Bunnybirds fills a graphic novel void that lives in elementary readers

It’s ok to have books geared more toward girls than boys. It’s also ok for boys to have books that mainly appeal to them. There are also some books that cross-over to both groups with varying degrees, but could have elements that interest each camp. Bunnybirds is a graphic novel, whose genre is typically associated with boys. However, this is one of the rare graphic novels that will appeal to girls just a little bit more than boys.  There are dragons and action elements in Bunnybirds, but the main characters are bunnies with wings. If you suspect that your young reader could become a fan of the massive mglit juggernaut, Warriors, this graphic novel is the prep material for them.

Princess Aster is a Bunnybird and the daughter of the king. The Bunnybirds live in a separate part of the world to themselves and don’t mingle with other groups. They have a good, conflict-free life where magic exists, their enemies are far away and everything is status quo for the most part. However, some Bunnybird residents are disappearing and when the king falls into that category it’s obvious that Aster has to do something.

She decides to fly away from the comforts of home to parts unknown to seek out the dragon’s help, as well as, others with whom she knows of, but doesn’t speak to. Along the way Princess Aster teams up with a Bunnybird thief who was kicked out of their enclave, in addition to a dog with eight-feet that can’t fly.

Bunnybirds is a graphic novel that fills a need. This is for those young readers, mainly girls, who are in third through sixth grade that want to read to escape and have fun. They want to lose themselves in a good book taking place in a fantastical world that certainly has problems, but also has cute creature comforts that are loved in real life, like animals. A young bunny that can fly who operates in a royal society with kings and queens immediately sets off interest bells for girls that age.

A graphic novel like this can’t operate exclusively on kawaii. There needs to be some action, as well as, monsters or the book will be forever exiled to the land of elementary school niche. Granted the bunnies and princesses do set the book’s course to that domain, but there are enough battles and dragons in Bunnybirds to offer exit ramps or frontage roads for those who don’t exclusively drink the juice. It also does what Wings of Fire does really well, albeit in a softer and slightly younger packaging. The graphic novel builds a world and establishes a playground where the heroes can do their thing, while giving enough dark corners for the unknown variables to add the mystery and conflict young readers crave.  

Bunnybirds is by Natalie Linn and is available on Holiday House.

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