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*The Bunnies Are Not in Their Beds* by Marisabina Russo
 
Also by Marisabina Russo:

I Will Come Back for You: A Family in Hiding During World War II

A Very Big Bunny
The Bunnies Are Not in Their Beds
by Marisabina Russo
Ages 4-8 40 pages Schwartz & Wade January 2007 Hardcover    

It’s nighttime, and three delightful bunnies are tucked in bed. “Good night, good night, sleep tight.” Or not! As Mama and Daddy sit reading in their chairs, all is quiet. “But then…CLicK, CLACK, CLICK, CLACK.” As Mama and Daddy tiptoe up the stairs to investigate the noise, they find out that “the bunnies are not in their beds.” They are busy building railroad tracks on the floor. “Back to bed, little bunnies. Good night, good night, sleep tight.”

As Mama and Daddy return downstairs all is quiet, Mama writes a birthday card and Daddy goes back to reading his book. “But then…CHUGGA-CHUGGA-CHUGGA.” And so the routine continues. “Mama and Daddy tiptoe up the stairs, open the door, and what do they see?” Three little bunnies dressed in conductor outfits, guiding a train around the track! “No more tracks, no more trains, no more mischief tonight.”

But it is not to be. Next comes the CLIP CLOP, CLIP CLOP, and again Mama and Daddy tiptoe upstairs to find that the bunnies are not in their beds. “Little bunnies! Back to bed before we count to three.” Once again the bunnies are tucked in and wished “good night, good night, sleep tight.”

Mama and Daddy get ready for bed, turning out the lights and closing the shades. “But then…BOOM. BOOM. BOOM! HONK, SQUONK, HONK! CLASH, CLASH, SMASH!” This time “the bunnies are not in their beds” as they march in a band with instruments blaring! Mama and Daddy recap what they are not to do, including all past noises and potential noise they may make. All is quiet, “the good little bunnies must be in their beds.”

“But then…Tip tap. Tippity tap.” The bunnies are tiptoeing down the hall, and they open the door to find “Mama and Daddy tucked into bed. Fast asleep.”

“At last! Hooray!” whisper the bunnies in delight. They can play all night, on the furniture, under the furniture, reading books and playing games. “But then…Yawn, Snuffle, Zzz, zzz, zzz. Sounds like the bunnies are all fast asleep.”

Through the use of repetition, noises, and colorful, action-packed pictures The Bunnies Are Not in Their Beds will be a fast favorite among listeners and readers alike. While it may at first glance seem too long for young attention spans, the repetition makes it predictable, and the change in voice inflection with the funny sounds not only maintains their attention but leaves them crying for “MORE”!




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  Regan Windsor/2007 for curled up with a good kid's book  






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