The Spring Rabbit

by Joyce Dunbar, Susan Varley (Illustrator)

Smudge is the only rabbit in the woods without a brother or sister.  His mother tells him to wait for spring, but that is a long way off.  In the fall, Smudge builds a leaf-and-twig brother, but he blows away.  He builds a snow sister in the winter, but she melts.  Will Smudge's wish for a sibling ever come true?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Rabbits

32 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1994

About the author

Joyce Dunbar is an English author of over seventy children’s books, best known for Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go To Sleep, This Is The Star, and the Mouse and Mole series. Born in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, she studied English at Goldsmiths College before teaching drama until hearing loss led her to write full time in 1989. Her first children’s book appeared when she was 35, followed by works such as Mundo and the Weather-Child, which explored the experiences of a deaf child and earned critical recognition. Her stories have been adapted for stage, television, and interactive media, with Mouse and Mole becoming a 26-part animated series. She has also been an advocate for deaf awareness, cycling across Cuba for charity. Dunbar lives in Norwich.

Reviews

[Angelina]

2.5 stars

[Emma Dee]

the spring rabbit
the spring rabbit was about this rabbit that wants a brother or a sister and starts to make them out of twigs or snow in hopes it would last but his mother keeps telling him to wait... but wait for what?

i thought this book was cute and a simple story to read! i think it is a good book to read kids who might be getting a brother or sister too and they can see a mindset of that.

i would use this book in my classroom because it’s a good story for families and siblings! i liked how the author made siblings sound good and the way that they did! so i was definitely a fan of this book

[Heather]

The Spring Rabbit is a simple story about Smudge the rabbit and his desire for a sibling. The story line is easy to follow and the illustrations are darling, however, the repetition of the story line becomes annoying quickly. Great for "littles," but much older than 4 or 5 and they might get bored.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

[Eve Culley]

The illustrations are beautiful. The story is cute. Waiting for a sibling to born is something that most children will go through.

[Belinda]

5 stars - English hardcover - I have dyslexia - bought this book in the year Yasmine, my daughter was born. The Slegte is a bookstore I realy love. Bought a lot of books there. 🚕🚙🚒

[Laura]

A beautiful spring story about a rabbit who wants some brothers and sisters to play with. A great book for talking about seasons.

[Jenna Mills]

Sweet

[Meg]

The illustrations are so adorable! The bunny wants a sibling and has to wait until spring to get. He does everything he can to create a sibling, but eventually spring comes.

[Tatsunari]

I was youngest child in my family and had not little brothers or sisters. sometimes I made them in my imagination.
This book make our heart warmly :)

[Grace]

It was great

[Christine Turner]

The tender story of Smudge and his dream to have a brother or sister will appeal to any child awaiting the birth of a new sibling.

Smudge is the only rabbit in the woods without a brother or sister. His mother tells him to wait for spring, but that is a long way off. In autumn, Smudge builds a leaf-and-twig brother, but he blows away. He builds a snow sister in the winter, but she melts. Will Smudge's wish for a sibling ever come true? This touching tale of the arrival of a new baby is perfectly complemented by gentle illustrations.

Note: This book wouldn't work for the toddler group that I currently have in storytime, but would be ok for pre-school storytime.


Subject: Rabbits -- Juvenile fiction
Seasons -- Juvenile fiction