My Friend Rabbit

Rabbit and mouse are two friends who are excited to use a flying plane for mouse to fly in. The story begins with the plane getting stuck in a tree. Rabbit gathers many larger animals to help them get the plane from out of the tree. Eventually, all the giant animals collapse and become angered by the task given to them by the rabbit. The rabbit escapes with the mouse just in time after the mouse successfully got their plane working again. They eventually end up with the same situation all over again to which the rabbit jumps into action to solve another problem. I loved the character portrayals in this story. It shows the reader why it's important to be forgiving of characters at times. Even though the rabbit disturbs many of the other show more animals and causes some brief discomfort, it makes it clear that the rabbit had good intentions throughout. I love that we are told to consider more then what is physically happening in the story. We are forced to consider where the main characters are coming from, instead of only focusing on what they're physically doing. show less

This is a humorous, charming board book for children aged 1 to 5. Several of the pages are wordless. The animals’ expressions convey quite clearly how they feel about what is happening. Even toddlers will delight in the funny illustrations.

Rabbit puts his friend, the mouse, who is also the narrator, into a small plane and propels him into the air. The airplane gets stuck in a tree. The mouse drags an elephant, rhino, hippo, deer, alligator, bear, goose, and squirrel to help. He then piles them, not quite from largest to smallest, and climbs on the top holding out the mouse to get the airplane. Of course, all the animals collapse in a disgruntled heap. Mouse comes to rabbit’s rescue by whisking him away with the airplane, which is show more now free. The airplane loops around and then gets stuck back in the tree.

Children will enjoy discussing Rabbit’s poor decisions as well as the different responses from Mouse and the other animals. show less

Rabbit is a great friend, full of ideas and eager to help. But whenever he does “help” everything goes wrong.

This is a delightful picture book for very young children. There are very few words, allowing the parent and child plenty of room for their imaginations to fill in the story based on Rohmann’s great illustrations. I particularly loved the pile of animals Rabbit arranged in an effort to get the airplane out of the tree!

Of course, everyone forgives Rabbit because he IS such a good and loyal friend, even if he causes more problems than he fixes.

Summary:
‘My Friend Rabbit’ is about a mouse who is friends with a rabbit who seems to always cause problems when around, but not on purpose. The mouse gets an airplane and lets the rabbit play with it. The airplane gets stuck in a tree and rabbit in determined to help. He brings over many animals to try to reach the plane but the pile falls before reaching the plane. The mouse is able to get the plane from the tree and fly’s down and picks up rabbit in his plane. The rabbit again try’s to help, but covers the mouse's eyes and they get stuck in a tree. Rabbit again tries to help and fails. Mouse never backs down on him even though rabbit seems to be a nuisance.

Personal Reaction:
I like this story because even though mouse knows show more when he is around rabbit something is bound to go wrong, he does not abandon him. This story makes me think of times when I’ve been the person who has tried to help in a situation and did even more damage than was already done. This story is also good because it is all about sharing, and children need to share. The story is very cute.

Extension Ideas:
1. I could have the class draw a picture of them and their favorite animal or friend and write a sentence or two on why they appreciate them.
2. The class could have a day where they bring a reasonable toy to school and share it with classmates, and again write a few sentences on why sharing is great.
3. The class could make their own toy airplanes and throw them around the room. show less

It’s rare when one can say too much about a picture book or it will spoil it, but that’s the case with the Caldecott Medal winner My Friend Rabbit. It begins, “My friend Rabbit means well, But whatever he does, wherever he goes, trouble follows.” Author Eric Rohmann’s thick-edged illustrations will delight both children and their grownups, and leave no doubt as to why it won the prize in 2003.

The best friend of Mouse is a happy Rabbit who has a great penchant for taking normal situations and turning them smack upside down.

Wherever Rabbit is, trouble follows.

Well intentioned, Rabbit always creates trouble. Thinking that the solution is to come up with great ideas only nets more problems.

I loved the creativity of the story of a creature who is nice, who tries to do the right thing and yet his golden ideas turn to dust.

I very much like the theme of friendship and the love of understanding a beloved friend.

Summary:
My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann is about a mouse and a rabbit who are best friends. The mouse just received a brand new airplane and while playing, it got stuck in the tree. While his friend rabbit thinks he can retrieve it, he causes some problem for everyone involved. Rabbit gets large and small animals in all sorts of predicaments. During the process of reclaiming his bestfriends airplane, he manages to jumble everyone together in order to make a living ladder. Mouse realizes that even though rabbit causes a lot problems, rabbit is still his bestfriend.

Personal Reaction:
I love this book, even though this book is for little kids and mainly brightly colored pictures, the art work is well enough executed that the students show more would have no problem at all telling what the story line is. The moral of the story is that even the best of friends can cause problems, but a real friend is a friend forever.

Classroom Extension:
1. Read the story while sharing the pictures. Have the children identify the animals.
2. Discuss the meaning of friendship.
3. Have the students tell me what characteristics make a good friend. show less