And what a fouryearold thinks is hilarious is incredibly different from what their parent might find droll. Featuring layered, original artwork that emphasizes alexs additions, this dynamic exploration of creative storytelling is sure to engage and inspire. Famous childrens authors who disliked kids new york. Who isare the real authors of battle bunnyalex, or jon scieszka and mac. Matthew myers alex, whose birthday it is, hijacks a story about birthday bunny on his special day and turns it into a battle between a supervillain and his enemies in the forestwho, in the original story, are. A bunny gets evil superpowers on his birthday and tries to take over earth. But the deal is, each time a kid blinks, a page must be turned. Who is the main character of battle bunnybunny, or alex. On the surface, there is the story of battle bunny, but older readers will. New year books for kids childrens books read aloud duration. For lovers of experimental fiction, battle bunny is don barthelme with a. I am a childrens book author and the illustrator of this book illustrated one of my books. On my latest tour a woman asked me to sign her baby. Battle bunny is another socalled postmodern book, merrily upending readers expectations about what a childrens book should beparents mayfeel an instinctive dislike of seeing a book defaced.
New year books for kids children s books read aloud duration. Battle bunny npr coverage of battle bunny by jon scieszka, mac barnett, and matthew myers. This book will inspire children to use their imaginations more not just. The funny little woman english children s books read aloud by neha. An honest reflection of the ways kids interact with booksin a way thats accessible to kids themselvesas well as a complexly layered work of comic geniusthis is an example of exactly how kids are told not to. Alex, whose birthday it is, hijacks a story about birthday bunny on his special day and turns it into a battle between a supervillain and his enemies in the forestwho, in the original story, are simply planning a surprise party. Alex has been given a saccharine, sappy, sillysweet picture book about birthday bunny that his grandma found at a garage sale. Scrawling in pencil over the original story and its creamy, vintagestyle oil images, alex rechristens the book s main character, birthday bunny, as battle bunny, turning the floppyeared cutie. How was the story of birthday bunny structured before alex made his changes in particular, what was the climax. When the defeated woodland animals gather for bunnys birthday. And who better to carry that banner than margaret wise brown, whose books have been vindicated by decades of children who have assayed such titles as goodnight moon and found them valuable. Maybe the most subversive childrens book of the year, and certainly one of the funniest.
This is one of those books with a concept so fun i wish id written it. A visit with jon scieszka, mac barnett, and matthew myers yes, it absolutely can be read aloud in fact, it is a fantastic way to enjoy the book. Find your next great read with npr books bestof20 reading guide. An enthusiastically taboo, devilmaycare outing for combat fansand a great writing inspiration to use on old books headed for the bin. Encourage creativity with this wildly entertaining picture book mash. Battle bunny, birthday bunny, change, childrens literature, creativity, defacement, diy literature, imagination, jon scieszka, mac barnett, matthew myers children are naturally inclined to take over their world and generally have no respect for the property that gets in their way. I am looking for the title of a childrens book about bunniesrabbits that i had when i was a kid. A delightful surprise of a book, which wonderfully subverts just what a book can be. When alex gets a silly, sappy picture book called birthday bunny, he picks up a pencil and turns it into something hed like to read.
But the book has been improved in story and pictures by a child named alex wielding his trusty no. Bunnys weapons include megatron bombs and robot killer bees. Birthday bunny becomes battle bunny, and the rabbits innocent journey through the forest morphs into a supersecret mission to unleash an evil plana plan that only alex can stop. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. Best books of 20 publishers weekly childrens picture. Refreshingly iconoclastic, this is a book which provides a welcome contrast o the high earnestness of so many childrens picture books. Alexs interjections are full of fun and clever wordplay.
Sep 01, 20 battle bunny is the story of a bunny who is sad because his forest friends havent recognized that today is jon scieszka writes kids books that are creative, inventive, and funny. Buy a cheap copy of battle bunny book by jon scieszka. Oct 31, 20 thanks to a clever book design, battle bunny has two layers of text. Matt myers has illustrated more than a dozen books, including the most terrible of all, a dog named doug, the new york times bestseller battle bunny, and the infamous ratsos, a theodor seuss geisel honor book. Extra yarn i childrens read aloud book i janas bananas storytime duration. An adorable rabbits journey through the forest becomes a secret mission to unleash an evil plan, a plan that only alex can stop. Aug 29, 20 battle bunny by jon scieszka and mac barnett, illus.
