Sleeping Bunny

Rating:
Summary: Kirkus Reviews
Review: Another retold fairy tale from the illustrator of Bunny and the Beast (2001), this time in collaboration with her daughter, finds Sleeping Beauty with a mostly bunny cast -- that is, except for the fairies, who are pigs with wings, and a few other beasts who are courtiers. Keller tells the classic tale with wry and sly humor. At the beginning, the rabbit king and queen long for what is missing in their lives: "a baby bunny (which was highly unusual in their family!) At the very end, the bad fairy Mildew, the rat whose spinning wheel offers the paw prick, presents Bunny and her Prince with eight golden dishes so she won't make the same mistake as her parents in leaving a fairy out, and "everyone lived hoppily ever after." Silin Palmer designs fabric and ceramics among other things, and has clearly studied the work of Dutch flower painter Jan van Huysum: her dark backgrounds and gorgeous, naturalistic flowers bedeck every image. Roses and butterflies, sunflowers and foxglove glow from the pages. Princess Bunny and her family wear more-or-less medieval royal garb that has a shimmer of its own. Really fun, if rather silly. (picture book/fairy tale. 4-7)

Copyright by Kirkus Reviews, November 15, 2002

Rating:
Summary: Booklist Review, January 1, 2003
Review: Keller, Emily. Sleeping Bunny. Illus. by Pamela Silin-Palmer. Jan. 2003. 40p. Random, $
PreS-Gr.

Sleeping Beauty becomes a sleeping bunny in this lavish re-imagining of the familiar fairy tale. Keller follows the traditional story, but rabbit touches abound -- right down to the spinning wheel pricking the princess' velety paws. Other animals populate the kingdom as well; the fairy godmothers are pigs -- except for the bad fairy, who is a rat. Silin-Palmer, a decorative artist who has designed everything from paper products to fantasy furniture, puts her skills to good use in luxurious illustrations touched by swirls and whirls of gold and executed in Renaissance-like style. The story highlights the romance; the prince, decked out in golden armor, fights through a tangle of golden roses to get to his sleeping lady love and wake her with a kiss. Not an essential purchase, but a lush and lovely one. -- Ilene Cooper

Rating:
Summary: A Fabulous New Twist on an Old Tale
Review: Well, I will admit up front that this was always a sure purchase as I absolutely adored 'Bunny and the Beast' by Coxe and Silin-Palmer. However, this book will entirely stand on its own merits and will be a must for any serious children's book lover and the illstrations will call out to bunny enthusiasts, amonst others.

The old tale is there but some wonderful twists were woven through by Keller will bring a smile to your face - the "cranky" fairy will tickle your fancy her name is Mildew. Silin-Palmer's drawings are always lush and beautiful - the colors and context truly invite you in for a stroll through this bunny kingdom.

An enjoyable read both out loud and with your own giggles surrounding you.