#ChildrensBook Rabbit and Bear by Julian Gough #BookReview by @scifiandscary #TuesdayBookBlog

Title: Rabbit’s Bad Habits

Author: Julian Gough

Illustrator: Jim Field

Release Date: Jan 8^th, 2019

Source: I received a copy of this book from the publicist for review consideration.

Rabbit & Bear: Rabbit’s Bad Habits

Avalanches, snowmen, a hungry wolf…and more!

When Bear wakes up early from her hibernation, she decides to build a snowman. Her grumpy neighbor, Rabbit, decides to build an even better one. Rabbit & Bear: Rabbit’s Bad Habits is full of laugh-out-loud moments and chronicles the forming of an unlikely friendship. With illustrations throughout, this chapter book is perfect for middle grade readers and is sure to become a fun favorite on any kid’s bookshelf.

Rabbit’s Bad Habits Review

Rabbit’s Bad Habits gets off to a rather abrupt start, and thus the first couple of pages are a tad bit awkward. After that, though, it swiftly becomes a charming tale of burgeoning friendship between two characters that are very opposite of each in almost every way. Neil Gaiman said that it is “The sort of story that makes you want to send your children to bed early, so you can read it to them” and I cannot disagree with that. I read it cover to cover twice in a row and am at this moment biding my time for my child to get home so that I can read it with her as well.

Bear is gentle, charming, and unafraid to ask questions or learn. She is maybe a bit too accepting and innocent, but that’s the best kind of bear, isn’t it? Rabbit on the other hand… Well, I identify with Rabbit in a lot of ways (not the poo eating, though!) He’s anti-social, a bit grumpy, and a bit of a know-it-all. He also has a mouth on him. Over the course of the book, Rabbit warms to Bear much the way I warmed to the book.

My favorite line isn’t from Rabbit or Bear, though. It’s from Wolf (who is involved in the story rather like you’d guess a wolf would be).

“Hmmm. Maybe I’ll try going vegetarian for a bit,” said Wolf. “I’m sick of having my dinner run away from me at forty miles an hour.”

The illustrations are fantastic. Jim Field does a great job bringing all the characters to life, and the muted colors work very well with the story, surprisingly.

Rabbit’s Bad Habits is a cute start to a series that I think young readers will easily fall in love with. Especially if they already love Winnie the Pooh. Worth checking out!