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| Perma-Bound Edition ©2015 | -- |
| Paperback ©2014 | -- |
A prolific author and illustrator as well as an active practitioner of martial arts, Himmelman combines these interests in his latest book, a series starter starring a bunny named Isabel. Isabel is introduced as "the best bunjitsu artist in her school," an expert in kicking, hitting, and throwing, who can also handle all of the paradoxes that Teacher sends her way. Isabel's martial arts aren't confined to the classroom, either e also faces down some piratical foxes and turns an angry wave into one that lifts her up and transports her. There are some peculiar episodes in this early-reading book, including one in which Bear walks up to Isabel, engages in conversation, and then kicks Isabel across a field, flips her to the ground, and twists her "into a pretzel." Isabel demonstrates how she doesn't "give up" by kicking, flipping, and twisting Bear. The rest of the book is less cartoonish and violent in its exploration of Zenlike koans, and Himmelman's black-and-white line drawings nicely convey Isabel's swift and deft movements. We are ready for the sequel, Teacher.
Horn BookThirteen short, generously illustrated chapters relate the adventures of rabbit Isabel, known as Bunjitsu Bunny for her proficiency in martial arts class. Each droll tale contains a lesson--about avoiding fights, outsmarting bullies, dealing with nightmares, and more. Cleverly wrapped in an entertaining package, the zen-type morals are edifying but not preachy. Brush-like strokes give the drawings the clean look of block prints.
School Library JournalK-Gr 2 With very simple black-and-white illustrations, Himmelman tells delightful short stories about a little bunny named Isabel, who is mighty in spirit. Isabel practices a martial art called Bunjitsu, and each story imparts a lesson from her experiences in fighting or not fighting. In one story, Isabel attempts to fight an angry wave, and when she realizes she will continue to get thrown on the beach, she decides to enjoy being carried away instead. All the other tales are similar in mood and lesson, taking a slightly zen approach to life. The tales are reminiscent of Arnold Lobel's "Frog and Toad" stories (HarperCollins) or Jon J. Muth's ever-popular Zen Shorts (Scholastic 2005) , but they are stylistically very different, with line drawings that give very little detail and lots of negative space, leaving most of the scenes up to the imagination of readers. The writing style makes for a good read-aloud, and the sentence structure and complexity are straightforward enough for advanced readers in primary grades to try it. Recommended for general purchase. Shalini Miskelly, St. Benedict Catholic School, Seattle, WA
ALA Booklist
Horn Book
School Library Journal
Wilson's Children's Catalog
The Locked Door
One afternoon, Isabel saw her fellow bunjitsu students outside their school. Teacher had left a sign on the door. It read, “Come on in.”
“Teacher wants us to go inside,” said Max. “But the door is locked.”
“It is a test,” said Kyle. “He wants us to kick the door open.” Kyle kicked the door as hard as he could.
“OW!” he yelped, hopping up and down on one leg.
“No,” said Betsy. “He wants us to punch it down with our fists!” They all punched the door with their mighty bunjitsu fists.
“Ow! OW! OOCH! OWEE OWEE OWEE!” they said. The door hadn’t moved an inch.
“I have an idea,” said Ben. “What’s the hardest part of our body?”
“The head,” said Wendy.
“Right!” said Ben. “On the count of three, we will all perform the running bunjitsu head butt!”
“One … two…”
Suddenly, the door opened. Isabel was on the other side. “Come on in,” she said. “Teacher is waiting.”
“How did you get in?” asked Betsy.
Isabel pointed to the open window by the door and said, “When the door is locked, go through a window.”
The Pirates
Isabel loved to take her rowboat out on the pond. The warm sun felt good as her boat rocked gently on the water.
Suddenly, another boat bumped into her. Four mean-looking foxes stared at her.
“We are pirates,” said one of them. “Give us all your treasure!”
“I have no treasure,” said Isabel.
“Then give us all your food!”
“I have no food,” said Isabel.
“Then we will take you as our prisoner.”
The pirates grabbed Isabel and pulled her into their boat.
“If you have nothing to give us, we will throw you in the water,” said a pirate.
Isabel grabbed the arm of the nearest pirate and bunjitsu flipped him over her shoulder. He landed in her empty boat.
She then bunjitsu kicked the second one so hard, he landed next to his friend in her boat.
She threw the third pirate right on top of them.
The fourth pirate was so frightened, he crawled into her boat on his own.
“There,” said Isabel. “Now you have my boat.”
“We don’t want your boat,” said a pirate. “It is too small for us.”
“Can pirates swim?” asked Isabel.
“Of course!” they said.
“Good,” said Isabel. “Because your new boat is sinking.”
Isabel sailed away. The warm sun felt good as her boat rocked gently on the water.
The Race
Sherman the tortoise loved to run, but he was always last in every race. No one wanted to race him because he was too easy to beat.
“I will race you to that tree across the field,” said Isabel.
“You are Bunjitsu Bunny,” said Sherman. “You will beat me very easily.”
“Maybe, maybe not,” said Isabel.
“On your mark. Get set. Go!” Isabel shouted, and the race was on.
Isabel could have run right past Sherman, but instead she stayed just behind him.
Sherman looked over his shoulder. I am beating Bunjitsu Bunny, he thought. He was so excited, he ran faster.
Isabel stayed right behind him. Whenever Sherman turned and looked, he saw she had almost caught him. This made him run even faster.
By the time he made it halfway to the tree, he was a blur of speed!
Sherman saw that Isabel was still right behind him. He gave it all he had. When he reached the tree, he was running so fast, he ran a whole extra mile before he could stop.
Finally, Isabel caught up.
“Did you let me win?” asked Sherman.
“I did at first,” she said. “But as soon as you thought you could win, you won.”
Copyright © 2014 by John Himmelman
Excerpted from Tales of Bunjitsu Bunny by John Himmelman
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
Introducing Isabel, aka Bunjitsu Bunny! She is the BEST bunjitsu artist in her school, and she can throw farther, kick higher, and hit harder than anyone else! But she never hurts another creature . . . unless she has to. This series of brief stories about Isabel's adventures are a beguiling combination of child-friendly scenarios and Eastern wisdom perfect for the youngest readers. Tales of Bunjitsu Bunny, written and illustrated by John Himmelman, is the first in a series of books about a smart young bunny faced with different challenges. The lively story about a kind and wise rabbit, with two-color illustrations, will appeal to young martial arts fans.