Rabbits on Mars (Picture Books) [Hardcover]

Jan Wahl (Author), Kimberley Schamber (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Series: Picture Books

Tired of their hard life on Earth, where dogs chase them, winters are cold, and carrots scarce, three rabbit friends build a rocket ship and journey to Mars in hopes of finding a better life.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-Greenleaf, Ouzel, and Peppercorn star in this lackluster tale of an outer-space voyage. With winter closing in, the three rabbits decide that life on Earth is too perilous with its dogs, traffic, and the scarcity of fresh carrots. After building a rocket ship, soaring through the stars, and landing on Mars, they find that the carrots are immense, the weather is warm, and traffic is nonexistent. However, the indigenous cucumber-green canines use the bunnies in place of balls for juggling, tennis, and bowling. With the realization that there's no place like home, the distraught travelers return to Earth. Though Schamber's illustrations are an intriguing blend of cartoons and digital photographs filled with eye-popping colors and varying textures, the story is labored. For an entertaining yarn about a dissatisfied and adventurous rabbit, it's hard to beat Marilyn Sadler's It's Not Easy Being a Bunny (Beginner, 1983).
Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 3. Three carrot-challenged bunnies seek a better life. They are sick of the cars and trucks they have to hop around to cross the road ("You take your life in your paws," complains one), and they're sick of rabbit-chasing dogs. The situation is desperate. Then one night while looking into the sky, they see the glowing red planet, Mars, and decide that it must be traffic free and carrot rich. In keeping with the glorious nonsense that infuses the book, the rabbits build a rocket ship and travel to Mars, where the carrots are huge and so, unfortunately, are the dogs. The raucous action, with cartoony bunnies swinging on huge red carrots and suddenly dancing on their heads, is played out in an eye-catching combination of vibrant oils and digitalized photographs. Children will have fun with the story and easily grasp the lesson in contentment that Wahl serves up. Connie Fletcher
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group (January 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575055112
• ISBN-13: 978-1575055114
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,491,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic children's book!!, April 7, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Rabbits on Mars (Picture Books) (Hardcover)

My kids (and my husband and I!) absolutely love this book by Jan Wahl. We just bought it the other day and my son has already asked me to read it to him about 6 times. The story about the rabbits searching for carrots on Mars is just so great. I just love how creative it is! And the illustrations....Wow! the illustrator truly brings this wonderful story to life. Both my children (son, 4 and daughter 6) have asked us so many questions after we read them this book. I recommend it to anyone looking for a great book to share with your children.