Confessions of a Bunny
A beloved stuffy recounts her adventures with her person in this sweet and sassy children’s book.
There are stuffed animals, and then there are stuffies—best friends, confidants, commiserators, and adventurers. In Confessions of a Bunny, Melissa Jackson helps Bun Bun, an extra special stuffy, tell a high-spirited and loving story of living life with her person, Reagan.
The story starts out calmly, when Bun Bun and Reagan first meet. There are lots of naps in the crib and soft, gentle cuddles. But as Reagan grows, so do their adventures together. Bun Bun’s stuffing thins and her fur fades, but each paint splatter and dirt smear marks a life well-lived with her person. Well—except for maybe that time she flew out of the car window and found herself in the middle of Highway 68.
Bun Bun’s voice is well developed, with a sassy, somewhat sarcastic tone that is sweetened by her love and admiration for Reagan. This is no saccharine-sweet tale of a shelf-dwelling toy, but a real, down-and-dirty story of a stuffy who endures being dragged through the sandbox by her ears, chewed on by the new puppy, and decorated with endless craft supplies. Bun Bun’s life is spent in equal parts of shaking her head at Reagan’s behavior (“Really, Reagan?”) and absolute, loving devotion (“I was hers, and she was mine”).
Shannen Marie Paradero’s illustrations move the story along with soft, colorful depictions of Bun Bun and Reagan. From the droop of Bun Bun’s ear and Reagan’s bright smile to the body language of background characters, every aspect of the drawings conveys the emotion of the moment.
This is a well-organized and thoughtful story, with deep development of the relationship between Reagan and Bun Bun and a dramatic climax that will engage children and adults alike. Bun Bun’s sassy personality is refreshing in a children’s book, while still remaining respectful and loving. Confessions of a Bunny is a story that children will want read to them over and over again, and parents will be happy to oblige.
Reviewed by
Christine Canfield
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
