Sunny Bunnies
How do you end a perfect beach day? These sunny bunnies know!
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A Gold Recipient —The Mom’s Choice Awards
A Gold Medal —The Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards
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Summer’s here and these two sunny bunnies can’t wait to dig their toes into the sandiest spot in Carrot Cake Park—Piper Beach. There, with the big sister leading the way, they’ll build a castle, fly a kite and—of course—jump the waves! This endearing rhyming tale with its cheerful illustrations captures their day perfectly—from the moment they fling their flip-flops until, home again, they say good night . . . almost!
Look inside Sunny Bunnies.
Download a coloring page for your sunny bunny.
Order an autographed copy of the hardcover version here.
Sunny Bunnies has been released as an iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad app for $2.99.
Kirkus Reviews: “Told in short rhyming stanzas . . . the app has minimal features, but it doesn’t need many with such sharply written text . . . . The warm, earth-toned illustrations portray the stretch of a sunny day and its transition into purple-blue night.”
The second Carrot Cake Park tale is Breezy Bunnies. It’s also available as an iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad app!
Shop in Carrot Cake Park at Zazzle.com.
Enter today for a chance to win a copy of Sunny Bunnies!
Coming this fall: Busy Bunnies!
About the Illustrator
June Goulding graduated from the Newport College of Art in Wales with a BA in graphic design and illustration. Using ink line and watercolors, she illustrates from her imagination but is inspired by real animal life. Among her charges are bunnies, hens, birds, and hedgehogs. She lives in the city of Bristol, England. Visit June’s blog.
About the Editor
Emma Walton Hamilton is an author, editor, arts educator and arts and literacy advocate. She has co-authored twenty children’s books with her mother, Julie Andrews, five of which have been New York Times best-sellers, including the recent anthology Julie Andrews’ Collection of Poems, Songs and Lullabies (illustrated by James McMullan). Emma’s own book, Raising Bookworms: Getting Kids Reading for Pleasure and Empowerment, premiered as a #1 best-seller on Amazon.com in the literacy category and won two silver medals from the Living Now and IPPY Book Awards in the parenting category. It also received Honorable Mention from ForeWord Magazine’s Best Book of the Year awards.
REVIEWS
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Fiction Friday: Summer Edition: Sunny Bunnies/Kitten’s Summer/Without You
by A Frugal Friend on May 30, 2011
Fiction Friday is a bit more like Sunday Story-time this week as I was unexpectedly without internet service for several days. Agh!!!
With HOT temperatures here in Texas this weekend, I thought it would be good to have a Summer Edition for this week…….and I’ve got several children’s books that fit the bill.
First up is, Sunny Bunnies
Here’s the scoop:
Summer’s here and these two sunny bunnies can’t wait to dig their toes into the sandiest spot in Carrot Cake Park. There, with the big sister leading the way, they’ll build a castle, fly a kite and, of course, jump the waves! This endearing rhyming tale with its cheerful illustrations captures their day perfectly–from the moment they fling their flip-flops until, home again, they say good night . . . almost!
The Bunny Family has the best day at the beach that I can imagine………they don’t miss a thing, from ice cream treats to a campfire at night’s end (complete with S’mores). Of course when they get home, Mom and Dad are passed out on the bed from exhaustion, but Brother and Sister Bunny are still so excited from their day that they stay up and pretend they are still at the beach.
I just love the illustrations, especially of the town map….Carrot Cake Park, Carrot Tops School, and more!
Through the Looking Glass Children’s Book Reviews
Two bunny children are very excited because they are going to the beach today. The car is loaded up with beach paraphernalia and then the family drives down to the seaside. Soon they are on the sands putting up their umbrellas, paddling in the waves, and building sand castles with friends.
After a delicious lunch, the brother and sister fly a kite, play tag, eat ice cream cones, and explore tide pools. Even after they toast marshmallows on a fire and drive home, the bunny siblings are not quite finished with their wonderful day.
With charming illustrations packed with details, and a cheerful rhyming text, this picture book beautifully captures the wonderful things that one can experience during a day at the beach. Children are sure to like the surprise ending.
Review Written by Marya Jansen-Gruber
Jolly Mom
September 17, 2010
From the review: Sunny Bunnies is a picture book told in rhyming verse by Margie Blumberg. At first glance, a picture book may seem kind of odd. I mean, they barely have any words. However, when done right–picture books are genius. Sunny Bunnies is done right. The illustrations draw Lucas in. He basically tells the story to me. It’s wonderful to see him using his imagination! The story itself is adorable and by the end of the story it’s the parents who are exhausted after a great day at the beach and the kids? Well, of course they are not tired and are ready to play some more!
Miami Munchkins
August 26, 2010
Beaching year-round is one of the prime benefits of life in the Magic City. Get munchkins in the spirit with Margie Blumberg’s Sunny Bunnies. The bright, upbeat book tells the story of a family beach day – shovels, kites, picnics, ice cream and all. Simple, catchy rhymes (Almost there now – smell the sea? Fling your flip-flops! Follow me.) and colorful illustrations make the shore seem almost irresistible. Warning – expect to be building a sandcastle or two this weekend. $15.95 at booksandbooks.com.
Young Adult Books Central/Jillian Van Leer
August 26, 2010
Sunny Bunnies is a wonderfully written children’s book. Join a brother and sister bunny on their way to the beach. With wonderful rhyming words and fantastic fun all along the way! The bunny family start their day out packing the car up to head to the beach. Adventure ensues as they swim, fly a kite, eat ice cream and end the day with a marshmallow roast. Your little one will love the colorful pictures and flow of the book. I highly recommend this book for all children. Young readers should be able to even sound out the words!
