Customer Reviews

Sleeping Bunny

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Another retold fairy tale from the illustrator of Bunny and the Beast (2001), this time in collaboration with her daughter, finds Sleeping Beauty with a mostly bunny cast -- that is, except for the fairies, who are pigs with wings, and a few other beasts who are courtiers. Keller tells the classic tale with wry and sly humor. At the beginning, the rabbit king and queen long for what is missing in their lives: "a baby bunny (which was highly unusual in their family!) At the very end, the bad fairy Mildew, the rat whose spinning wheel offers the paw prick, presents Bunny and her Prince with eight golden dishes so she won't make the same mistake as her parents in leaving a fairy out, and "everyone lived hoppily ever after." Silin Palmer designs fabric and ceramics among other things, and has clearly studied the work of Dutch flower painter Jan van Huysum: her dark backgrounds and gorgeous, naturalistic flowers bedeck every image. Roses and butterflies, sunflowers and foxglove glow from the pages. Princess Bunny and her family wear more-or-less medieval royal garb that has a shimmer of its own. Really fun, if rather silly. (picture book/fairy tale. 4-7)

Copyright by Kirkus Reviews, November 15, 2002

Keller, Emily. Sleeping Bunny. Illus. by Pamela Silin-Palmer. Jan. 2003. 40p. Random, $
PreS-Gr.

Sleeping Beauty becomes a sleeping bunny in this lavish re-imagining of the familiar fairy tale. Keller follows the traditional story, but rabbit touches abound -- right down to the spinning wheel pricking the princess' velety paws. Other animals populate the kingdom as well; the fairy godmothers are pigs -- except for the bad fairy, who is a rat. Silin-Palmer, a decorative artist who has designed everything from paper products to fantasy furniture, puts her skills to good use in luxurious illustrations touched by swirls and whirls of gold and executed in Renaissance-like style. The story highlights the romance; the prince, decked out in golden armor, fights through a tangle of golden roses to get to his sleeping lady love and wake her with a kiss. Not an essential purchase, but a lush and lovely one. -- Ilene Cooper

We all know the story of Sleeping Beauty. This classic has been updated with a little tongue in cheek humor and the most beautiful illustrations I have seen in any children's book. My 5 year old loved the story, and everytime we read it together we find some new detail in the pictures.

Highly recommended!

Gorgeous illustrations. I originally bought the book as a gift, but I fell so in love with it that I had to order a second for myself.

I ordered this book having read it at the library. The illustrations were absolutely gorgeous!! Being a nanny, I have read this book to lots of different children ranging in age from 1 to 7 and they all love the book.

"Sleeping Bunny" is a refreshing take on the classic fairy tale of "Sleeping Beauty". Here, Bunny is the Princess that falls under the dreaded curse, invoked by a dark rat fairy named Mildew. The story itself is enchanting, but what makes this book truly shine amongst the many other books that put a spin on the Sleeping Beauty story is the beautiful manner in which this book has been illustrated. The illustrations by Pamela Silin-Palmer are gorgeous and vivid, with details that mesmerize and colors that are rich and vibrant. My little girl was simply entranced as I read the story, asking me to pause ever so often so she could study the pictures at leisure. This is a must-have in every child's (and fairy tale lover's) library!

The illustrations are beautifully mesmerizing that would find any child or adults eyes filled with wonderment. The story is precious and would entertain the reader for years to come. Truly the book that should be well taken care of and passed down for generations.