Customer Reviews

A Small Surprise

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The little bunny looked like a little hobo with his bindlestiff over his shoulder. He was looking at a circus poster with a crudely made sign advertising for jobs. "Jobs available apply within. Small animals need not apply." Gee, he was very small, but he was also very much in need of a job. There were all kinds of BIG animals surrounding him. There was the snake who was so long he looked like he could twist himself in knots, there was a big goofy gorilla with a hat on, a rhinoceros, a lion, a bear on stilts and a wide-eyed giraffe who was really big and tall (and kind of daffy looking). Yep, he was pretty darn small.

He opened up his bindlestiff and pulled out an umbrella, some shoes and a little red ball to put on the end of his nose. "I am too small to wipe my own nose. I am too small to tie my own shoes." The goofy gorilla took a little sympathy on him and tied them for him. He walked across a tightrope, but soon grew tired. Little people and bunnies are like that. He had to have help with his food, but made a BIG mess. One thing he could do was disappear. Where do you think the little bunny who was too little to do much of anything go off to?

This is a comical book for those who, according to the author, "are too small to wipe their nose or tie their shoes or walk far without a rest . . . but not too small to make a BIG impression on others." The book was adorable and it was very amusing to see that the other grownup animals didn't quite know what to do with such a little one. The watercolors are bold and add a lot to this little story. I especially enjoyed the little scenes where the bunny is trying, without much success, to tie his shoes, only to end up on his back. If you have a little one who could use a lot of help, perhaps you are looking at a book that he or she could use your help by reading it to them!

I really like this book. I like the bunny's quiet confidence, and how the other animals seem to be rooting for him. I like how there's a real storyline to follow, told with very few words. I love the illustrations and the surprise ending. Truly, this is a little bunny masterpiece!

The beginning is a little unusual as the story actually starts out on the inside cover, instead of the first page. Because the drawing is rendered in pale blue and white, it's fairly easy to overlook, but it actually sets the background for the story. A huge billboard boasts the magnificent menagerie of a circus which includes the biggest, tallest, longest and largest animals of all. A vagabond bunny passing through is drawn to the notice tacked in the corner announcing "Jobs available, apply within ... small animals need not apply."

With a bow to the larger animals, the bunny allows he is indeed very small. He unties his brindle to reveal a pint sized pair of clown shoes, umbrella and red nose. He demonstrates how he is too small to wipe his own nose, or tie his own shoes. He's too small to walk very far on the tightrope without needing a rest and even too small to eat without making a mess. But he's just the right size to disappear and reappear in the most unlikely places. Ta-da, he amazes the other animals again and again with his agility and speed.

Though the words are few, the illustrations tell a great bit more of the story. At first the animals seem surprised by the bunny's appearance, then sort of charmed and finally mystified by his considerable talent. The moral of the story is being small doesn't mean you can't be amazing! The inside cover at the back of the book shows the bunny amending the circus poster to reflect his appearance.

Overall, an excellent, quirky, wonderful, lovely book that I wholeheartedly recommend!