A Mom’s Review
August 10, 2010
Summer has come and sadly is almost out of here for another year. To reminisce with your child about Summer vacation or to share as a Summer bedtime story Sunny Bunnies
In Sunny Bunnies, Big Sister and Little Brother are excited about vacation. These two adorable illustrated bunnies share what they do from start to finish on their perfect day trip to the beach from making sand castles to sitting by a fire at night on the beach then going home.
We go on vacation to the beach in the Fall instead of Summer so I plan on taking this book along to read to my 6-year-old son during our stay. This is also a great book to introduce the Summer season and trips. Overall, it’s a sweet and simple story with beautiful illustrations that kids (up to about age 7 or 8 ) will surely love!
Bookviews by Alan Caruba
July 30, 2010
This is the time for a trip to the beach and, for the pre-school and early readers, Sunny Bunnies by Margie Blumberg and illustrated beautifully by June Goulding ($15.95, MB Publishing) tells in rhyme the story of a family trip that is charming and a good way to prepare any youngster for his or her first trip.
KidsBookshelf.com
July 28, 2010
Review By Christina Lewis
It’s summertime, and this brother and sister bunny are excited to go to the beach. Together they build a sand castle, fly a kite, have a picnic lunch, and jump in the waves. This fun family rhyming story with colorful illustrations captures a perfect summer day. (Ages 4-8)
Amanda’s Parenting Preschoolers Blog
July 20, 2010
Whether you are planning a trip to the beach, just returned or hope to go someday, Sunny Bunnies (compare prices) by Margie Blumberg and illustrated by June Goulding offers a sweet peek at spending a day by the shore. From building sand castles to jumping in the waves, the two bunny children and their parents have so much fun, that by the end of the day they are exhausted (or at least half of them are).
What’s really cool about this book is the hi-tech aspect. Sunny Bunnies (as well as the previous book in the series, Breezy Bunnies) is available to purchase in app form in the iTunes store for the iPhone, iPod and iPad. Other formats are forthcoming.
Read Aloud Animal Picture Books for Young Kids
July 17, 2010
Sunny Bunnies has been reviewed on Suite101.com: http://picture-books.suite101.com/article.cfm/read-aloud-animal-picture-books-for-young-kids
Women Who Dream Big
Summer 2009
http://www.womenwhodreambig.com/fordreambigmoms.html
In Sunny Bunnies, a whimsical new children’s picture book, an adorable bunny family spends a delightful summer day at the beach. These charming bunnies enjoy special adventures—jumping in the waves, flying a kite, having a picnic, eating ice cream cones, and spending time together as a family.
Sunny Bunnies is the first book in a series of Carrot Cake Park tales about the seasons. The series features brother and sister bunnies, their parents, and friends. Titles for her next three books—coming in 2010 [and 2011]—are Breezy Bunnies, Busy Bunnies, and Bundled Bunnies.
Blumberg began writing stories in elementary school and has written other award-winning children’s books, including Avram’s Gift, an illustrated chapter book about dreams, wishes, and how we treat others. She is also the coauthor of Shakespeare for Kids, His Life and Times with 21 Activities.
Midwest Book Review
July 2009
Margie Blumberg has written a delightfully entertaining story about a family of bunny rabbits who spend a day at the beach…. The rhyming text is as clever as it is entertaining and children will thoroughly enjoy the surprise at the end! Charmingly illustrated throughout by June Goulding, Sunny Bunnies is a perfect pick for family, school, and community library picture book collections!
Children’s Literature
May 2009
“Told in rhyming verse, the story is cute and clever. . . . [the] bright and cheerful illustrations are a delight and will appeal to the book’s young audience. Goulding’s ink-and-watercolor drawings are full of life and activity; she has created bunnies that are playful and endearing. Especially hilarious is the spread where the bunny children have snuck out of bed and are checking on their parents who have collapsed on top of their bed and are sound asleep, too exhausted to climb under the covers . . .”
Reviewer: Margaret Orto
www.DCMom.com
July 16, 2008
Local DC writer Margie Blumberg has brought us a winner . . . just in time for the many trips to the beach this summer. Attorney turned writer, she’s showing us a great way to stop and check out the clovers (te he…get the bunny joke?).
Two little bunnies take a seasonal trip in a story told in rhymes—perfect for engaging little readers as you say one word and they can finish off another sentence with the rhyming word.
The bunnies will be taking even further seasonal trips in future installments so start your collection of family favorites.
Sunny Bunnies is written by Margie Blumberg and lovely illustrations are done by June Goulding. The book is available through MB Publishing and is available in local Barnes and Noble stores, at Politics and Prose and at The Blue House which is located on Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda. You may also order it online at Amazon.com.
The Reading Tub
There are lots of activities in each illustration that aren’t captured in the text, giving you lots of opportunities to engage pre-readers and ask questions about what is happening.
Type of Reading: bedtime story, anytime reading, family reading, playtime reading, learning to read, read aloud book, remedial reader.
Educational Themes: This would make a great book for toddlers and preschoolers. You can practice object identification, play I Spy (colors, shapes), and introduce the beach all at the same time. There are lots of activities in each illustration that aren’t captured in the text, giving you lots of opportunities to engage pre-readers and ask questions about what is happening.
Recommended Age: read together: 2 to 6; read yourself: 6 to 9.
Little Kid Reaction: We read this book just before vacation. Our daughter liked the book and focused on the things she wanted to do at the beach. We read this book as partners. There are plenty of basic sight words; there are no more than two sentences per page; and the rhyming scheme makes it easy to learn new words.
EveryDayIWritetheBook.typepad.com
June 16, 2008
