And more about KINDNESS: We Can Never Get Enough

ORCA BOOKS

 Following the real-life inspired story of kindness and mutual support at the border, HERE, I'm sharing a quick look at a delightful story of ultimate kindness and support, KUNOICHI BUNNY, written by Sara Cassidy and illustrated by Brayden Sato. 

I read several short notes about this recent title and was sure I'd enjoy it. Once I had my library copy in hand I found I had an entirely mistaken sense of the story, but enjoyed the story it actually IS even more than I had expected. So, here's a quick summary:

Kunoichi is, as I imagined, the beloved bunny. A stroller-sized girl is being taken on an outing by her dad, with Kunoichi in tow. It is told through nearly wordless graphic/comic panels, brightly colored and action packed, This lovely child notices everything and does NOT want to see discord or disaster. When such occurs, she flings KUNOICHI into the fray to save the day. And, in delightful normal ways, Kunoichi does. 

Those struggles range from fighting cats to a stroller rolling away to an unlucky duck, and more. These are just a few of the outing-encounters presented in colorful and expressive panels, often involving a single word cry of KUNOICHI! when bunny is nearly left behind. 

The young girl's confidence and proactive awareness of needs around her are inspiring but will be no surprise to anyone who has spent time with a caring tot. What elevated this story for me was  the willingness of the child to part with her long-eared friend for the greater good. And her trust in her dad to save Bunny when needed. This is, in many ways, an everyday story, complete with a pass through the washer and dryer for Kunoichi on the closing pages. That simple, familiar caring and loving was the power of this story, and one that will resonate with very young readers.

With school resuming, there can't possibly be enough books about kindness, especially ones that are not didactic or "teaching" something directly. Stories like this generate discussions and connections, even among the youngest audiences. Some other titles to consider have been reviewed in the past here, here, and here.