Well, that didn't go where I expected. Which is probably a good thing. ( )

These two rabbits have been drawn together, but differently. One is drawn as a pencil drawing and the other is cut out of paper. The rabbits are changed by their maker and in the end the two rabbits gain a shadow becoming more real.

I love the collage components of the book compared to the detailed pencil drawing illustrations. This play on what is real and what is not is really interesting, and I think would incite some deep thinking in children. I really like the style where the maker's pencil is shown in the illustration, and the reader feels involved in the making of the characters.

I would have to say that this book is a metaphor for parenthood. The pencil and the scissors make rabbits out of paper. Feed them at first, but after a period of time let them find food on their own and they grow up. My theory might be a reach, but that is what I think. ( )

The story, Let's Make Rabbits, in my opinion it was about growing up and becoming independent. The two rabbits, one made of paper and one of a drawing, both looked to there creators for everything. Once their creators were gone they had to look for another solution, so that they wouldn't be hungry. The two rabbits worked together to figure out how they would eat, that was them showing their independence. Also once the rabbits ate the real carrots, (because their creators made them paper and drawn carrots) they became real, they gained their shadows. I think the author is saying that drawings and pictures can become real. This would be a great story for younger children k-6. ( )

I feel justified in including multiple Leo Lionni books in my picture book library because his illustration and design mediums are so diverse! In the case of Let’s Make Rabbits, Lionni uses two mediums simultaneously, drawing and patterned paper collage, to create two different rabbit characters.

The wonder of this book lies in that it deconstructs the creative process and shows how an illustrator’s process works. The opening shows the scraps of paper and scissors coming together to build a rabbit while the pencil goes to work creating a rabbit as well.

Lionni’s choice to make these materials animate gives a magical, anything is possible, quality to the creative process. I appreciate that this shows children the may create anything through art and all it takes is setting their mind to it. This is a fantastic book to teach an early childhood art lesson collage, multi media projects, or just to get a child inspired to create!