Welcome back to the Brainstorm! As Lunar New Year quickly approaches I have 3 books for you this week that include Asian folklore about rabbits, as well as one Asian New Year’s Eve cat story (since in some cultures this is the Year of the Cat instead of the Year of the Rabbit). And as a bonus I’m throwing in 3 books in which cats and rabbits are both main characters. Click on the titles to see my full review for each book including any content notes/trigger warnings.
Rabbit Folklore
The Dreamweavers by G.Z. Schmidt
When the emperor's son arrives to sample Grandfather's legendary mooncakes at the village's Autumn Moon Festival, Mei and Yun find themselves in the middle of a disaster. Grandfather's mooncakes taste awful and he is carted off to the Imperial City to be tried for attempted poisoning. Mei and Yun know something is in the air, literally. They can see the multi-colored clouds that are dreams of people. And the ones hovering over their city now are nightmares and are making everyone grumpy and mean. They must set off on a quest to free their Grandfather, because he has no one else. With the help of a friendly rabbit, the twins find themselves trying to break a curse with roots decades in the past.
Target Readers:
Sibling Story Fans, Mythical Historical China Setting Fans, Quest Adventure Fans, Fantasy Fans, Grandparent/Grandchild Story Fans, Fantasy Fans, Folklore/Mythology-Inspired Story Fans, Mystery Fans, Middle Grade Readers
Moon Pops by Heena Baek
On a simmering summer night, everyone in the apartment complex is doing everything they can to cool down. It is in fact SO hot, that the moon starts melting and no one notices but Granny. She collects the melting moon in a pot and when the power goes out decides to make it in to moon pops to cool herself and the rest of the apartment complex cool. Pretty soon two rabbits appear at Granny's door looking for their home, the moon. Can Granny help them?
The artwork in this is done in a very unique colored diorama + black and white characters illustration style.
Target Readers:
Summer Story Fans, Imaginative Readers, Fantasy Fans, Community Story Fans, Folklore/Mythology-Inspired Story Fans, Korean Folklore Fans, Unique Art Style Fans, Picture Book Readers
Rabbit Moon by Jean Kim
Based on Korean folklore about the Rabbit on the Moon who collects wishes, this story explores what the Rabbit would wish for.
Make sure you read the author's note in the front of the book before reading the story to fully get what is going on!
Target Readers:
Korean Folklore Fans, Folklore/Mythology-Inspired Story Fans, Bedtime Story Fans, Feel Good Story Fans, Rabbit Lovers, Art Lovers, Picture Book Readers
Cat New Year's Story
Angel in Beijing by Belle Yang
New Year's Eve firecrackers scare a kitty into the family's courtyard. The little girl and Kitty soon are fast friends and zooming around the city to enjoy the New Year's festivities. But when Kitty snags the tail of a kite and goes sailing away, the little girl searches Beijing far and wide trying to find her new friend. Will she be able to find Kitty?
Target Readers:
New Year’s Story Fans, Beijing Setting Fans, Cat Lovers, Armchair Travel Fans, Bittersweet Story Fans, Picture Book Readers
Cat & Rabbit Tales
Bunnicula: the graphic novel based on the novel by Deborah & James Howe, adapted by James Howe & Andrew Donkin, ill. by Stephen Gilpin
A graphic novel adaptation of the modern classic about a new pet rabbit who is found at a showing of Dracula by the family. When the family's other pets see the rabbit's suspicious-looking teeth, witness its ability to get out of its cage at night, and see the disturbing vegetables drained of color, they start to suspect that Bunnicula is a vampire. Harold, the family dog, thinks Bunnicula is probably harmless, but Chester, the family cat who devours a fair amount of horror literature, is sure that the Monroe family is all in danger with a vampire bunny masquerading as a cute family pet.
Howe, Donkin, and Gilpin updated this just a touch from the 1970s original (mostly just tech used by the family and media/books mentioned), but the spirit of the book is still the same.
Target Readers:
Animal Fiction Fans, Readers Who Think They Want a Horror Story (But Maybe Aren’t Ready for a True Horror Story), Humor Fans, Mystery Fans, Pet Story Fans, Graphic Novel Fans, Middle Grade Readers
Cat’s Café (Cat’s Café, #1) by Matt Tarpley
A collection of comics about Cat who runs a café, provides for the caffeine needs of others, but more importantly provides a safe place where everyone can be real, get emotional support, and connect with others.
Rabbit is another character who regularly appears, and provides readers dealing with anxiety a character they can easily relate to and gain hope from.
Target Readers:
Mental Health Book Fans, Cute Comic Fans, Friendship Story Fans, Humor Fans, Graphic Novel Fans
Marshmallow by Clare Turlay Newberry
A delightful story about a bunny who joins a home that already has a cat. For a while the owner thinks things won't work out, but the animals surprise her.
This is a delightful old classic about unexpected friends. Make sure you get a revised edition as the vocabulary was updated in 2008 to be more easily understood by modern readers (the original used some 1940s vocabulary that now has different meanings in modern English and was confusing for today’s kids).
Target Readers:
Animal Fiction, Pet Story Fans, Cute Story Fans, Rabbit Lovers, Cat Lovers, Art Lovers, Award Winner Readers, Picture Book Readers
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