January 22, 2023 marks the Chinese New Year ushering in The Year of the Rabbit. Let's celebrate the cuddly bunny by looking at the bunny tales of our past to remember how the rabbit uses strength of mind to conquer obstacles that seem, at first glance, impossible to overcome.
The fourth and luckiest animal in the Chinese zodiac, The Year of the Rabbit brings prosperity, hope, and peace through cleverness and wit. Perhaps a reread or first look of these bunny tales will help us prepare for the year ahead.
Brer Rabbit folklore passed down from enslaved Africans
The story of the trickster Brer Rabbit (or Br'er Rabbit) was passed down through oral tradition among enslaved Africans. The stories tell of the small, mischievous rabbit outsmarting the stronger animals. The adventures of Brer Rabbit were collected and written down by Joel Chandler Harris who created the Uncle Remus character narrating- the stories. The first set of collected stories was published in 1881.
The White Rabbit and the March Hare from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (1865)
The distinguished and anxious White Rabbit in Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland quickly becomes Alice's—and readers'—accidental guide through the novel, even if he leaves us a bit worried about being late. If one anthropomorphic rabbit wasn't enough, Carroll introduces the March Hare as a guest at the Mad Hatter's tea party. Fall down the rabbit hole with Alice while putting together this vibrant puzzle !
Rabbit from Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne (1926)
The anxious, yet fiercely loyal, Rabbit first appeared in A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh published in 1926 and continues to charm the hearts of children everywhere.
TheVelveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams (1922)
Margery Williams' TheVelveteen Rabbit endures as a story of authenticity, vulnerability, and love, and has so many life lessons for kids young and old. Take another read of this classic tale in 2023.
Peter Rabbit from The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter (1902)
The mischievous Peter Rabbit's bunny tales started as letters to Beatrix Potter's friend Noel, the son of her former governess. Potter wrote the stories to cheer him up while he was ill! Grab The Tale of Peter Rabbit to cheer you up this year!
Rabbit Angstrom from Rabbit, Run (1960)
John Updike's Rabbit series, also published together as a tetralogy called Rabbit Angstrom, isn't about rabbits at all, but you might pick up on subtle (and not-so-subtle) rabbit references as you read. In the first of the series, Rabbit, Run, Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom is a 26-year-old former high school basketball player tired of his perfectly mundane life.
The rabbits from Watership Down by Richard Adams (1972)
Not only does Richard Adams' Watership Down story tell an interesting tale about rabbits on a dangerous journey to find a safe new home, the tale of these sentient rabbits also offers a deep analysis on political theory. Take the journey with Hazel, Fiver, and friends; you won't be disappointed.
The Runaway Rabbit by Margaret Wise Brown (1942)
Margaret Wise Brown put many bunnies in her picture books—like the mama bunny and the sleepy baby bunny in her classic Goodnight Moon. But have you read the heartwarming story with the imaginative game of hide-and-seek between a baby rabbit and his reassuring mama who always finds him?
Bunniculain Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery by Deborah and James Howe (1979)
Is it a bunny, a vampire, or a vampire bunny? Join Harold the dog and Chester the cat as they seek the truth of the vegetable-sucking rabbit with fangs through their seven-book adventures. If you'd rather read about an actual vampire, check out our special edition of Dracula !
The Hares in the Redwall Series by Brian Jacques (1986)
The 22-book Redwall Series by Brian Jacques is basically an animal version of LOTR with animal armies—hares being one of them. Need we say more?
Little Nutbrown Hare in Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney (1994)
Gorgeously Illustrated by Anita Jeram, Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney introduces Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare who have been winning hearts for almost 30 years. McBratney once said, "[it's] a lighthearted little story designed to help a big one and a wee one enjoy the pleasure of being together."
Animorphs #23 The Pretender by K. A. Applegate (1998)
Maybe a book about a boy who gets stuck morphed as a hawk morphing into a rabbit on the front cover is up your alley? It's just trippy enough for us to like it. Better yet, we think a film adaptation is coming soon! Find the rabbit reference in Animorphs #23 The Pretender by K.A. Applegate.
Edward Tulane in The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo (2006)
Author Kate DiCamillo presents the selfish and pretentious china rabbit Edward Tulane in The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Edward Tulane is deeply adored by Abilene, his owner, until he falls, literally and figuratively. The fall takes him on a vast journey until he finally learns the true meaning of love.
Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal (2009)
It's a Duck! No, it's a Rabbit! You'll have to decide for yourself in this super cute children's book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld based on a popular optical illusion. That rabbit can be a trickster!
Bunny: A Novel by Mona Awad (2019)
We'll leave the land of (mostly) classic children's literature to present a haunting bunny tale set in the style of dark academia . In a small exclusive college and a highly selective MFA program, scholarship recipient Samantha Heather Mackey is definitely out of place. Awad blends humor and cringe-worthy weirdness through her dark tale. Head down the rabbit hole with the "Bunnies" of New England's Warren University.
Bonus: 9 Must-Read Books by Chinese and Chinese-American Authors
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan (1989)
Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin (2008)
Everything I Never ToldYou (2014) and Little Fires Everywhere (2017) by Celeste Ng
Chemistry by Weike Wang (2017)
Severance by Ling Ma (2018)
Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets, & Advice for Living Your Best Life by Ali Wong (2019)
How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C Pam Zhang (2020)
Selected Poem s by Ai Qing (published in English 2021)
A Map for the Missing: A Novel by Belinda Huijuan Tang (2022)
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo (2021)
Happy Chinese New Year to all of those who celebrate!
Hey! It looks like you've updated your theme, which means DropInBlog needs to make a few quick adjustments. Please contact us, and we'll handle these changes for you.
