In this hilarious send-up of over-sweetened, "fuzzy wuzzy" children's books, mayhem and side-splitting chaos rule the day. As a child, I was prone to such flights of fantasy so the drawings ring true, if a little disturbingly. First read the original version, Birthday Bunny, if you can read under the handwritten text, then the edited version (handwritten text), Battle Bunny. Tell me that those unfamiliar with its cheeky subtext won’t be tossing it in the trash upon spotting it on a shelf.

Its subversive outlook makes it a great alternative to use when encouraging youngsters 6-8 who find normal books boring. For example, don't miss the title page where you read the sweet sentiment from Alex's grandmother, obviously a grandmother out of touch with her grandson's preferences, or the first page of the story, seemingly unedited, until you look at the illustration and you notice the picture on the wall of a mother bunny leaning over the bed of two rabbits with the words "Drink your poison" written above. Encourage creativity with this wildly entertaining picture book mash-up from the minds of Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett. There's a small letter from a fusilier on pg 12 of the codex which gives a small incite into what was before and what comes next. The book's title page has been crossed out and changed from "Birthday Bunny" to "Battle Bunny," and features Alex's own illustration of the evil Battle Bunny and our hero "Alex" (no surprise there) squaring off against each other in the forest.He is the author of some of the best known and funniest books written for children and is the creator of the Trucktown series. The fun begins with a facsimile of something akin to an antique Little Golden Book, Birthday Bunny, complete with worn cover, yellowed pages, and wholesome message. Except that Alex has no use for this gift book from Grandma, and he “improves” it with his own story, turning Birthday Bunny into Battle Bunny and his birthday quest into an evil plan for world destruction that must be foiled by… superhero Alex! If they worry, too, that it gives the wrong message about how to treat books; they might, on the other hand, reflect on its celebration of the power of story and children’s creativity. Overall, “Battle Bunny (Birthday Bunny)” is a truly creative story for both children and adults to read as it is full of comedy and action that will last for years!

and will likely be reminded of their own classic storybooks… not to mention the changes they wish they'd made (or perhaps did make) themselves, given the chance. I am a big fan of subversive books, say the "recommended inappropriate books for kids" featured in Lane Smith's Curious Pages. I'm unsure, too, if this has shelf appeal, because it looks *exactly* like an old, scuffed, defaced baby story. After reading Jon Scieszka’s famous children’s books “The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales” and “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs,” I was really excited to check out some of Jon Scieszka’s latest works!Birthday Bunny" becomes "Battle Bunny" and instead of "hopping" through the forest he is "chopping" through the woods. They want to incorporate 21st century mash-up culture with this new generation of visual learners so as to make a book that becomes interactive in whole new ways. Alex even goes so far as to apply his editorial skills to the book's copyright page, with some highly amusing results. Whether or not Battle Bunny takes off and inspires copycats or disappears without some much as a whisper remains to be seen. The Battle Bunnies received the new Age of Sigmar: Cities of Sigmar box for review, and our Bunny Rob set out to paint them for us in a nice Grim colour scheme.

I began by showing the cover to the kids and we discussed what that original book was; some of them knew Golden Books, but all of them appreciated that it was meant to be one of those sweet little journey books they'd all read when very small. Only super-agent, and badly drawn, Alix can save the world from the devastation of the world’s ecology and architectural heritage in a final birthdoomsday struggle.

No longer is Bunny all fluffy and kind, now he has a flak helmet and a rocket launcher strapped to his back.

On a deeper level, I truly appreciate the underlying message that there are too many children's books published that are completely predictable and mindless in their formulaic plots. Watching that short, as Daffy is being rubbed out of existence by an eraser I like to think about those kids seeing the short for the first time. Matt Myers has illustrated more than a dozen books, including The Most Terrible of All , A Dog Named Doug , the New York Times bestseller Battle Bunny , and The Infamous Ratsos , a Theodor Seuss Geisel honor book. Both the original Birthday Bunny and Alix’s adaptation are so convincingly realised, down to the illustration style and colour palette of the ‘original’ and its frayed edges, and the naïve anarchy of the inscribed story, that I can imagine unwary library staff being dismayed at the inspired felt pen crossings out and additions. But the book has been "improved" in story and pictures by a child named Alex wielding his trusty no.My class are begging me to keep bringing it in so they can read it themselves - they want to try and find the little details that adorn this book for themselves. He illustrated two books, one in the old fashioned “Golden Book” style we all are familiar with and one in the illustrations of a small, defiant, talented book vandal! Short-listed for Colorado Children's Book Award (Picture Book) 2015 and Beehive Awards (Picture Book) 2016.