I Will Race You Through This Book!

by Jonathan Fenske

See if you can beat Book-It Bunny in a reading race!

This easy-to-read adventure breaks the fourth wall as Book-It Bunny challenges the reader to race her to the end of the story. But with distractions and tricks up her sleeve along the way, the competition becomes both fierce and funny at the same time. On your mark, get set, read!

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

32 pages, Paperback

Published May 7, 2019

About the author

Jonathan Fenske is the author and illustrator of the leveled readers Woodward and McTwee, Love Is in the Air, Guppy Up!, and A Pig, a Fox, and a Box, which was a 2016 Geisel Honor book. He is also the author of two picture books, Barnacle Is Bored and its follow-up, Plankton Is Pushy. Jonathan lives in South Carolina with his family.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very clever book that has the reader 'racing' to finish the book - great art!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: I am Book-It-Bunny, see? No one reads as fast as me! So turn the page and take a look.

Premise/plot: Book-it Bunny is a very fast reader. She is also quite competitive. She wants to race YOU to the end of the book. Can YOU read faster than Book-it Bunny? Can YOU keep pace?

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one. Granted I am a big, big fan of some of Jonathan Fenske’s books. Granted I too am a fast reader. But I loved it. I did. I admit that it is over-the-top silly, perhaps a bit gimmicky. But I loved it all the same.

[Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

A darling book that will have new and emergent readers burning through the pages to beat bunny to the end. With fun illustrations and simple rhyming text kids and parents alike will love reading this book aloud! Such fun!

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another take on the interactive, 4th-wall-breaking picture book trend. The art seemed flat and just wasn't my style at all, and nothing in the text stood out or was particularly clever or cute. Nothing horrible, but didn't appeal to me at all.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Will Race You Through This Book! by Jonathan Fenske. EARLY READER Penguin, 2019. $10. 9781524791957

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Book-it-Bunny is a fast reader and challenges the reader to race her through the reading of this book. She tries to sneak ahead and speeds through the pages but needs to stop and take a break. She tries to distract the reader with a flying cow, but in the end the reader beats Book-it-Bunny.

This is a fun idea to get young readers reading. If you have a competitive reader, this will work well. Book-it-Bunny has cute facial expressions and the pace and amount of words is perfect for a new reader.

Reviewer, C. Peterson.
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Breaking the fourth-wall has been done in much more clever manners. The story was flat and not very humorous.
NOTE: I changed to three stars on my second reading. The rabbit's expressions are clever and well done.

[satvika]

what??? me??? reading a billion picture books because I have an irrational want to reach 100 books even though my goodreads goal is 75???? what???? no!!!!! never!!!!

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book-It Bunny challenges the reader to a race, but is she really ready?

A very humorous little easy reader with interactive elements. Beginning readers should be thrilled by how they are beating Book-It Bunny through the book and frustrating her to the point she tries some unusual tactics to get ahead. (And kind of reminded me of Bugs Bunny.) The rhyme of the text was well done, and both adults and little readers should enjoy the humor. Hand this to beginning readers who are reluctant to pick up a book, those who like funny reads, and fans of interactive books.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book-It Bunny is racing the reader through his book and he has plenty of tricks up his sleeve to try to take the lead. This book brings readers along for an adventure and has plenty of humor. Early readers will have success with the short text. I'm looking forward to sharing it with my first graders because I know they will love it and want to read it again and again.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Something about this too adorable bunny creeped me out. And the whole "race you to the end/oh, no the end of the book!" theme has been so much more cleverly done by Willems and your furry pal Grover that to even think about doing it YET AGAIN, you had better be awfully clever and pretty wonderful.

Unfortunately, this book wasn't. Trite, yes. Cliched, too.

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This cute picture book is interactive and engaging as it challenges young readers to a race to the end of the book. The tricky rabbit that wants to race readers does his best to cheat, run ahead, and distract until the end of the book. This would make a fun read aloud.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A competitive rabbit tries to beat this very new, confident reader through the book.

I usually try to discourage students from thinking about reading as a race. They already have this misconception. Other than that, a pretty fun book.

Some really funny parts too- like the flying cow.

[Kifflie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this concept of this book; challenging the young reader to get through the text ahead of Book-It Bunny (who, refreshingly, is female!). I found the pictures very appealing and the whole tone is humorous and good-natured. Great early reader.

[Villain E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book-It Bunny challenges the reader to a race through the book. Of course, she moves at the same speed the reader turns the page, which she finds very frustrating. The humor is okay. I like the cartoony character art, but there are no backgrounds.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly rabbit races the reader through the book. While I'm not a fan of the illustrations, I do appreciate the rhyming text.

Themes: running, rabbits, books that rhyme
Ages: preK-1st grade
Pub year: 2019

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun reading race with a bunny.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A picture book that young readers will no doubt read over and over again as they work on fluency and confidence.

[Alyssa Gudenburr · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is funny with a bunny trying to beat the reader to the end of the book. The book is a little small for storytime so it would make a better one-on-one story.

[Wendy Garland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book-it Bunny is determined to win the reading race through this fun early reader.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny

[MaryLibrarianOH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hare is ready to race the reader through the book. Watch out for unexpected surprises. Fun pick for early readers.

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever concept and fun illustrations

[DaNae · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun way to get to the end of a book.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for fans of Elephant & Piggie. Funny exaggeration — perfect for this audience

[Ivy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very simplistic. I am hoping to use this to discuss how to read at an appropriate rate, a big deal in 3rd grade. It's a little simple, but should get the point across.

[Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fun read-aloud.

[Syntha Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute and funny but is meant as a beginning reader, so I think the message is off -a confident reader would find this fun.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fenske's early readers are always fun, and I love the interactive piece of this one that will keep kids turning pages quickly.

[Marcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun beginning reader

[Rebecca Caufman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping this book would be about the importance of not rushing through books. It was not. The reader interacts with a bunny to see who can reach the end of the book first.