Three Iconic Children’s Books That Feature Rabbits

Rabbits are everything a child could want in a pet. They are fluffy, soft, and they don’t even need walks. They’re featured again and again in children’s books due to their lovable nature.

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Let’s take a look at three of the most famous fictional rabbits. If you somehow never read their books as a child, then now is the perfect time!

The White Rabbit

The White Rabbit looking at his watch
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Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll is considered one of the best known pieces in Victorian literature, and the book has had widespread influence on popular culture around the world. This makes The White Rabbit one of the most famous fictional rabbits of all time.

In the book, The White Rabbit is a quite jittery and high-strung character. He is intent on following the orders of The Queen of Hearts, but that doesn’t necessarily make him a bad character or a villain like her. He simply does what he is told so the Queen will let him live. Can we really blame him?

The Velveteen Rabbit

The Velveteen Rabbit
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First published in 1922 by British author Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit tells the story of a stuffed rabbit who desires to become real through the love of his young owner. The book is considered high up on the list of books teachers love, and has secured itself a very prominent place in children’s literature.

The story follows a stuffed rabbit (sewn from velveteen) and his journey to becoming a real life rabbit. A magical fairy brings him to life once his young owner truly loves him. The beautiful moral of the story is interpreted by some to be that we become real through the process of connection with others.

Peter Rabbit

Peter Rabbit, rabbits
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With multiple books and several movie adaptations, Peter Rabbit is another fictional bunny known by millions of people around the world. He first appears in The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter as a mischievous, courageous, and clever little rabbit. He uses all of his special qualities to outsmart the grouchy gardener known as Mr. McGregor. While Peter sometimes gets into trouble by being irresponsible and a trickster, he always looks out for and protects his younger siblings.

Having sold over 45 million copies (and that’s just the first book!), The Tale of Peter Rabbit is one of the best-selling books of all time, and it is certainly a must read for all rabbit lovers.

These three noteworthy books featuring rabbits clearly occupy an important place in children’s fiction, and they do a wonderful job of personifying these adorable, sometimes mischievous, animals. 

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