Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: rabbits

  • Two Rabbits

    Two Rabbits

    Arguments and disagreements can happen to the best of friends. So, what do you do when hard words have been said, feelings have been hurt and your heart is beating faster?  These two rabbits in this lovely picture book Two Rabbits, show us the very best way to deal with conflict. They walk away, cool down, and then think rationally. This is a great way to understand conflict resolution at an early age.

    Using two rabbits, the author shows the feelings and physical side effects of an argument. Her language and simple dialogue are easy to follow and convey the exact feelings and emotions of the pair. There is no right or wrong after mean words were said.

    Aiding this story and adding to the understanding are the illustrations. To begin with we have a map of where the rabbits walked to cool down. Using double page spreads, the illustrator shows us just how the characters are feeling, and what their reactions are.  The pages vary from full page pictured to circles with text underneath.

    Two Rabbits is a great way to introduce to children how to managing yourself after an argument or disagreement, and how to resolve the conflict.

  • The Legend of Childer’s Forest

    The Legend of Childer’s Forest

    Crazy Cream Adventures

    Captain Francis Childer, way back in the time of 1651, well before you were born, did a very brave and sacrificial thing. He and his men were with Charles Stuart, the man who was supposed to be the King, being hunted by Oliver Cromwell, and his New Model Army, who was now the most powerful and terrifying man in Politics in Britain at that time.

     In order to   make sure Charles Stuart stayed safe, he offered to be used as a decoy, to run into Childer’s Forest so Cromwell’s soldiers would follow him, not Charles Stuart.  While he was there he became lost, lived in the forest for a long time and was eventually rescued by a huge mysterious white Stag, known later as Legend.

    He also saw a wonderful warm angelic light that chased away the evil that was surrounding him at that time. And so the legend was born and forest considered to have magical properties.

    But moving on to now and two lovely dogs, Poppy and Devon who just love to have adventures. The field near their home is being destroyed by large machinery in order to build some more houses. They see the mess that is happening and are very, very unhappy.

    They are even more unhappy when they see all the rabbits that lived in the field have been killed and their homes destroyed forever. They go to find out what they can and discover three rabbits, terrified and alone, wondering where they can go with safety to build a new home.

    Devon and Poppy decide that is something they may be able to help them with and perhaps they can settle in Childers Forest, not all that far from where they live. On the way to the Forest, on one of their favourite walks, they notice their friend Guinevere the donkey is not in her paddock, the farm dogs are not to be seen and a very large Buzzard is circling overhead. This a real worry as Buzzards like to eat rabbit.

    Buzzard turns out to be a real friend in times of need and helps the rabbits find a home, until things begin to go wrong once again and Poppy, Devon, Buzzard and the rabbits find themselves in the fight of their lives, to not only protect each other, but also Jack, Poppy and Devons small human, who is camping out in Childer’s Forest on a night when evil is on the loose.

    Heart-warming and most enjoyable, The Legend of Childer’s Forest involves a little history, a huge amount to love and bravery, as well as a very nicely couched presentation of working together, learning to accept each other, whether you are a cat, dog or buzzard and also good succeeding over evil, which makes for one very good mid-range reader story to be enjoyed.

  • We’re Going on an Elf Chase

    We’re Going on an Elf Chase

    Hard covered, thick card pages with intriguing lift up flaps, make Were going on an Elf Chase from Martha Mumford and Laura Hughes so much fun to read, as a group of very excited rabbits set out to try and find the Christmas elves.

    They run, run, run and meet a great many exiting friends along the way. Penguins who flap, skate and glide, Robins out chirping and cheeping as the adventuresome rabbit’s tip toe past their feeding tables.

    Can a snowman help them find the elves, or even maybe a polar bear, but when they find a reindeer, maybe, just maybe, they are getting close to Santa’s workshop and those Christmas Elves.

    Much noisy fun with peekaboo flaps has been created for little fingers to discover hidden people, elves and items in the snow-covered landscape, with rhyming text to be enjoyed as you too scarper across the fields in search of those very cheeky little Elves.

    Perfect Christmas fun.

  • The Rabbit-Hole Golf Course

    The Rabbit-Hole Golf Course

    When you go hunting for a pet rabbit just about anything can happen when it is in the hunting ground of the ‘rabbit hole golf course’ in the ‘desert of my home’. There is certainly a great deal of fun to be had on the adventure.

    This deliciously funny story has been inspired by Ella Mulvey’s childhood experiences, when she lived in an aboriginal community in the desert of Australia, where they would go ‘looking for a pet rabbit’, with of course, an overnight stop around a campfire.

    We are transported to the back of the big old Ute, as it bumps across the land, jiggling the passengers all about, as they head for the ‘rabbit hole golf course’. Once they get there, there is huge excitement as each of the ‘rabbit holes’ must be investigated to see if there are any rabbits to be found.

     As each of the holes is discovered, a little of the desert lifestyle is presented in the digging sticks going ‘click’ as they bounce along and being chased by a slightly cross kangaroo as they shake and rattle the leaves of the small trees. Under a wattle tree they find a treat of sweet honey ants and have a feast, ending with sticky fingers, but somehow they still cannot find any rabbits!

    After a huge day out they settle for the night about a campfire, with billy tea and damper to enjoy, before falling asleep in their sleeping bags ‘in the desert of my home’, to dream about those very illusive rabbits with the little pink noses and bushy tails, perhaps to be found tomorrow.

    This warm, funny tale  beautifully illustrated by Karen Briggs captures the joy of the occasion on every page,is set to become a firm favourite for bedtime reading and will appeal to a wide range of little people right up to beginning and learner readers. There is an adventure to explore in the Australian bush on every page.

    To be absolutely honest, this big little person thoroughly enjoyed being transported back to a time and place, where fun was where it was to be found, no matter where you called home!