Literature’s most endearing rabbits are back in this sequel to Mr. and Mrs. Bunny — Detectives Extraordinaire! While the Bunnys' human friend, Madeline, worries about saving money for college, Mrs. Bunny is more concerned about how to become a queen.
Unexpectedly, Madeline’s family inherits a sweet shop (candy store!) in England, and it looks for a while as if everyone’s problems are solved. England proves to be full of eccentric characters, strange customs, and even royalty — but holding onto money is difficult for Madeline’s family, and becoming a queen proves harder than Mrs. Bunny had expected.
Lord and Lady Bunny is written by Mr. and Mrs. Bunny,* translated from the Rabbit by multi-award-winning author Polly Horvath, and beautifully illustrated by Sophie Blackall. It’s a sequel that children will laugh over and love.
* Mr. and Mrs. Bunny lives in Rabbitville in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. They have twelve children.
Exploits abound, including hedgehog disguises (quills and superglue) and trained magical candy shops. Horvath holds all of this folly together with affectionate characterizations, dazzling wit, and an unflagging commitment to the winding narrative, with Blackall’s familiar ink-and-wash sketches embellishing the tone of skewed bemusement.
The plot is unapologetically preposterous, but the truly witty banter, near-constant conflict and palpable love between Mr. and Mrs. Bunny are both genuinely affecting and uproariously funny. Blackall’s elegant, expressive black-and-white illustrations add whimsy to an already effervescent adventure.
[A] meticulously crafted sequel . . . One can only hope that Mr. and Mrs. B. have loads more madcap adventures to share with audiences — both bunny and human.
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