"Lets Make Rabbits" by Leo Lionni

"LET'S MAKE RABBITS" is a book I've been reading off-and-on to my children since my eldest was two. And what amazes me is that every so often, even after five years of reading it, I can still have an 'Oh-Wow' moment in which I discover some new aspect of the book that that hadn't occurred to me before.

At first, of course, I just read the story. We pointed out the names of objects and colors. Then when my children were a little older we talked about how the two bunnies were friends even though they were different. Then even later we digressed and discussed how the pen and the scissors both wanted to make bunnies and carrots and how they both succeeded even though they took different paths to do so.

Then, just yesterday, it dawned on me that part of what Lionni was demonstrating was 'space relations'. That line drawings didn't have shadows, whereas the 'real' objects did. It was rather effortless to explain this to my five and seven year olds, and to tie this particular lesson into my second grader's geometry.

I bring this all up because I want you to know that if you buy this book you aren't just buying it for the baby and toddler years. And that there is a depth of purpose here that you just don't get in most other books. Highly recommend this one. There is just a lot to spark a child's -- and a mom's-- imagination.

A+ ::: "Lets Make Rabbits" is one of those books that unfolds with each reading. Even my own 'take' on it has changed over the years. Good Read-aloud. Just-right artwork. No wonder Lionni has won so many awards.

Talking Points :::
Let's Make Rabbits is one of those books where there is conflicting information about what the Accelerated Reading designation is. We found 2.0 and 3.6. Given that most of Mr. Lionni's books are listed in the in the high 2's and 3's, we are going to go with the 3.6 number.

Let's Make Rabbits can be read to children of any age.

Pam
Somewhere in the X-burbs

Lets Make Rabbits