The Backup Bunny

by Abigail Rayner, Greg Stones (Illustrator)

Overview

Everybody needs a backup plan, especially when you lose your favorite toy.

When Max loses his favorite toy—Bunny—his clever mom brings out the "backup bunny"—Fluffy—to save the day. Fluffy is thrilled to have the chance to play with Max, but is soon rejected by the observant child who notices that his ears are too new and perky. Can Fluffy find a way into his favorite boy's heart?

The Backup Bunny will keep you laughing and inspire you to make room for another favorite story.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780735842823
Publisher:	NorthSouth Books
Publication date:	03/06/2018
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Abigail Rayner was born in England where they have lots of history and rain. When she grew up, she became a reporter and moved to New York, where she was encouraged to write stories, but not the made-up kind. These days she lives in New Jersey, with her wonderful husband, two brilliant kids, and three terrible cats.

Greg Stones majored in studio art at Bates College, where he learned to paint photo-realistically, and was the cartoonist for the school paper. Two years after graduating, be began combining his pretty landscapes with his cartooning skills—adding penguins, zombies, and now bunnies to his work. He is creator of the illustrated book Zombies Hate Stuff. Greg lives in Rhode Island.

Editorial Reviews

02/05/2018
Fluffy is a “luxury stuffed rabbit” who spends his days inside a sock drawer. His job: “If Max ever loses his favorite stuffed rabbit, I step in to save the day.” But Max isn’t easily fooled; after Bunny goes missing, Max throws Fluffy to the floor with an unceremonious “splat!” (“That’s not Bunny!” the boy insists, not consoled in the least. “His ears don’t feel right!”) Fluffy does his best to salvage his pride and win over Max. Finally accepting failure, he helps reunite Max with Bunny, and his selfless commitment to Max has happy consequences—perhaps there’s room for both bunnies in Max’s heart. Fluffy directly addresses readers, and his frustration and sadness over being the second, oft-rejected choice will resonate with them—even if they won’t necessarily recognize themselves in fickle Max. Stones includes a lot of physical comedy at Fluffy’s expense in quiet but emotive cartoons; during one particularly humiliating sequence, Fluffy is locked in a grocery store freezer case, doused with green paint, and strung up from a clothesline by his ears. Ages 4–8. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

There are many books out there that address the issue outlined in Rayner's book, but none are done quite as sweetly as hers.

The Book Chatterer blog

The Backup Bunny is a heartwarming story that is sure to become a family favorite! You might even need to keep a Backup Book around just in case!

Corey Rosen Schwartz

2017-12-03
A tale to break a caregiver's heart: the beloved stuffed animal is lost, and the backup fails to satisfy.Told from the backup bunny's perspective, Fluffy's tale begins in Mom's sock drawer, where he waits to swoop in and save the day should Max ever lose Bunny. In the meantime, the lonely toy dreams of what it might be like to be played with and loved instead of trapped in a drawer with the mismatches, the holey socks, and that foot smell. But when Bunny turns up missing one bedtime and Fluffy is pressed into Max's arms, it doesn't take the boy long to notice (and reject) the substitute. But Max still plays with him a bit, enough to get him filthy. And it's while hanging on the clothesline that Fluffy spies Bunny in the treehouse…and keeps mum; this is his big chance. The guilt eats at him a bit amid the fun, but at bedtime, when Max again cries for Bunny, he can't take it anymore and spills the beans. It's back to the sock drawer. But not for long; Max has arms enough for two stuffed bunnies. Stones' illustrations depict a wonderfully expressive, long-limbed, floppy-eared stuffed rabbit. Details are spare to keep the focus on feelings. Max and his mother are white with brown hair.A Velveteen Rabbit for kids of helicopter parents; be prepared for children to ask if their own favorites have backups. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews

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