Little Bunny on the Move

by Peter McCarty

"It was time for a little bunny to be on the move. From here to there, a bunny goes where a bunny must." And so Little Bunny's journey over the hills, through the woods, past the little girl who wants to take him home. But where is Little Bunny going? "Bunny, bunny, going down the path,
Bunny, bunny, aren't you turning back?
Where are you going, Little Bunny?" By the time Little Bunny reaches his destination--his very own place, with all the other little bunnies--readers will be thoroughly enchanted. Simple and accessible, Little Bunny on the Move takes us on a classic picture book journey with a most satisfying conclusion. Little Bunny on the Move is a 1999 New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Rabbits, Storytime, Fiction, Animals, Juvenile

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

I was born in 1966 in Westport, Connecticut right in the middle of two older brothers and two younger sisters. We kept our mother busy while my father worked long hours at IBM. Most of my childhood was spent in my head. I was usually recreating a battle from World War II or running from dinosaurs in prehistoric times. To this day, I develop characters and environments based on worlds I first created when I was three. I am grateful to my mother who kept us surrounded with art. I come from a long line of artists and my grandmother, Grace Boyd, was the best. She died before I was born, but her fantastic paintings and drawings were all around us.

Since my father worked for IBM, we moved often. I think being on the move during my formative years has been the reason I tend to create books about returning home. By the time I graduated from high school we were living in Boulder, Colorado. At the University of Colorado, I began my long career as a professional student. I first thought I was going to be an engineer so I took all kinds of science and math classes. I enjoyed solving math problems, but I could not see myself working in a lab. Along the way, I continued to draw and create worlds as I always have. My friends and teachers were very supportive. Around the time when I should have been graduating, I decided to start over and go to art school at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. I finally graduated from college, in 1992.

One of my illustration teachers, William Low introduced me to Laura Godwin, a children’s book editor at Henry Holt and Company. She gave me my first professional art job to illustrate a little science book, Frozen Man written by David Getz. I worked really hard on that book. Laura was impressed; so I was offered to illustrate a picture book, Night Driving written by John Coy. Again I did the best illustrations I knew how, like my life depended on it. One drawing of a car going over a bridge made my girlfriend cry. She said, “Oh, you can draw.” We were then married in 1995.

Night Driving was first published in 1996 and received praise from critics and won some awards. Laura Godwin then offered me the best of all offers; I could write and illustrate whatever I wanted. Little Bunny on the Move came into my mind after months of searching for a story. Little Bunny on the Move was published in 1999 and won a Best Illustrated Book of the Year from the New York Times. That book established my career and gave me the confidence to continue to write and illustrate the stories from my mind.

Reviews

[Skylar Burris · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is nothing much, but the pictures are very appealing. The bunny is adorable.

[Eunice · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is like a warm fuzzy hug. the images themselves are seen as if through a soft-focus lens and the story is told in such an oh-so-very-quiet hushed tone that you almost feel its diaphonousness will allow it to be blown away with any harsh breathing. the images are gorgeous and the story of the single-minded bunny intent on going "where he must" is endearing.

[Freda Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't buy this book if you're looking for great writing content. It's poetic, but there isn't much of a story. Buy this book if you love great artwork and your kid loves great artwork. This whole thing had a very dreamy feel to it that any imaginative kid could easily get lost in.

[Cary Stough · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is truly "so much." Beginning with its language, it begins in the language of song, only to abandon it when it realizes the pulse of the narrative to have exceeded its bounds.

As such, it improvises: assembled by questions and answers.

Visually, a parable of radical otherness that isn't satisfied with synthesis since, well, this bunny sure can go. There is no obfuscatory attempt to allow things to go unnamed, and this is its consistency.

Every hair on my body stands on end when the little human enters the chain of events. This is the moment that could cause the entire improvisation to crumble, but instead it catalyses it. It's funny how we expect the irreducible difference between, say, the cow and little bunny, but when the human intercedes, so does the desire that sparks up between them. Could I describe this as a refrain attempting to supersede another?

A lot to think about, as always, with McCarty. Especially the way in which little bunny is articulated on the illustrated page as the near absence of a mark. Like the jar in Tennessee.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a simple story for very young readers, with a lovely ending.

Peter McCarty (the illustrator as well as the author) has amazing technique for those visuals. I can't say how he does them but I can report that I practically fall into them.

FIVE STARS for a memorable bunny-sized adventure!

