THE CURSE OF THE SCHOOL RABBIT, by Judith Kerr, Harper 360, Feb. 4, 2020, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 6-8)
A fluffy bunny wreaks all sorts of havoc in Judith Kerr’s The Curse of the School Rabbit.
School pets are synonymous with causing trouble. Especially rabbits. So it should come as no surprise that Tommy is concerned when Snowflake, the school rabbit, arrives at his home for an unexpected stay.
From the minute Snowflake hops in the door, everything goes wrong — his sister gets sick and his dad loses out on an important job opportunity. Looking after Snowflake may mean extra pocket money, but Tommy’s not sure being able to buy a new bike is worth it. When Snowflake goes missing, it seems like Tommy’s family is cursed or is it?
Reading The Curse of the School Rabbit is like talking to my 6-year-old. In other words, Judith Kerr hit the nail on the head. Tommy’s stream-of-consciousness narration is so on point you can’t help but smile. His rambling, but sincere depiction of the events as they go down is endearing and entertaining.
Kerr — who passed away in 2019 — knew her audience well. Her writing is spot-on, and her drawings add personality and interest for an age group that is transitioning from picture to chapter books — though The Curse of the School Rabbit does not have chapters itself.
At 80 pages, The Curse of the School Rabbit is the perfect length for children to read with family or on their own. (I read it in less than 30 minutes.) It’s a funny tale that I can’t wait to share with my daughter.
