Mr. and Mrs. Bunny - Detectives Extraordinaire!

Starred review from December 12, 2011
Eccentrics of multiple species converge in an adventure from Horvath (Northward to the Moon) in which the boundaries between the human and animal worlds become alternately fluid and impenetrable. On Hornby Island, off Vancouver, foxes drive cars, bunnies attend hat clubs and disciplinary councils, and marmots gorge on garlic bread. Fifth-grader Madeline oversees her household’s cooking, cleaning and wage-earning duties, while her hippie parents pursue enlightenment and unsuccessfully discourage her from attending school. When the Grand Poobah of foxes kidnaps her parents, Madeline enlists a pair of neophyte bunny detectives to track them down. Blackall’s (Edwin Speaks Up) b&w illustrations convey the incongruous hilarity of various plot developments: Mr. Bunny’s disco platform shoes are scene-stealers (and also help him drive); later Madeline leads a charge of bunnies wearing hound masks. Energetic pacing, witty prose, and snappy dialogue (“Why don’t you come to our hutch for lunch, dear?” Mrs. Bunny says to Madeline. “It’s just over those thirty-seven hills”) coalesce in what is hopefully the first of many escapades for these unforgettable, bumbling would-be sleuths. Ages 8–12. Agent: Writers House. Illustrator’s agent: Nancy Gallt Literary Agency.

December 1, 2011
Horvath takes on the world of talking animals with all the absurdist, satirical panache fans have come to expect from the award-winning author. The intrigue begins when fifth-grader Madeline's hippie parents Mildred and Flo are kidnapped on Canada's Hornby Island by a band of foxes in trench coats who have learned all about "hoomans" from studying sitcoms. The foxes don't care about Mildred and Flo; they just urgently need the spacey couple to remember where Mildred's Uncle Runyon lives, a government scientist who may be able to decipher the encrypted recipes needed to launch their enterprise: Fanny Fox's Canned Rabbit Products and By-products. As the hyper-responsible Madeline contemplates her parents' plight, she's discovered by Mr. and Mrs. Bunny, empty nesters (and detectives) who are only too delighted to find a nice human girl who speaks fluent Bunny, even if her bottom is gigantic. The story of Madeline's budding relationship with the refreshingly nurturing Bunnys and their joint endeavor to find Madeline's hopeless parents propel the farcical adventure. Playful pokes at everything from Fox News ("Foxes are titans of industry") to the glut of orphans in children's books are often hilarious. A favorite of the splendid black-and-white illustrations shows Mr. Bunny in his 12-inch disco shoes that allow him to reach the pedals of his SmartCar. A wickedly funny ramble. With bunnies. (Satiric mystery. 9-14)

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February 1, 2012

Gr 3-5-Middle-grader Madeline lives with her hippie parents on a remote Canadian island. When she arrives home one day, they are missing; the only clue to their disappearance is a threatening note signed by "The Enemy." Meanwhile, world-famous rabbit chef Franny Fox has died. Because her recipes are all written in secret code, the plans to make millions by mass-producing and selling them to the Fox Community are all but foiled. The only one capable of decoding them is Madeline's Uncle Runyon. And the only people who know his whereabouts are Madeline's parents. Enter a gang of Fox kidnappers. Luckily, Mr. and Mrs. Bunny have decided to become detectives and take the case. With their help, Madeline's parents are rescued and the foxes' sinister plot is thwarted-at least for now. Horvath has created a delightful story about family, friendship, and living Green. Blackall's whimsical illustrations further enhance this tale's charm. Unfortunately, the intended audience is problematic. The satirical elements will doubtless fly over the heads of young children interested in stories featuring fedora-wearing, Smart Car-driving, rabbit detectives, and older readers might find it all a bit silly. Also, Madeline seems a bit too old for this type of fantasy. Still, some children will find something to appreciate in this multilevel story.-Alissa J. LeMerise, Oxford Public Library, MI

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from February 15, 2012
Grades 3-6 *Starred Review* Madeleine's hippie parents, Mildred and Flo, refuse to understand the fifth grade, preferring the esoteric, spiritual truths of luminarias and shopping at the Salvation Army. Madeleine takes two ferries and two buses to school, escaping the peculiarities of Hornby Island to grasp at something normal. Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. Bunny have moved into an abandoned carriage house just down the lane and, to complement their interests in automobiles and millinery, are hanging up a detective shingle. When a cadre of sinister foxes ( Mwa-haha, they intone, having picked it up watching television) kidnap Mildred and Flo, Madeleine joins up with the Detective Bunnies and, without the help of her comatose code-breaker uncle, prepares to rescue them. Horvath tells Mr. and Mrs. Bunny's tale with old-fashioned nostalgia, juxtaposing it with Madeleine's schoolgirl mopes in a sweet and sour froth of nonsense. Blackall's ink-and-wash illustrations provide a quaint and curious punctuation, contributing a peculiar whimsy all their own. The result feels like an instant classic, with a contemporary resonance and a tone of yesteryear, fairly begging to be read aloud. Oh, and there are marmots.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)