TITLE: NINJA BUNNY
Author/Illustrator:Jennifer Gray Olson
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2015
Intended Age: 3-7 (I would say 3-5)
Theme: Teamwork, Friendship
Opening Line: "Rule 1: A super awesome ninja must always work alone."
What I like about this book: The cover art charmed me. Olson captures a child-like spirit and stance in her bunnies that kept me turning pages. The pictures provide the humorous reality to the understated, sparse text that is a list of rules to follow in order to become a ninja. The plucky book-reading bunny totes his how-to tome across the pages and with the bunny covered head to toe in ninja garb, the emotion is conveyed with a skillful adjustment of bunny eyebrows!
Resources:
- NOTE that there is an online web-comic Ninja Bunny character. This is NOT related to the book. I didn't read the entire (years!) blog for child-friendly content so you may not want to let children web search this on their own!
- Ask children to compare the story and characters in NINJA BUNNY to THE THREE NINJA PIGS by Corey Rosen Schwartz, NINJA! by Arree Chung and Todd Tarpley's MY GRANDMA'S A NINJA. Which is their favorite story? Why?
- List character traits for a ninja. Are they good or bad?
- Discuss why we have rules. When can they be changed?
- Write your own set of ninja rules.
- For older readers, talk about what a ninja really is--not the comic portrayal.
Note: I received a review copy from Random House/Knopf Books for Young Readers. No other compensation was received. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Thanks for stopping by! :)
