Bunnybear

by Andrea J. Loney, Carmen Saldaña (Illustrations)

Although Bunnybear was born a bear, he feels more like a bunny. He prefers bouncing in the thicket to tramping in the forest, and in his heart he’s fluffy and tiny, like a rabbit, instead of burly and loud, like a bear. The other bears don’t understand him, and neither do the bunnies. Will Bunnybear ever find a friend who likes him just the way he is?

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, LGBT, Childrens, Friendship, Storytime, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

Andrea J. Loney grew up in a small town in New Jersey and received her MFA in dramatic writing from New York University. Since then, she has worked various jobs, from screenwriter to toy designer to software trainer, and she even ran away to live with a circus. Today Andrea spends most of her time writing the kind of books that she wishes had been available when she was a child—stories that embrace and reflect the humanity of all children. She lives with her partner, their two cats, and a betta fish in Los Angeles, California. Visit her online at andreajloney.com.

Reviews

[Michelle Schaub]

This is a hip-hoppity, ROARing good book for anyone who has ever felt like their outside self did not match their inside self. A sweet story about acceptance.

[Vivian Kirkfield]

This book shines! I was totally engaged with this sweet bear who feels he is bunny-like. The illustrations will delight every parent and child who read this...and the well-done text helps children embrace who they are...and accept others as they are.
A perfect picture book!

[Shannon]

This was an AMAZING book about trans animals, acceptance and it even made me tear up a bit. A must read for anyone wanting to teach their children about accepting others for who they are. The illustrations are beautiful too!! Highly recommended!

[Danielle]

Just wait til you meet Bunnybear and Bunnybear's new friend! Adorable and sweet in every way with a strong message of being true to yourself.

"You just look one way on the outside and feel another way on the inside. That's okay."

[Kris]

So sweet, with a great message of acceptance. "You just look one way on the outside and feel another way on the inside. That's okay." This one would be a good, less controversial pick for a storytime with a message that even the most conservative of parents would have trouble objecting to. I mean, a bear who is really a bunny. What could be wrong with that? Oh, wait. I forget that "And Tango Makes Three" is still one of the most banned and challenged books in America. Never mind. If parents can object to two male penguins raising a baby penguin, they will object to this. Oh well. That's their issue. Read it anyway.

[Rachael Marsceau]

Must the majority of children's books coming out these days be filled with such ridiculous propaganda? *sigh*

[Keila Dawson]

I am fortunate to have read an advanced copy of BUNNYBEAR. What a delightful story!

What should a bear do when he feels like a bunny? And other bears called you odd. He wiggled his nose, nibbled on strawberries, and bounced through the forest of course!

Author Andrea Loney tells the story about a bear who did what felt natural because "It made him feel free and light and happy." Even though others did not always understand, Bunnybear finds out he is not the only animal whose identity is at odds with social norms. Readers will celebrate the importance of staying true to who you are on the inside despite what you look like on the outside.

[Rebecca]

Awesome picture book about not quite fitting in.
Bear feels like a bunny- he loved to bounce thru the forest, wiggle his nose and nibble on strawberries. He did not fit in with the other bears, so he follows a bunny. Favorite line "bunny whispers were his favorite" sigh- beautifully written..
Good for all grades. A good first day of school read.

[Kaethe]

Closing out today's stack of picture books is the sweet and cheerful tale of a bear who feels like a bunny, and who therefore doesn't feel right with the other bears. And who among us hasn't felt different from those around us, and different from how we look?

[Lupita]

Message: Finding someone who likes you for who you are is the best. Great book for storytime.

[Jessica Brown]

A wonderfully illustrated, sweet story about self-acceptance. BunnyBear does not feel like a bear, and GrizzlyBun does not feel like a bunny. They find happiness and belonging in the friendship that accepts each other for who they are. I love it. I could easily see this being read/taught alongside "Red: A Crayon's Story".
Labeled for Preschool Storytime. Best appreciated by the older crowd, 4+. I think it'd be good for a Rising Readers storytime about "belonging" or "acceptance". I think I could do one with this, Red, and XO, OX for acceptance and self-love.

[Diana Murray]

Manages to be both funny and warm, all while delivering an important message of acceptance without being preachy. The writing is so good. Each word is perfectly chosen and the text and art work together seamlessly. With characters like "BunnyBear", "GrizzlyBun", and "the elder bunny", how can you go wrong? Adorable.

[Marta Timbrook]

I totally judged this book by its cover and it paid off. The illustrations that grabbed me were complimented by excellent, accessible writing with a warm, wonderful message of acceptance and being yourself. Can't wait to read it with my preschool groups!

[Carmel]

I wish I had this book as a child! But what a wonderful read for my kiddos (the 6 year old, although old for picture books, got a lot more out of it than my 4 year old).
This was a great conversation starter. Highly recommended.

[Charlotte Glaze]

Mediocre storytelling that sold through the publishing house through promoting that bears could be bunnies and bunnies could be bears if they feel like that inside. AKA promoting gender disphoria for young children.

[Alison Goldberg]

A wonderful picture book about staying true to who you are and finding friends who accept you the way you are. A joyful story with unique characters and adorable illustrations.

[ElphaReads]

This book is absolutely lovely and a great way to discuss identity and being yourself in spite of social norms. Great pictures too!

[KC]

Accepting others for their differences.

