My Bunny Diary

This book is simply too cute ... written in a childish hand, doodles along the edges, even a "note" as passed from one bunny to another. (This part was my favorite ... it says one bunny is a "dumb bunny and sheds" !! LMAO!). It's certainly one book I won't mind reading over and over and over and over as requested.

My 5 yr old daughter recently discovered this book at the library. We just ordered our own copy since it has become an instant classic in our house. I have read this to her at least 10 times in the last 5 days. The text is simple enough that she can read some pages herself now. Yet this book doesn't talk down to her. It has some advanced vocabulary and even shows the rudiments of a good outline. This book has that special magic that keeps my daughter discovering something new each time she reads it. It has also led to several good discussions about friendship. I hope you and your daughters love this book as much as we do. This book begs for a sequel or 2 or 3.

It has been a long time since I was a kid, and even then I was a boy. That said, I can identify instantly with Dora Cottontail as she discovers the ups and downs of friendship.Dora is a modern-day "girl" (well, after all, she is a rabbit) who goes to school and hangs out with her friends. The most modern thing about her is her E-mail account. Other than that, life's just like it was 30 years or so ago ... playing imaginary games with scooters for horses; "quicksand" to be pulled from, jigsaw puzzles that will explode if they aren't finished on time. And, of course, hanging out with your best friend. Grownups don't get to do that nearly as often as kids do. Dora's best friend is named Ally. I got a kick out of this because the daughter of one of my best friends is named Ally. Ally hangs out with Dora and plays all of her games ... until ... until. Yes, things change and change again! The only thing I would have changed is the suddenness of the book's ending. But some people may think that is perfectly appropriate. One factor which should be noted is the extraordinary care given to the words. Not just what Dora writes, but HOW she writes it. The whole book is her diary (complete with a little flap that "locks" it). The text is all written in the laborious printing of a child. Take a good look at that and you'll realize it's at least 10 times harder to do when you're an adult and have learned penmanship, than when you were a child and were just starting out writing extensively. There are lots of watercolor paintings showing Dora and her friends as well. Dora has very big brown eyes and always dresses in a red pants outfit. The outfit threw me for a minute, but hey, it's the 21st century now! Dora is also left-handed (I think the author must be, too). There are many bonus items thrown in as Dora draws little pictures all around the margins of her diary. There is even a note passed in class -- and I just now lifted the flap and read the note!I happen to know the author a little bit. I know her "first and bestest friend," her sister, even better (we were in the same theater group together). That caveat aside, you need to find out about this book on your own. As soon as I can, I'm going to order several more copies and send them to friends with kids -- teachers especially -- for them to evaluate. Meanwhile, Dora's story gets a place of honor in my house. Just maybe someday I will have a little girl myself.