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Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it."

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Slighted Children's Literary Characters #2

Taking the next look at some of our favorite kid's books and the neglected characters within,
from Margaret Wise Brown's book Goodnight Moon, pictures by Clement Hurd:
Slighted Children's Literary Character:   The Little Bunny




This book gives plenty of attention to inanimate household objects like telephones, pictures, clocks, lights, chairs and so forth.  Random creatures in the house also get a shout out - mice, kittens, bears and cows.  Gigantic pieces of rock (i.e the moon) and bowls of mush (I won't even comment on why we are presented with mush instead of soup, or cereal or even a candy bar) are spoken to.   A creepy, hushing lady even gets her time in the book. 




But the guy who appears the most in the book is woefully neglected.   Our friend the little bunny appears on seven pages, but does he get a "good night little bunny?"  Not at all!  He is even overshadowed by "nobody" as readers are given a "Goodnight nobody" page for some odd reason.

So here's some recognition, Little Bunny!  The book would never have become a best seller without your strong action in the background, resting and wiggling and looking around and sleeping.

















***Note:  The part of the Little Bunny was actually played by an adult dwarf rabbit named Mr. Alfred Hoppertop. 

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I always thought it was the little bunny saying goodnight to all those things. Ya know, 1st person (or in this case 1st bunny) narrative.