The Runaway Bunny Library Binding – January 18, 2005

I really really want to love this book because I love Good Night Moon and this story is so cute until you get to this page (see attached photo). Every time my husband and I read that page to our little boys, it bothers us so returning it today. Sorry, just being honest.

I buy a stuffed bunny and give this as a gift for new babies. I tell the parents I use the book as if God were the Mother bunny in the book; no matter where you try to run or hide God loves you so much He will continue to search for you. I used to be a teacher and used it also as an art project and had the kids draw and camouflage the bunny just like in the story. Every child should own a copy of this classic! BTW for babies I buy the board book version. For story telling I buy this version.

The Runaway Bunny is a timeless classic, proven by the fact that the hardback I just bought for my niece was the 75th anniversary edition. While I know probably hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions, of children have read The Runaway Bunny by now, including my own, a scene that is indelibly etched in my memory is of a retreat where I witnessed a man read this book to a room of 50 or 60 women. These woman were so focused, intent, and moved by this book that you could have heard a pin drop from the moment the gentleman started reading until he finished. There weren’t many dry eyes in the place as the women related to the type of love that follows and waits for the loved one to turn back to them. It is a love that waits and watches, never forcing itself upon another, but patiently and diligently keeps guard and maintains a place of safety for the loved one’s return.That’s the magic of this story which was written three-fourths of a century before helicopter parenting was a thing. This isn’t helicopter parenting, but it’s what safe parenting ought to be. The mother rabbit knows that the child needs to run away, to practice independence, to be free to make mistakes, but she allows this freedom in a gentle guardianship. Almost all her actions are simply to watch over and keep her little bunny safe and to be there when he has stretched his legs enough and needs to rest in safety. The mother rabbit doesn’t snatch the little bunny/bird out of the air, she forms a tree in which he can safely perch and rest when he chooses to. It is the best of love that allows room to grow and the safety in which to do it.Small children will relate to this story and to the desire to run away, to be independent, but they will also relate to their desire to have a parent waiting for them in a place of safety, ready to offer rest and refreshment when their wandering ways carry them back home. They will also love and relate to the many adventures the little bunny envisions as he dreams of a future where he is free and grown, ready to wander where he will to conquer the world.I’m so glad I picked this up, because I admit I read through it after it showed up. (Quality control, you know, lol.) The retrospective was quite illuminating, as I had no idea about the history of the author, the artist, or the story. I may have to buy a copy of the edition for myself. I had picked this up after I got a shower invitation from my niece lately asking people to bring a book instead of a card along with their gift. I grabbed three of our old childhood standbys:  Stellaluna 25th Anniversary Edition , Verdi , and  The Runaway Bunny: A 75th Anniversary Retrospective . It’s so hard to choose so few out of so many of our favorite books, but she may be inundated with more books as her son gets older. ;) I also ordered a new favorite,  A Boy and a House , but I’m not sure it will get here in time for her shower.Highly recommended; simply one of the sweetest picture books for children out there. The fascinating retrospective is a wonderful bonus.

The Runaway Bunny is a comforting story that promotes Social/Emotional development in young children age 30-36 months, who are beginning to separate easily from parents in a familiar setting. It is also appropriate for the 30-36 month age range, because children are then able to listen to longer stories & recognize the outline/silhouette picture of the baby bunny "hidden" in the trout stream, on the mountain, among the crocuses, in the tree, as a sailboat, etc. The small board book & the lap-reading size are great for 30-36 month old children. The book also comes in a paper-page format for children who can turn paper pages without ripping them.

My toddler daughter and I love to read this story. The illustrations are wonderful and reminiscent of Good Night Moon. We also love the "Easter eggs" we see in reference to Good Night Moon (and vice versa). This book displays the same painting of the cow jumping over the moon on a later page while Good Night Moon features the painting of Mommy bunny "fishing" for Baby bunny. Plus, I believe the bunny in Good Night Moon is the same bunny in Runaway Bunny. My 2-year-old has been in awe of these similarities recently and always insists we read this story along with Good Night Moon.At first, I didn't think I was going to like the story of Runaway Bunny. I didn't really like the thought of a child wanting to run away from his/her mommy. But after reading the whole story, I realized the point of the story is not about a child running away from his/her mommy. It's about a mommy (or daddy or other loved guardian) letting a child know that they will be there for them always, in good times and in bad. That's what I get out of this book and what I hope my daughter learns too. It's a very imaginative story with a sweet ending. We checked it out of the library a few times before I finally decided to order it to add to our home library. I recommend it!

PERFECT for my daughter's baby shower guest book. There's ample blank space in the front and back for guests to sign and write their well wishes and the story itself is so cute. Plus the coloring and illustrations are just what I was looking for. A classic keepsake!

This book is just beautiful. The full-page illustrations are wonderful and both of my children (6) and (3) adore it. It is easy to bring this book to life. I created a simple story basket with bunny ears, paper puppets, and some miniature bunnies! and the children loved playing out the story. It encourages them to use their imagination, coming up with different things they could turn into! And I can challenge them by telling them how I would catch them!

Used to read it to my older children years ago. Just bought it again as my younger children and wife had never heard of it. My wife was in floods of tears reading it to the kids that night. It's became the favourite bedtime story ever now, and the wife is still in floods of tears every night but loves it. If you've never read this book to your children you should be ashamed of yourself and buy a copy before they get too old, it's magical and should be a compulsory read for all parents and children

Lovely durable book. Not sure I like the story as it seems quite antiquated but it arrived on time and as expected so no problems.

I enjoyed it because it's interesting and tells your kids never to try to leave mum & home.By Kal aged 10It explains how much you love your children & what you would do to find them and keep them safe.Kals mum

I read this book to my grandsons when their mummy was long term in hospital. It is a lovely story of a very loving mother bunny. Highly recoommended.