Quiet Bunny - Review and Book Giveaway

"I've been watching you, Quiet Bunny," said the owl. "It doesn't matter how hard you rub your feet together, or flap your ears, or puff up your cheeks, you will never make the sound of a cricket, or a bat, or a frog. You are a Quiet Bunny. Be whoooooo you are, and you will find your own bunny sound." - Quiet Bunny by Lisa McCue

Kids love observing the sights and sounds of the forest. Recently, while walking one evening through the woods, we saw a little owl sleeping in a specially made wooden house. At first glance it looked like a piece of wood sticking out of a hole, but upon closer inspection we quickly realized it was indeed an owl's head. It moved ever so slightly as we walked by, and we tried our best not to disturb it. My preschool daughter skipped all the way home giddy with delight and has since told every one she meets about the real owl she saw in the forest.

Quiet Bunny, an adorable new picture book by Lisa McCue, beautifully depicts sounds of animals in the forest and, yes, it includes a particularly wise owl. Quiet Bunny is just that - a quiet bunny. He desperately wants to find his own voice so that he too can join the other forest animals in singing the night song. He tries imitating his forest friends, but fails. Finally, after following some wise advice from an owl, he discovers his very own bunny sound. The colorfully illustrated forest scenes include glorious sunsets and animals filling moon-lit nights with a sweet chorus of sounds.

Quiet Bunny is the first book Lisa McCue has both written and illustrated. I've loved McCue's illustrations for quite some time. A very talented and prolific illustrator, her work can be found in over 175 children's books, including quite a few recent Corduroy titles. Indeed, Quiet Bunny immediately reminded me of a book I read once during a preschool library storytime called Bunny's Noisy Book by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by...no surprise here...Lisa McCue. Her detailed and cutesy illustrations of animals and nature will wow you, I guarantee. My favorite illustration is the one of Quiet Bunny relaxing on his back, making a wish by moon light. My daughter loves the last, wide, fold out page showing all the forest animals making sweet melodies together.

The book may be of special use to speech therapists and early childhood development specialists. McCue is no stranger to speech difficulties; she personally has struggled with a lisp issue since childhood. She joined forces with a children’s speech language pathologist and developed Quiet Bunny as a tool to help children with speech-sound difficulties. My daughter especially enjoyed the interactive aspect, making all the animal sounds like "Croak" and "BzZzzz Zzzz" along with me. The book shares an important message as well. Remember that wise old owl? He encourages Quiet Bunny to "Be whooooo you are." The "be your self" message is one that should be shared with every child, every single day.

Quiet Bunny by Lisa McCue. Sterling (March 2009); 32 pages; ISBN 9781402757198; Ages 2-8

Related Links:
Lisa McCue - Author/Illustrator Website
Sterling Publishing 5 Questions for Lisa McCue
Publishers Weekly "A 'Quiet' Debut Is Making Noise" article

Win a copy! Sterling Publishing has kindly offered to give away (5) copies of the hardcover book Quiet Bunny to Brimful Curiosities readers. 5 WINNERS!

To enter, let me know what animal sound is your favorite (or your child's favorite) to imitate.

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• Contest ends on Sunday, May 10th, 2009 at 11:59 PM CST.
• Winner will be chosen at random

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