8.2 /10 1 Votes
Country United States Publication date 1942 Pages 48 Originally published 1942 Illustrator Clement Hurd Page count 48 | 4.1/5 Goodreads Language English Media type Print ISBN 978-0-06-077582-7 Genre Children's literature Publisher Harper | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Similar Margaret Wise Brown books, Rabbit books, Children's literature | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The runaway bunny the classic children s book by margaret wise brown
The Runaway Bunny is a 1942 picture book written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd. The plot deals with a small rabbit, who wants to run away. His mother, however, tells him that "if you run away, I will run after you."
Contents
- The runaway bunny the classic children s book by margaret wise brown
- The runaway bunny by margaret wise brown grandma annii s storytime
- Synopsis
- Publication history
- In popular culture
- References
This book is the first in Brown and Hurd's "classic series," which also includes Goodnight Moon and My World. The picture of a cow jumping over the moon, which features prominently in Goodnight Moon, first appeared in The Runaway Bunny. A copy of The Runaway Bunny appears in Goodnight Moon, as does the illustration of the mother fishing for the bunny child. The three books have been published together as a collection titled Over the Moon.
The runaway bunny by margaret wise brown grandma annii s storytime
Synopsis
The plot deals with a little bunny who wants to run away, becoming variously a fish, a rock on the mountain, a crocus in a hidden garden, a bird, a sailboat, a circus acrobat, a finally a little boy, until he resigns himself to just stay where he is and remain his mother's little bunny.
Publication history
Brown claimed that her inspiration for The Runaway Bunny came from "Chanson de Magali," a love song based on French Provençal folklore. The call and response structure of Brown's text provides an emotionally compelling depiction of a small child's first burst of independence and a mother's affirmation of unconditional love.
The closing line of the book, "'Have a carrot,' said the mother bunny," was added after Ursula Nordstrom, the director of Harper's Department of Books for Boys and Girls, told Brown that the ending needed work. The line was cabled in to Harper's from Maine, where Brown was on vacation. There have been two different final illustrations for this book.
The book has been in print continuously since 1942.
In popular culture
The Runaway Bunny has been adapted into a concerto for violin, reader and orchestra by the contemporary American composer Glen Roven, with text from the book.
Movie and TV writer Zack Stentz had taken inspiration from "The Runaway Bunny" when writing the 21st episode of the second season of TV series The Flash - titled "The Runaway Dinosaur".
The Runaway Bunny was referenced in season 11, episode 12 of the television show 'Cheers.' Carla states that she's read the book to her 8 kids over a thousand times and it 'made her bawl each time.'
It is also referenced in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Wit.