Let's Make Rabbits

by Leo Lionni

“Let's, make rabbits,” say the scissors to the pencil, and, before the reader’s eyes, two rabbits appear—one drawn by the pencil, the other cut from brightly patterned paper by the scissors. When the rabbits are hungry, the scissors and the pencil provide paper carrots. But one day the taste of a real carrot leads to a magical surprise. The simple story and boldly graphic art are perfect to share with very young children in this board book version.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Art, Animals

30 pages, Board book

First published March 12, 1982

About the author

Leo Lionni wrote and illustrated more than 40 highly acclaimed children's books. He received the 1984 American Institute of Graphic Arts Gold Medal and was a four-time Caldecott Honor Winner--for Inch by Inch, Frederick, Swimmy, and Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse. Leo Lionni died in October of 1999 at his home in Tuscany, Italy, at the age of 89.

Leo Lionni has gained international renown for his paintings, graphic designs, illustrations, and sculpture, as well as for his books for children. He was born in Holland in 1910 of Dutch parents, and although his education did not include formal art courses (in fact, he has a doctorate in economics from the University of Genoa), he spent much of his free time as a child in Amsterdam's museums, teaching himself to draw.

Lionni's business training gradually receded into the background as his interest in art and design grew. Having settled in Milan soon after his marriage in 1931, he started off by writing about European architecture for a local magazine. It was there that he met the contacts who were to give him a start as a professional graphic designer. When he moved to America in 1939, Lionni was hired by a Philadelphia advertising agency as art director. Later he became design director for the Olivetti Corporation of America, and then art director for Fortune magazine. At the same time, his reputation as an artist flourished as he began to exhibit his paintings and drawings in galleries from New York to Japan.

Lionni launched his career as an author/illustrator of books for children in 1959. Originally developed from a story he had improvised for his grandchildren during a dull train ride, Little Blue and Little Yellow was the first of what is now a long list of children's picture books, including four Caldecott Honor Books.

Reviews

[Lobstergirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A scissors and pencil decide to make rabbits, from colored paper and pencil.


Lionni's training was in economics (a Ph.D from the University of Genoa in 1935), but ultimately his fascination with tearing colored paper into shapes led to a career in graphic arts.

Here the two rabbits find a carrot which they determine must be real, because it casts a shadow.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I showed my husband the cover of this book.

Me: [Fake sultry voice] "Hey baby, let's make rabbits."

Him: Stony silence.

Me: "Was that a turn-on?"

Him: "No."

True story.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

"My First" Leo Lionni? So simple. Glad to see there's a board book edition for tots. Love the art, though, as per usual with Lionni, one of my favorite picture-book creators.

[Cristina Di Matteo · Rating 3 out of 5]

una piccola gemma di poesia e immaginazione. Con la sua inconfondibile arte fatta di collage e semplicità, Lionni racconta la nascita di due conigli — uno disegnato e uno ritagliato — che prendono vita attraverso la fantasia.
Un racconto dolce e profondo sul potere creativo dell’immaginazione, perfetto per i più piccoli (e per chi ama ancora sognare).

[Liv Mothershead · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful story that explores a craft project that comes alive. A pair of scissors and a pencil create two rabbits. The rabbits explore the world around them, which consists of drawings and paper cutouts, until something new comes along: a real carrot. Students can can examine what it means to create art, and conduct a parallel art project. This book may also be paired with other books about rabbits from the same author.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Let's, make rabbits," say the scissors to the pencil, and, before the reader's eyes, two rabbits appear--one drawn by the pencil, the other cut from brightly patterned paper by the scissors. When the rabbits are hungry, the scissors and the pencil provide paper carrots. But one day the taste of a real carrot leads to a magical surprise. The simple story and boldly graphic..

[Arielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Answers the age old question of how to determine what is real.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn't fun enough for an under 1 year old, but it is cute and would be better for a little older (1-3 maybe?).

[Kira Richardson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is good for showing different types of art medium as well as for helping introduce 2D versus 3D objects. This is an easy read that students would probably enjoy.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pencil draws a rabbit and the scissors cut a rabbit out of colored paper. These two rabbits become friends and eventually become real.

[Vim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of all the Leo Lionni books that I've read, this is by far the one that I like. Maybe because it's about rabbits or about art but its simplicity just made reading it enjoyable.

[Shawn L’s Book Notes & Quotes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book a quick read through before reading it to my daughter to make sure it was something I want to read to her because the title of the book is “Let’s make rabbits” and the picture on the front really looks like rabbits humping!

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Leo Lionni's creative art style and the rabbits were cute, but the library copy I received of this book was marred by the fact that some toddler had colored in the pencil rabbit with marker and crayon on 60% of the pages.

[Ella Sackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun book that includes multimedia! This is a book I would love to read and then have my students make their own story including drawings and some other texture to create another animal/object!

[Wetdryvac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, that didn't go where I expected. Which is probably a good thing.

[annalee ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating may be a little generous but my goodness are these rabbits ADORABLE. I also love the idea that creativity has a life and mind of its own.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars?

[The Transmuted Tree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Red 2nd

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun little book. The story was very simplistic, but still sweet. I enjoyed seeing the different art medias interacting through the two rabbits. It felt like a very short read though, but that's probably because the story line was so simple. I might still recommend to Lionni fans.

*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2011...

[Hallie Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book for a friend's little one and I loved the creativity of the story. It seems like a good board book for younger kids.

[Heather Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A better telling of the Velveteen Rabbit story. A must read for all kids.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Age: Infant-Preschool
Animal: rabbits
Art: Drawing and cutting

Very cute look at how art is created and what makes something real (a shadow!).

[Robbi C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book but seriously, not one person looked at this cover and had second thoughts before it was published? Haha! Regardless, this is a fabulous book showing different art mediums!

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the story, art, and overall style.

[Kellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One morning, a scissors and a pencil decide to make rabbits in their own individual styles.