TRANS-SCRIBE: The Missing Bunny by Holly Webb

'Can Annie find her missing bunny before it’s caught by the neighbourhood fox? A gentle and heart-warming animal story from worldwide bestseller Holly Webb. Annie is really excited about her new pet rabbits and can’t wait to welcome them into the amazing new home her dad has built for them.

'But when Annie is in a rush to get to school the next morning, she doesn’t check that the door to the hutch is shut properly, and one of the rabbits, Humbug, escapes. Can Annie find Humbug in time to save her from the neighbourhood fox …?'

Getting to review children's books is great, even though I don't have a child of my own to read them to. Getting to see how children's literature has evolved since I was a kid, the kinds of stories they have on offer, the things that these stories are teaching them always has me coming away with a smile on my face. As someone who has rabbits running through my house The Missing Bunny was a book that interested me immediately. I was looking forward to seeing what Holly Webb would be teaching young readers about rabbits; and I was so happy with the results.

The Missing Bunny tells the story of Annie, a young girl who desperately wants a pet rabbit of her own. When the book begins her parents have finally told her that she can have a rabbit, but she still doesn't have one as they need to make sure that the house is ready for their new friend. And this is where I found my first thing with the book that made me super happy, it understood that the way people have been taught to keep rabbits is wrong, and that a lot more work is needed. The book even says that rabbits don't belong in small hutches; something more people should be aware of.

So, Annie and her parents prepare a space for the rabbits in the garage, where they can be kept warm and safe, away from the outdoors. A house of them is built so that at night they've got somewhere to sleep. And a special run is built for them in the garden so that they can play outside safely. Even before we've seen our first rabbit the book is teaching children better rabbit care than I was shown at that age.

Once they're ready, the family go to find a bunny, and come back with two. Again, another good lesson that the book is teaching; that you should never have a lone rabbit. Annie gets two, a black and white bunny called Humbug, and a ginger one named Toffee. Toffee and Humbug come come, and settle into their new life. Annie brings them food, plays with them, snuggles them, and when her dad is home from work they get to free roam on their lawn. Everything is going well for them.

However, when Annie is in a rush one morning and accidentally leaves their house door open Humbug begins to explore, and slips out into the garage; and then out to the wider world. Realising her precious rabbit is missing, Annie sets out to try and find her and bring her home.

There is a certain degree of peril to The Missing Bunny, and some younger readers might feel a bit worried for Humbug, especially when night sets in and it starts to get cold. As a bunny parent this part of the book even got me, and I found myself imagining the worry I'd go through if one of my rabbits got loose. Thankfully, things end well, and Humbug gets to come home safely.

The Missing Bunny is a really good read for showing children how much work goes into having a rabbit, how much prep work is needed before you even get one, and how delicate they can be. And, it shows how bad things can get if you're not careful with them. Hopefully it will make kids who want a pet rabbit understand that they're big commitments, and that a lot of care and attention is required.

The book is filled with illustrations by Antonia Woodward, whose are you can see on the cover. As this is a Little Gems title, the interior art comes in full colour, and is wonderful throughout. Woodward's art is delightful to look at, and their depictions of Toffee and Humbug are too adorable. The rabbits are depicted with a ton of life and character to them, and once Humbug goes missing the illustrations really help to push the relevant feelings in the moment (the drawing of Humbug snuggling into Annie when she found her way home hits perfectly).

The Missing Bunny is a delightful read. It's a book that I can very much see myself recommending to others, especially if I know someone with a young child wanting a pet rabbit. It's a great little read that was a pleasure from start to finish. And my bunnies approved of it too!