Thanks to a clever book design, battle bunny has two layers of text. While its hilarious to watch the scieszka and barnetts unseen young editor transform the storys sappy hero, birthday bunny, into a heavily armed warmonger, theres an important message underneath. I remember that it was about a bunch of bunny children and one day. What you find hilarious i might find only mildly mirthful. Jon scieszka is the creator of trucktown, including the new york times bestselling smash, crash. In this one, kids who can avoid getting to the end of this book can avoid bedtime. So i wrote a book and the illustrator ended up being matt myers.
Irish times a celebration of the power of the story and childrens creativity. Battle bunny by jon scieszka, mac barnett, matthew myers. John oliver spoof outsells pence familys book there are two childrens books on store shelves about a bunny named marlon bundo, and they are not the same shares. Not at all interested in his tame birthday gift, alex remakes birthday bunny explode with chainsaws, megaton bombs, and prowrestling moves. The cover, retitled battle bunny, now features rockets. Battle bunny interior pages now i was raised in a household where i was not comfortable writing in books, even ones that i owned, but the premise of this story is that a boy named alex, whose birthday it is, changes the story of birthday bunny into a the battle between himself and the super villain battle bunny, by crossing out words, changing. The late and prolific rosenthal left behind a treasure trove of childrens books, some with important lessons and others that are just plain fun. Battle bunny book by jon scieszka, mac barnett, matt myers. He has worked as an elementary school teacher and is the founder of, a literacy initiative for boys. Alex draws himself into the story, working alongside the president to help stop battle bunny. Who isare the real authors of battle bunnyalex, or jon scieszka and mac barnett. Battle bunny, by jon scieszka and mac barnett the new york times.
Mac, and matthew start crossing out and changing words and adding doodles to transform the book into battle bunny, a story of a bunny bent on world. An imprint of simon u schuster childrens publishing division 1230 avenue of the americas, new york, new york 10020. Nov 01, 20 battle bunny makes for great entertainment. Battle bunny is a unique and witty celebration of the power of imagination and the joys of creativity. Kids will be eager to compare notes and to relive it with their friends. Why do you think there are so many books for kids that are way too sappy. Battle bunny by mac barnett and jon scieszka and alex. The new york public library is a 501c3 ein 1887440. Jon scieszkas battle bunny merrily upends expectations about what a childrens book should be. Jon scieszka, author, lane smith, illustrator, illus. Matthew myers alex, whose birthday it is, hijacks a story about birthday bunny on his special day and turns it into a battle between a supervillain and his enemies in the forest who, in the original story, are. Alex, whose birthday it is, hijacks a story about birthday bunny on his special day and turns.
The scrawled drawings and handwriting are very believably the additions of a young boy. Oct 22, 20 battle bunny makes for great entertainment. Jon scieszka, mac barnett, and matthew myers blaine. He went back to digging becomes he went down for the count. Battle bunny is the story of a bunny who is sad because his forest friends havent recognized that today is jon scieszka writes kids books that are creative, inventive, and funny. Members of the 2014 notable childrens books committee include. Shop by age, genre, series, and more to find the perfect childrens books for both little kids and big kids. Extra yarn i children s read aloud book i jana s bananas storytime duration.
Did you read a lot as a child and do you still read childrens books now. The funny little woman english childrens books read aloud by neha. Scieszka and barnett wonder what would happen if the young recipient of a dorky picture book, birthday bunny, decided to. Battle bunny by jon scieszka, mac barnett, matt myers. Battle bunny book by jon scieszka, mac barnett, matt. Simon u schuster books for young readers new york london toronto sydney new delhi. Battle bunny by jon scieszka, mac barnett, and matthew myers. The first is the birthday bunny story, printed on each page as in an ordinary book. Its now clear that the librarian bunny and mac barnett share a common passion.
I cant really remember the story line but remember some small details. He takes traditional tales and subverts them to be smart and appealing to both children and the adults who have to read them to children. Its rare that you find a picture book where the childrens librarians reading the book for the first time start laughing out loud but thats what you get with moo. Scrawling in pencil over the original story and its creamy, vintagestyle oil images, alex rechristens the books main character, birthday bunny, as battle bunny, turning the floppyeared cutie. This is one of those books with a concept so fun i. As alexs imagination goes into full force, his edits and drawings become bigger and bolder. Battle bunny, by jon scieszka and mac barnett the new.