Review - Bunnies on the Bus

Bunnies on the Bus
by Philip Ardagh
illustrated by Ben Mantle
Date: 2020
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

A romping, riotous read-aloud from best-selling author Philip Ardagh and award-winning illustrator Ben Mantle.

Bunnies on the bus!
Bunnies on the bus!
No wonder there’s a fuss
about the bunnies on the bus!

There are bunnies on the bus, and they’re causing mayhem in Sunny Town! Watch as they whiz past the bus stop, fly by the swings, and zoom over the crosswalk — these bunnies aren’t stopping for anyone. They finally reach the station, but where are they hopping off to now? Uh-oh . . . Acclaimed author Philip Ardagh’s rhyming, high-energy text and “Bunnies on the bus!” refrain is ideal for library or classroom read-alouds, and Ben Mantle’s colorful illustrations are chock-full of zany details perfect for repeat reads.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Where's the plot?

I can see this one becoming a favourite of kids... while being detested by their parents. A bunch of badly behaved rabbits are on a bus that zips madly through town, driven in a reckless (and dangerous) manner. Where are the bunnies going? Who knows? At the end of their rush, they get off the bus and onto a train. Maybe the journey is the destination, but... this is boring.

The pictures are cute, but they can't make up for the lack of story. I don't think I'd recommend this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: 3/5
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 2 out of 5