Let's Make Rabbits

I feel justified in including multiple Leo Lionni books in my picture book library because his illustration and design mediums are so diverse! In the case of Let’s Make Rabbits, Lionni uses two mediums simultaneously, drawing and patterned paper collage, to create two different rabbit characters.

The wonder of this book lies in that it deconstructs the creative process and shows how an illustrator’s process works. The opening shows the scraps of paper and scissors coming together to build a rabbit while the pencil goes to work creating a rabbit as well.

Lionni’s choice to make these materials animate gives a magical, anything is possible, quality to the creative process. I appreciate that this shows children the may create anything through art and all it takes is setting their mind to it. This is a fantastic book to teach an early childhood art lesson collage, multi media projects, or just to get a child inspired to create!

A cute board book for children. It can be used to help teach them about imagination. However, the cover gives some negative connotations. ( )

Pencil and scissors decide to make rabbits, each in its own way. They then have to feed them (carrots, of course). When the rabbits find and eat a "real" carrot (they know it's real because of its shadow), they too become real (develop shadows). You are what you eat? This is certainly easier than what the Velveteen Rabbit had to go through. Same content as the original, non-board book. ( )

This is an excellent and creative story -- it reminds me a little of "Harold and the Purple Crayon". It's good for stimulating the imagination. It got my daughter excited about finding her shadow. ( )

I LOVE this book!! This has been one of my favorite kids books for as long as I can remember... Just the idea of a paper rabbit coming to life, the magic, the wonder, is so awesome! This is one of those books I just know I'll read to my future children. ( )