[Tracy Hora]

Such a cute book about being yourself and acceptance. Really, really cute!

[Rebecca]

Cute book about being who you are no matter what others say.

[Mary]

This a story about a bear, Bunnybear, who feels more like a bunny than a bear and a bunny, Grizzlybun, who feels more like a bear than a bunny. They don't feel like they really belong anywhere until they find each other. A sweet picture book that celebrates differences and acceptance.

[Molly Neko]

This book is adorable! The main protagonist is a bear and all he wants to be is a bunny. The other bears don't really accept Bunny Bear, so he leaves home to seek out the bunnies, who in turn treat him the same way. Along the way he meets and makes friends with someone similar to him. This is a wonderful book that can teach not only kids, but people of all ages about acceptance and that we can be anything we set our minds to.

[Valeria Ayala-Nazario]

This book is about a young bear who feels like a bunny inside. BunnyBear, is made fun of and neglected by fellow bears, so he feels like he does not belong at his den. BunnyBear follow a rabbit hole and there, other rabbits tell him to go because he is not a bunny. BunnyBear then finds a rabbit friend who feels like a bear. They both got along very well and made each other feel safe by not judging each other. In the end, all of the animals in the forest got together and put their differences aside, and they realized that is it okay to feel and be different.
I liked this book and its message of helping young kids accept and feel accepted when a friend is different. Usually, children go through situations like this and this book serves as a tool to explain to children that it is okay to be different. Also, this book has great, fun, vivid illustrations. To this book, I would add more content to the part where he finally gets accepted by his fellow bears to make children make more text-to-self or text-to-world connections.

[Dr. T Loves Books]

What it's about: Bear is a bear, but he doesn't feel like a bear inside; he feels like a bunny. But when he starts to act like a bunny, everyone is very confused. "Why do you want to act like something you're not?" the other animals ask. But Bear is acting like himself, and doesn't see why that should be a problem. Eventually, the other animals see his point, and some of the other forest animals realize that what they feel like inside is not what they look like outside, either.

What I thought: I bought this book purely for the cover, because it is disgustingly cute. But the story is so sweet! Children will love it.

I also think this could be a great middle and high school book. It provides an excellent primer for LGBTQIA+ issues - because it doesn't matter what your outside looks like if that's not who you really are on the inside.

Why I rated it like I did: A) The art is really, really cute. B) The story is adorable. C) It has such a kind-hearted message - kids of all ages can learn from it.

[Taneka]

Bunnybear feels different in his family. He loves to sit up on his hind legs, wiggle his nose and hop. After running away from his family and being sent away by the bunnies, he feels so alone. Is there anyone out there that knows how he feels? Is there any other place for him to call home.

This book was recommended in a comment section about an article of a man that burned some LGBTQ books in Iowa.

Dorr burned David Levithan's "Two Boys Kissing," Suzanne and Max Lang's "Families, Families, Families," Gayle E. Pitman's "This Day in June" and Christine Baldacchino's "Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress."

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/sto...

This lovely picture book teaches acceptance. Illustrations are nice and bright. A good story for any age.

[Dana Scott]

Bunnybear is an incredible book that teaches a very important lesson for children to understand. The story is about bear who called himself Bunnybear, because though he was a bear, he felt like a bunny on the inside. The other bears were mean to Bunnybear because he was not acting like a bear, so he decided to run away. After the bunnies did not accept him, he met Grizzlybun who was a bunny but felt like a bear. These animals teach the incredible lesson that it is okay to look one way on the outside but feel another way on the inside. This is important for children to understand, especially in the world today. This is an amazing book with an educational and interesting story. The illustrations are bright and help to show the characters emotions in support with the text.

[Jenna Grodzicki]

Bunnybear is a fabulous book about acceptance and being true to one's self. Bunnybear is a bear on the outside, but on the inside he couldn't feel more differently. He believes he is a bunny, but both the bears and the bunnies refuse to accept that. When Bunnybear runs away and meets Grizzlybun, he knows he has found his tribe. Will the other bears ever learn to accept Bunnybear for who he really is? Any child who has ever felt different will relate to this story. The illustrations are beautifully done and complement the text nicely. This book is sure to become a bedtime favorite!

[Blaine Gerdes]

The illustrations in this are amazing, the colors are super bright and inviting to the readers eye. The book is about a bear who bounces through the forest when alone and wasn't like the other bears. He loves his den because he doesn't fit in with the other bears and doesn't feel welcomed there. He tries to fit in with the bunnies because that's what he feels he is but he isn't welcome there either. He finally meets Grizzlybun who is just like him, in the sense that they are both trying to fit in and aren't like the others.

[Elia Basista]

Although this book is a simple read, I truly enjoyed it and loved the connection I saw in it. I though this book could be used as a connection to the transgender community. Though is may not have been the authors intentions, I can see how this book can be used in classrooms today as a loose connection. Bunnybear felt more like a bunny than he did bear. Some students may be going through this gender crisis and can heavy relate to this. This is a great book to keep in the classroom as it can heavy relate to some students.

[Sierra McCorvey]

It is hard to rate any book on acceptance lower than 5 stars. Books like this did not exist while I was growing up. This book on diversity is about a bear who feels different on the inside than what he looks on the outside. It's a book that children who don't quite fit in can relate to. It's a book that encourages finding a supportive community that accepts you for just the way you are; those are your true friends. 10 out of 10; would recommend!