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The Brave Silly Rabbit
The Brave Silly Rabbit is an adorably illustrated children’s book about an endearing little rabbit, who you cannot help but fall in love with. It’s a wonderful read-out-loud book, that keeps children engaged till the end.
Rabbit is strong and brave and fast. He is the toughest rabbit he knows. He believes he can outrun anyone and he is not afraid of anyone. That is, until one of his friends from the forest questions his bravery. Despite the odds, Rabbit remains defiant and confident in himself.
It is somewhat funny and endearing how rabbit makes his outlandish claims about his bravery but when he is confronted with the fact that there are snakes, hawks and other natural predators out there, he has the ability to acknowledge them but still maintains his bravery and invincibility.
The Inspiration for The Brave Silly Rabbit
If you’ve read my About page, you’ll know I’m a native South African (and also a naturalized US Citizen). As I was growing up, I fondly remember an old Afrikaans children’s song that we used to sing back home, about a brave mouse who valiantly walks through the house. He is afraid of no-one, and nothing. I’ve always loved that song and knew that I’d want to write my own version someday.
Instead of a mouse though, I decided on a cute bunny book because I’m personally freaked out by a mouse in the house, and I didn’t want that idea in my head all throughout the writing process. Yes, it is another one of many books about rabbits but rabbits are cute. Right?
I love Rabbit’s attitude. He reminds me a little bit about how our own children are when they’re still little. They themselves seem brave and invincible. I’m smiling as I’m typing this because I’m reminded of their big talk, of how they’d fight this villain, and conquer that one. It’s a special period. I especially love how they dress up in superhero costumes any chance they get.
As they grow a little older, they begin to realize what is real and not real. Then they start to fear things and imagine monsters under the bed. (My son Reily was very afraid for a while and that led me to write The Night Visitors).
But, I love that naive, silly time when they believe they can do anything.
Also, my oldest son Remy was my inspiration. He has a little invincibility streak in him. I understood this when he was 4, but at 9 years old, it’s still there. This worries me a bit. Let me rephrase that – it worries me a lot. Let me give you an example of why I get a little freaked out. We go hiking on the Sawnee Mountain almost every weekend, and it scares the living daylights out of me when he talks about how he could jump from the rocks, and then from tree to tree, like Tarzan. He is like the Rabbit in the book – brave and definitely a little silly.
I really enjoyed writing this book. I was giggling the whole time. In fact, when I read it to one of my children, I’m still giggling a little bit. It’s a great book to read with your children. They seem to engage with it and I believe that’s thanks to the silliness of our character but also the adorable images. For that, I have to thank the illustrator, Bailey Beougher, who did an outstanding job in making rabbit an endearing and lovable character.
I hope you and your child enjoy this as much as it was for me to write.
Gioula Chelten
