calls, Bunns must face whispers, danger, and the unknown to follow her own path.
💖 What I loved:
The emotional journey of self-acceptance 💛
Gorgeous, dreamy illustrations that make the forest and meadow come alive 🌿
Myth, magic, riddles, and adventure that hit all the right notes ✨
Characters you can root for, flaws and all 💪
It’s middle-grade magic with heart, peril, whimsy and a story that sticks with you!
Bunns is born with unusually short ears, a bad omen, in her warren but her heartsong tells the real story: courage, curiosity, and a destiny all her own. When the world outside the burrow calls, Bunns must face whispers, danger, and the unknown to follow her own path.
💖 What I loved:
The emotional journey of self-acceptance 💛
Gorgeous, dreamy illustrations that make the forest and meadow come alive 🌿
Myth, magic, riddles, and adventure that hit all the right notes ✨
Characters you can root for, flaws and all 💪
It’s middle-grade magic with heart, peril, whimsy and a story that sticks with you!
November 17, 2025
This highly cinematic hybrid graphic/text chapter book features an original approach to a bunny born "different", who suffers from long-held attitudes about differences, and who has a unqiuely important strength in place of the the length of his ears.
The story moves along with action and tension, often eating a paragraph or so over any of the gorgeous illustrations. The characters range from Bunn's family, who love him unconditionally, to mnyustical forces/figures, other animals whose roles allow them to grow and change, and the swarms of monarch butterflies whose odd riddles are heard only by Bunns.
This will appeal to young people and to the adults who read to young folks.
The story moves along with action and tension, often eating a paragraph or so over any of the gorgeous illustrations. The characters range from Bunn's family, who love him unconditionally, to mnyustical forces/figures, other animals whose roles allow them to grow and change, and the swarms of monarch butterflies whose odd riddles are heard only by Bunns.
This will appeal to young people and to the adults who read to young folks.
January 17, 2026
This is the best kids chapter book I’ve read since The Wild Robot, and if you know me you know how much I loved that one!
First, Bunns Rabbit is fully illustrated and absolutely gorgeous. Bunns is a meadow rabbit who is born with short ears. Her family is exiled by the other rabbits because her ears are a bad omen. When she learns the Spirit Fox will grant her a wish, she runs away to search for him. She meets new friends along the way and learns she’s the only creature that is able to listen to the heartsongs of other animals.
Anyways, this is really good, and it looks like there is a planned sequel that comes out later this year as well!
First, Bunns Rabbit is fully illustrated and absolutely gorgeous. Bunns is a meadow rabbit who is born with short ears. Her family is exiled by the other rabbits because her ears are a bad omen. When she learns the Spirit Fox will grant her a wish, she runs away to search for him. She meets new friends along the way and learns she’s the only creature that is able to listen to the heartsongs of other animals.
Anyways, this is really good, and it looks like there is a planned sequel that comes out later this year as well!
November 16, 2025
I absolutely loved this book! The illustrations are simply breathtaking! The story flew by and almost felt like reading a graphic novel.
The characters are adorable! Bunns definitely stole my heart from the very first page. I loved how the illustrations perfectly follow the flow of Bunns’ journey. I was completely immersed in Bunns’s world and felt as if I was traveling with her.
I highly recommend this book for readers of all ages. It has definitely become one of my all time favorites!
The characters are adorable! Bunns definitely stole my heart from the very first page. I loved how the illustrations perfectly follow the flow of Bunns’ journey. I was completely immersed in Bunns’s world and felt as if I was traveling with her.
I highly recommend this book for readers of all ages. It has definitely become one of my all time favorites!
December 13, 2025
I started reading this as a bedtime story to my 6yo daughter, but ended up finishing it myself. The book was filled with beautiful illustrations and started as a sweet and cozy story. About halfway through, though, the adventure became too dark and intense for my daughter, which continued through the end of the book. I found the resolution to be a bit too abstract and hard to understand, especially for a childrens book. But I did ultimately enjoy it.
October 11, 2025
3.75-4/5 ⭐️s. A good story for children who like reading about animals, and a nice overall theme. But the book’s length felt a little too long. The illustrations, however, are gorgeous and are what made me continue reading. This would make a beautiful gift.
The book was sent to me by the publisher.
The book was sent to me by the publisher.
February 1, 2026
As with others, I really loved the illustrations. The story had a good build but the end is confusing.
Spoiler alert: what was hard for me was the quick transition of Bunns being chased by the Sprit Fox to everything renewing after she was swallowed whole. Was it just because Bunns said sorry or because she finally accepted herself? There is something missing.
Spoiler alert: what was hard for me was the quick transition of Bunns being chased by the Sprit Fox to everything renewing after she was swallowed whole. Was it just because Bunns said sorry or because she finally accepted herself? There is something missing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2025
3.5 stars. Bunns is a rabbit born with abnormally short ears-- something her warren considers a bad omen. Bunns Rabbit is an exciting journey full of mysterious legends and animal friends, accompanied by truly stunning illustrations that add so much to the story!
October 22, 2025
An extremely unique style of book! I’ve never had one before that was such a seamless fusion of written story and graphic novel. It’s not the strongest story in the world but the art is very engaging and I think it would be great for younger readers.
October 30, 2025
A heavily illustrated story about a short-eared rabbit who wants to have long ears to fit in but doesn't see that she has other wonderful characteristics. It's a worthy message but overall I found it a bit didactic. Should be nicer in full-color. Review from galley.
January 27, 2026
Bunns Rabbit is a very deep story about a bunny with short ears, who is told by the chief bunny that she and her family must leave the meadow. Bunns does not want that to happen, so she will do whatever she can to save her family. The moral of the book is be careful of what you wish for.
February 12, 2026
This is such a beautiful creation. The artwork is breathtaking and the mix of illustrated chapter book and graphic novel is fantastic. My heart soared with the story and the art made me want to draw and paint again. I look forward to more from Alan Barillaro. This is a brilliant piece of work.
October 20, 2025
An absolute gem of a book! The illustrations were extremely gorgeous. Yes the book physically was heavy but the pages were thicker than a normal book. I loved the little rabbit with the small ears.
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