Newbery Medal (John Newbery Medal)
The ABC Bunny (Fesler-lampert Minnesota Heritage)
After an apple falls and startles the little bunny, it leaves Bunnyland and moves through a chain of alphabet-linked encounters and events. The result is a playful picture book whose wordplay and visual rhythm carry the story.
Work Information
A startled rabbit leaps into an alphabet world.
Wanda Gág's ABC picture book, best known in Japan through Millions of Cats. As the story moves from A to Z, animals and incidents appear one after another in a small rabbit's adventure, linking letters and narrative with ease. The 2019 Bunyusha edition, ABC Rabbit, is the Japanese translation, while the 2022 University of Minnesota Press edition is a 40-page reissue.
Review Summaries
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The alphabet-driven structure makes the rabbit's journey feel light and nimble, while the black-and-white line drawings leave a strong impression. Even as a classic, it is valued for the freshness of its word choices and structure, which feel different from many modern ABC books.
Book Information
- Publisher
- Univ of Minnesota Pr
- Published
- 2022-03-29
- Pages
- 40 pages
- Language
- 英語
- Size
- 15.24 x 3.05 x 15.24 cm
- ISBN-13
- 9781517912895
- ISBN-10
- 151791289X
- Category
- 洋書/Children's Books/Animals/Rabbits
A Newbery Honor Book (1934) An unfortunate accident with an Apple drives Bunny from Bunnyland to Elsewhere. Every letter in the alphabet is represented in Bunny’s journey, through what he eats (Greens), to whom he meets (Insects, Jay, Kitten, Lizard), and then a little sleep (Nap), to Tripping back to town, right side Up and Up-side-down. The creation of The ABC Bunny was a Gág family affair, with sister Flavia composing the “ABC Song,” included in this faithful edition; brother Howard penning the lettering; and Wanda writing and illustrating the story.
Best known for her Newbery Honor winner Millions of Cats , Wanda Gág (1893–1946) was a pioneer in children’s book writing, integrating text and illustration. Born in New Ulm, Minnesota, she rose to international acclaim. In recognition of her artistry, she was posthumously awarded the 1958 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award for Millions of Cats and the 1977 Kerlan Award for her body of work.
Reviews
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こういう絵本を子供に与えたい
洋書屋さんでたまたまみつけた本。ちょっとどぎつい表紙をめくると、鉛筆で丁寧に書き込まれたモノクロの世界が広がります。内容は、ABCを頭文字とする単語を並べただけの従来のアルファベットブックとは違い、ABC順に単語を使った、うさぎの一日の冒険物語になっています。韻も踏みつつ、AからZまでの歌になっています。鉛筆画はWanda Gag、うさぎのまわりの自然を、丁寧に濃密に描いていて、黒の分量が多い、陰影の濃い情景となっています。ちょっと暗いのですが、写実に近いうさぎがなんともかわいい。敢えて比べるとガース・ウィリアムズのうさぎをもう少し濃くした感じです。絵の下にはHoward Gagのハンドライティングによる活字のような文字。ABCの部分だけ、効果的に赤になっています。歌の楽譜もついています。ピアノで弾ける伴奏付きで、こちらはFlavia Gagによるもの。家族でわいわいいいながら創られた本なのでしょうか。そういうハンドメイドっぽい雰囲気が素敵です。曲もとても素朴で優しい雰囲気のもの。 使われている英語は、初心者には難しいというか耳慣れない単語も出てきますが、辞書で調べればすぐわかるでしょう。日本の幼児向け英語の本とは、ちょっと趣が違いますが、昔の絵本が大好きな人、復刻版になるほど古い本（竹久夢二くらいの時代のもの）の挿絵が好きな人は、気に入るのではないかと思います。絵は暗いですが、我が家の卯年の７歳の娘はこの本がお気に入りのようです。
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Brings back good memories.
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When I was studying many moons ago this book was on our reading list and I loved it. I couldn't get hold of my own copy when my children were small but have now bought it for my Grandson. I love the catchy rhymes and the clear, bold woodcuts. It might have been published in 1938 but this is still a.clear winner for me and my grandson.
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THey will love it!
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A beautiful low key picture book for a 3 year-old. Teaches the letters of the alphabet with a rhyming story about a little bunny who starts off 'snug a-bed'.
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I’m delighted that our 2 year old grandson loves this book illustrated by Wanda Gag, one of our favorites artists. Just saw an exhibition of her prints and drawings at the Whitney Museum in New York. He also loves her Millions of Cats, a delight even almost 100 years after its release.