I never thought much of this book the first time I read it, but with this re-read I really like the little battle of wits between the mother rabbit and her son.

And this time I was more struck by things that escaped me before, like the sails on the bunny boat being elongated ears and the connections to Goodnight Moon. I see now that the image of the mother bunny fishing for her runaway bunny recurs as paintings in the other two books in addition to the moon motif. In the Goodnight Moon Extended Universe, it seems that whole book is a joyful bedtime story told by the mother rabbit of this book to her bunny in their den under a tree, and the companion book My World is a bleak and bitter tale told later as her relationship with the bunny's father crumbles. Wild.

Side note: This is in my old book database as book #1522 with "indifferent" ratings. ( )

Is Mother Bunny controlling or being playful with her Little Bunny? I wasn't sure how to read this one and I think it could go either way.

Mother Bunny's last line made me laugh. I thought about the book all day and read it again this evening. The last line made me laugh again. Is this a common adult reaction?

I imagined all the things Mother Bunny could be feeling at the end. Relieved, exhausted, happy, nurturing. Like Goodnight Moon, I enjoyed the illustrations very much. Charming and colorful. I especially enjoy the one where Mother Bunny is fishing with a carrot on the line. ( )

Imaginative renderings of a bunny hiding from his mother in fantastical ways. Can be a fun "spot the bunny" exercise for younger audiences. Reinforces message of parental love and devotion. ( )

It's the color panels that get me. And, because my mom read this one to me first, in my mind all the other similar ones are copycats... though I've never checked publication dates. ( )

- picture book
- This is a story about a bunny who says he is going to run away, but his mother assures him that she will always be there for him. If he turns into a trout to swim away from her, she will turn into a fisherman. If he turns into a bird to fly away from her, she will turn into a tree that he can fly to. The little bunny decides that he is better off staying with his mother; she will always be there for him.
- This was a very cute family story. It shows children how much mothers love their children and reminds them that no matter what happens, their family will always look after them. The illustrations were beautiful as well (Hurd did the illustrations for the famous "Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise as well).