Battle Bunny
What’s inside...
Alex, whose birthday it is, hijacks a story about Birthday Bunny on his special day and turns it into a battle between a supervillain and his enemies in the forest--who, in the original story, are simply planning a surprise party. Encourage creativity with this wildly entertaining picture book mash-up from the minds of Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-9
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think Bunny felt when his friends changed his birthday story? Can you think of a time you felt the same way?
What are some ways Bunny used his imagination to change the story? What would you have done if you were Bunny?
Why is it important to respect other people's things, like books? How could Bunny's friends have made his birthday better without changing his book?
How do you think the story would have ended if Bunny didn't change it? Would you prefer that ending?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their feelings about what Bunny did, promoting empathy and understanding of the character’s emotions.
Discuss the importance of creativity and ask your child how they might rewrite a story from one of their books, fostering imaginative thinking.
Highlight the moral implications of altering someone else’s belongings without consent to teach respect for others' possessions.
Compare and contrast different outcomes of the story with your child, enhancing their critical thinking and storytelling skills.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Creativity and Imagination
Explanation: In 'Battle Bunny', the protagonist reimagines a mundane birthday story into an epic adventure, showcasing the power of creativity.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to use their imagination to transform everyday scenarios into extraordinary stories, boosting creative thinking skills.
Example Lesson: Critical Thinking
Explanation: The book demonstrates critical thinking by having the character alter a pre-written story, analyzing and modifying it to suit his own narrative.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to think critically about the content they consume and consider how they might change it to reflect their own perspectives.
Example Lesson: Problem Solving
Explanation: Throughout 'Battle Bunny', the main character encounters and resolves various challenges using inventive solutions.
Real-World Application: Children learn to approach problems in their life with a similar mindset, thinking outside the box to find solutions.
Example Lesson: The Value of Humor
Explanation: Humor plays a significant role in making the altered storyline engaging and fun, which captivates the reader’s interest.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of humor in communication, helping them to understand how it can be used to make interactions more enjoyable and engaging.
Example Lesson: Resilience
Explanation: As the character faces obstacles in the story, his determination and resilience shine through, never giving up on his adventurous quest.
Real-World Application: This can inspire children to be resilient when facing their own challenges, understanding that perseverance is key to overcoming difficulties.