The Dumb Bunnies [Paperback]

Sue Denim (Author), Dav Pilkey (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1998 | Age Level: 4 and up | Series: Dumb Bunnies

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Everything the dumb bunnies do is REALLY dumb--but lots of fun. When an intruder sneaks into the bunnies' house, this spectacularly stupid family is stumped.

--This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Denim and Pilkey parody a parody in this supremely silly effort. The jacket art, placing the title characters in the room featured in Goodnight Moon , loudly proclaims the author and artist's dependence on allusions; their book, dedicated to James Marshall, is clearly indebted to Marshall and Henry Allard's Stupids books, with a dose of Marshall's version of Goldilocks thrown in for good measure. Here, three roly-poly, bucktoothed pink bunnies grin goofily as they leave their porridge on the table and head to town. Poppa Bunny wears polka-dotted Y-front briefs and scratches his head in befuddlement, Baby Bunny picks his nose and puts ketchup on his watermelon, and Momma Bunny wears obnoxious harlequin glasses and a baseball cap marked "Duh." Meanwhile, back at their "log cabin made out of bricks," Little Red Goldilocks (who has skin "as white as snow") makes herself comfortable. Denim's deadpan narration complements the all-out corniness of Pilkey's colorful illustrations, but it doesn't capture the amiability of the Stupids (or, for that matter, of Pilkey's beatifically bemused Dragon). Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5-A cross between Harry Allard's "The Stupids" (Houghton) and a fractured fairy tale. A moronic rabbit family lives in a "log cabin made out of bricks," bowls a game of baseball at the public library, and has lunch in a car wash. While they are out, their home is invaded by Little Red Goldilocks. Poppa Bunny wears red polka-dotted jockey shorts and Momma wears a short skirt and bra. Poppa, Momma, and Baby Bunny all have very prominent overbites. Many of the jokes require a degree of sophistication beyond that of average primary graders: the Bunnies drive a Yugo, Baby Bunny uses a pimple cream called Zit-B-Gone, and Momma sings "Feelings" and wears butterfly wing glasses. Book titles at the library include The Condo that Jack Subleased, Pair 'O Dice Lost, The Second to the Last of the Mohicans, and Moby Richard. Some of the slapstick humor will appeal to youngsters, e.g., pouring porridge down pants and on heads, ice skating on the bottom of an unfrozen lake, letting Baby Bunny drive the car, and flushing Little Red Goldilocks down the toilet. The most appreciative audience for this title, however, will be older students who grew up with the Stupids and now have the experience to appreciate the more subtle visual humor.
Eunice Weech, M.L. King Elementary School, Urbana, IL
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic (March 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590477099
• ISBN-13: 978-0590477093
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,720,790 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just who is Sue Demin, anyway?, June 11, 2000

By 

K. Bennett (Rolla, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Dumb Bunnies (Paperback)

This is the perfect book for a kid whose favorite jokes revolve around the words "toilet" and "underwear" -- your typical four year old, for instance. My typical four year old loves it! The Dumb Bunnies are a family of clueless rabbits who might remind you of a certain family of bears. When they go to town to let their porridge cool off, they take their bikes, which are strapped on top of their car. "'Can I drive the car?" asked Baby Bunny. "'You don't know how to drive," said Poppa Bunny. 'You'd get us all killed.' "'Aw, please?' asked Baby Bunny. "'Duh, okay,' said Poppa Bunny." While the Dumb Bunnies are in town bowling at the library and picnicking in the car wash, Little Red Goldilocks, whose skin is white as snow, breaks into their house. She sleeps in Poppa Bunny's porridge, eats Momma Bunny's bed, and uses Baby Bunny's pimple cream, but the Dumb Bunnies love her. In fact, Baby Bunny loves her so much, that he flushes her down the toilet. This book was my first introduction to Dav Pilkey, and now I'm a diehard fan. His cartoon drawings are hilarious! The cover of The Dumb Bunnies shows the family in the great green room from "Good Night Moon," complete with the bowl of mush on a table and lava lamps on the mantle. There's even a big gold Caldecott-like seal over the illustration which reads "This book is too dumb to win an award." Well, if four year olds could give book awards, this one would be a sure winner!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Humor, parody, and lesson-teaching..., October 18, 2003

By 

Virginia Reviewer (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dumb Bunnies (Paperback)

I feel as though I must address the scathing criticism of other posters. This book is a silly parody of other stories. It does not teach kids to say, "Duh." That is a sound that the father makes when he is actually being dumb. It does not encourage the child to do something after his parents have told him it was dangerous. Rather, it demonstrates the consequences of doing so and makes it appear "dumb" to do it. This book is about producing giggles from the unexpected and silly. My children absolutely love the gentle irreverence of it. It is not harsh or rude; rather it is charming and fun. I highly recommend it for any children, especially those who may not have developed a love of reading just yet.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Luv that Dav Pilkey guy!, April 4, 2003

By 

Kelly K. Coyle "generally annoyed" (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Dumb Bunnies (Paperback)

Dav Pilkey is the author/illustrator of the hi-larious Captain Underpants series. His books are very funny and will encourage reluctant readers to pick up a book.

The Dumb Bunnies are a very silly family who happily do things backwards, upsidedown and sideways,without ever losing their happy dispositions, in fact, they never even notice that they march to the beat of a different drummer! With humor that everyone can understand and great illustrations, kids will really enjoy the Dumb Bunnies!