Here Comes the Big, Mean Dust Bunny

Here Comes the Big, Mean Dust Bunny!

Author and Illustrator: Jan Thomas

Publisher: Beach Lane Books

Copyright 2009

35 Pages

Fiction/ Fantasy

            When I chose to read this book it was simply because of the bright colors on the cover and throughout the pages; I did not really look at the subject of the book until later. I then learned that this book was about dust bunnies! In this fantasy picture book, dust bunnies are brought to life and start to rhyme, play, and deal with bullies. Ed, Ned, Ted, and Bob are rhyming dust bunnies that are happy until the big, mean dust bunny comes in, sits on them, and chases them. Then all of a sudden the cat sits on the big, mean dust bunny! However, Ed, Ned, Ted, and Bob do not leave the big, mean dust bunny; instead, they tug on him until he is fluffy again. Afterwards all of the dust bunnies are happy and go on playing their games.

            The illustrations in this book are bright, vibrant, and cheerful. The characters look to be created with mixed media with no negative space left on the pages. Each page is colored brightly and the text is contrasted in white or black coloring. The text has very informal placements throughout the book. The dust bunnies are two dimensional with shadows on the pages and rigidity lines. The composition of the illustrations is quite simply with only the five main characters on the pages. Small details such as the texture of the dust bunnies were left out of the illustrations.

            This book is appropriate for beginning readers that are perhaps five to six years old. Younger children would most likely enjoy looking at the brightly colored illustrations and also the hearing the rhyming words read aloud. Most teachers could use this book to introduce rhyming words in kindergarten. Teachers could also use this book in character education and teach how to always be there for someone else that might need you.