The Rabbit Problem by Emily Gravett

A children's book based on the Fibonacci sequence? Really? ...No, don't run away - it's pretty good! Emily Gravett has taken the rabbit problem (a pair of reproducing rabbits in a field; how many exist after each month?) and created a fun look at the way the rabbits cope with the rapid overcrowding.

Taking the form of a calendar, The Rabbit Problem is packed with lots of detail to pore over. There are exciting additions like party invitations, ration books, newspapers and cook books, that children will love to rummage through. It's a book to treasure and savour. Although younger children could have it read to them, it'll be most appreciated by slightly older children discovering its delights for themselves.

Emily Gravett's illustrations are as stunning as always. Bookbag totally loved The Odd Egg, and indeed all her other work, and this is no exception. The subject matter allows her to really let her hair down, creating fantastic scenes of squished rabbits, with all manner of expressions on their faces. There's always something extra to discover on every page. It's a beautiful book - at the very least, you owe it to yourself to flick through it when you're next in a bookshop or library.

Criticisms? A couple of very very small ones. To be unnecessarily pedantic, it ignores the issue of dying rabbits from the calculations of Fibonacci numbers. It isn't meant as an educational book - it's a fun idea loosely hung on a mathematical idea - but I'd have liked a greater nod to the full idea. I have no idea how to achieve that without having a totally unsuitable rabbit graveyard though. As I say, unnecesarily pedantic! What stops The Rabbit Problem getting the full five stars from Bookbag is that I'm not sure how often it'll be re-read. Aesthetically, it's perfect, and bears looking at time and again. I would have liked a slightly stronger narrative, to give it a bit more depth - perhaps another edition of the newspaper, or a rabbit's diary.

The Rabbit Problem would make for a wonderful present - it's just plain gorgeous. Highly recommended.

My thanks to the publishers for sending it to Bookbag.

Little Bo Peep's Troublesome Sheep by Cressida Cowell is also packed with lots of additional bits to pull out and enjoy. No review about a rabbit book would be complete without a recommendation of Sensible Hare and the Case of Carrots by Daren King - he's a dafty, but we love him.

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You can read more book reviews or buy The Rabbit Problem by Emily Gravett at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy The Rabbit Problem by Emily Gravett at Amazon.com.

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