Zynnia talks about the book If You Were My Bunny is still one of her favorites to this day…
The sweet, soothing sounds of a mother’s words come through loud and clear in this small book. A mother rabbit tells her little ones that she could pick them out from all the other babies, and she sings a bunny version of “Hush, Little Baby,” with lines like “if that carrot top should wilt, / Mama’s going to bring you a clover quilt.” Then a bear, a cat, a duck, a dog, and finally a human mother tell their children how much they love them. McMullan’s clever use of familiar songs (“Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and “Rock-a-bye Baby,” among others) adds to the charm of this child pleaser. So do McPhail’s pictures, which, though occasionally stiffly executed, are full of tenderness and love. A cuddlesome bedtime choice.