[Jennifer Heise · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was so-so, but the luminous graytone images of the little bunny on the move were just amazing. Would check out again just to flip through the pictures.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book describes how a little bunny is on a journey to get home to his family.

Lexile Measures: AD90L
DRA Levels: 16

Organization, voice, Sentence fluency, Presentation

[Clwseattle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing in Little Bunny on the Move is superfluous to the wonderful drawings. I wish the writing were as good as the images.

[Slaa!!! · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that the bunny glows!!

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute book about a bunny who is on the move.

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bunny goes on a long to journey to find home.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute. I like the story. The pictures glow!

[Carlos Gastelum · Rating 4 out of 5]

McCarty, P. (1999). Little Bunny on the Move. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company.

Little Bunny on the Move is fictional picture book about a white bunny that decides to head out on an unknown journey. As the story continues, the bunny travels past other animals and humans who are curious to know where the bunny is going but he does not stop because he must go in a hurry. In the end the bunny finally walks across an open field and over a hill as he arrives home. The black and white illustrations in the story add to the mystique mood of the book. McCarty’s book is told in third person and is structured in a fun rhyming way. It is recommended for elementary students who are getting the first feel for reading in their life. Little Bunny on the Move explores the theme of motivation as the bunny does not allow any character in the story to distract him from where he’s headed. I could incorporate this book into my classroom by using it to create a fun rhyming activity. By this I mean I would have students rhyme long to the text as we all read the book aloud.

[Jesse Lasarte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never get tired of reading this book and admiring the illustrations. The story is a simple story but the plot is fun to follow with young readers. The narrator keeps asking the bunny, "where are you going?" and the bunny does not say till the very end. Also, the illustrations of the bunny on the move are elegant and enjoyable. The bunny is constantly on the move but it doesn't hop. Instead, the bunny is shown walking upright everywhere on its two-feet. The bunny also has the features of a cuddly gummy bear. I would love the image of the little girl and the bunny framed on my wall. I don't have any criticism of this picture book. The illustrations do a good job of reinforcing the text and telling the story on their own. As a result, I think this is great book for emergent literacy and young "readers" alike.

[John Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little Bunny on the Move is about a rabbit who travels across a farm. Along the way, the bunny meets several animals, and even a young girl, but nothing stops him from reaching his home. I enjoy reading all of McCarty's books, but this one was not my favorite. The text seems too simple and the pictures are pencil drawings, so it is not all that interesting. I would have preferred more color and variety. In the future, I will probably not make a special effort to have this in my classroom because I think there are better books out there that would appeal to young readers.

[Bree · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a bit boring for me to read this to my daughter. I used a sing song voice because there wasn't a fun dialogue. My daughter pointed to the cow and mooed, she also pointed to the little girl so she seemed fine by the book. She is also 2 and eats crayons.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

More beautiful illustrations (I'd like to frame these someday for a nursery). Very sweet and soothing, maybe a good naptime/bedtime read for 1-2-3 year-olds. Would it hold their attention a million times in a row? Probably not. But I'm a huge fan of the pencil and watercolor style. Very sweet.

[Joleene Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Little Bunny is on the move. He keeps on moving past cows and sheep and doesn't stop no matter what. Where is he so determined to go?

Best Line-
"This bunny would not be someone's pet."

Lesson Ideas- questioning, predictions

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excruciatingly cute.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

gorgeous, dreamy illustrations + fuzzy bunny on the move = :)

thanks to yuka for sending this lovely surprise via snail mail once upon a time.

[Tricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

love the author/illustrator but not one of my favs of his. bunny is on the move but where to? did win NYT best illustrated book of year. ??

[Nura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the drawing... Love the bunny... so cute..

[drowningmermaid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlotte loved this bunny book.

Illustrations were second-to-none, but the story was a little thin.

[Sara Ansted · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, my goodness, Peter McCarty's illustrations are always SO CUTE.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore Peter McCarty's illustrations. This one is super-cute.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of those lovely quiet books that makes a perfect bedtime story for toddlers.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute and lovely story. Great to use a story basket for. Also had repetitive words throughout the story that can also be very useful.

[Marissa Elera · Rating 5 out of 5]

McCarty features his characteristic soft, beautifully peculiar prose with his matching ethereal illustration style in this little book about a bunny on a mission.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quiet Sunday night, stuck at the back desk kind of read.