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The Rabbits' Wedding
‘Truly exquisite large pictures tell a sweet story of two little rabbits who lived ‘happily ever after’ in the friendly forest.’ —CS. ‘Will delight the youngest ones. . . . Of unusual beauty.’ —SLJ.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 30, 1958
About the author
Garth Williams
196 books183 followersGarth Montgomery Williams was an American artist who came to prominence in the American postwar era as an illustrator of children's books. Generations of children picture their favorite fictional characters as drawn by Garth Williams. Thus the unforgettable dapper mouse, Stuart Little, or the kindhearted spider, Charlotte and her pig friend, Wilbur. And many other animals (bears, dogs, kittens, crickets) fantastic creatures (elves, fairies) and children and grown-ups in books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, George Selden, Charlotte Zolotow, Else H. Minarik and many others. Garth Williams was also the writer of seven children's books, like Baby Farm Animals, but it is primarily as an illustrator that he will always be remembered. His most controversial book was Rabbit's Wedding, written and illustrated by him in 1958, for it stirred racial issues.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
September 26, 2014
Ah, once-controversial picture books! This sweet, gently-told and illustrated depiction of idyllic love and marriage was once attacked for its interracial pairing of a black rabbit and a white one. (For all I know, there are still people who object to it for this reason.)
Williams, when confronted with being a promoter of miscegeny, said he "was completely unaware that animals with white fur, such as white polar bears and white dogs and white rabbits, were considered blood relations of white beings. I was only aware that a white horse next to a black horse looks very picturesque," and that his story was not written for adults, who "will not understand it, because it is only about a soft furry love and has no hidden message of hate."
Williams, when confronted with being a promoter of miscegeny, said he "was completely unaware that animals with white fur, such as white polar bears and white dogs and white rabbits, were considered blood relations of white beings. I was only aware that a white horse next to a black horse looks very picturesque," and that his story was not written for adults, who "will not understand it, because it is only about a soft furry love and has no hidden message of hate."
April 8, 2019
Now I vaguely but very very fondly recall reading The Rabbits' Wedding (Garth Williams' utterly delightful 1958 tale of two sweet little rabbits who tie the proverbial knot) a few months after my family had moved to Canada from Germany (this being in the winter of 1977, thus more than forty years ago, when I was ten years old). It was a school library book, and although I indeed was a trifle embarrassed at having to read simple picture books in grade four because my English language skills were at that time not yet sufficient to tackle so-called middle grade fiction, having arrived from Germany with NO English whatsoever barely six months or so previously, both the narrative and especially Garth Williams' glorious and utterly evocative, tenderly expressive accompanying black and white pencil illustrations truly enchanted and made me smile.
And thus, imagine my consternation and rightful recent anger (whilst doing online research on banned and censored picture books) to discover that The Rabbits' Wedding was actually RESTRICTED, was very actively banned in Montgomery, Alabama in 1959 because Garth Williams had (oh gasping horror) portrayed white and black rabbits socialising with one another (and that a black rabbit ends up marrying a white rabbit was of course and I guess totally unacceptable to the racist, to the bigoted Montgomery Alabama powers that be, sigh). Thus wow and how massively undemocratic and ignorant, was and still remains my main thoughts with regard to this occurrence! And to those apologists who might wish to point out that this event happened in 1959 (and therefore well in the past), I say this. It is now 2019 and there are still and often too many moves afoot in the United States (and elsewhere, for that matter) by the ignorant and the undemocratic (by Fascists, by Stalinists, by dictatorial Social Conservatives and members of the so called Religious Right) to have picture books and other types of children's literature banned and removed from library shelves, from class reading lists etc. Just look at how vehemently, irrationally and with indignant hatred, especially children's books about alternative family structures and the "facts of life" are often even today challenged and deliberately censored by in particular religious puritans (and guess what, even sixty years after The Rabbits' Wedding was banned in Alabama, there are still braying ignoramuses who seem to actively consider author and illustrator Garth Williams' black and white rabbits getting married as somehow being unacceptable propaganda). A solid four star read (and one that has at least for me also stood the proverbial test of time), rounded up to five well deserved stars because the fact that Garth Williams' The Rabbits' Wedding was not only challenged, but actually banned for simply showing black and white rabbits as living and acting, existing together, is so anathema to me, that I can but give this book the absolute, totally highest recommendations and ratings!
And thus, imagine my consternation and rightful recent anger (whilst doing online research on banned and censored picture books) to discover that The Rabbits' Wedding was actually RESTRICTED, was very actively banned in Montgomery, Alabama in 1959 because Garth Williams had (oh gasping horror) portrayed white and black rabbits socialising with one another (and that a black rabbit ends up marrying a white rabbit was of course and I guess totally unacceptable to the racist, to the bigoted Montgomery Alabama powers that be, sigh). Thus wow and how massively undemocratic and ignorant, was and still remains my main thoughts with regard to this occurrence! And to those apologists who might wish to point out that this event happened in 1959 (and therefore well in the past), I say this. It is now 2019 and there are still and often too many moves afoot in the United States (and elsewhere, for that matter) by the ignorant and the undemocratic (by Fascists, by Stalinists, by dictatorial Social Conservatives and members of the so called Religious Right) to have picture books and other types of children's literature banned and removed from library shelves, from class reading lists etc. Just look at how vehemently, irrationally and with indignant hatred, especially children's books about alternative family structures and the "facts of life" are often even today challenged and deliberately censored by in particular religious puritans (and guess what, even sixty years after The Rabbits' Wedding was banned in Alabama, there are still braying ignoramuses who seem to actively consider author and illustrator Garth Williams' black and white rabbits getting married as somehow being unacceptable propaganda). A solid four star read (and one that has at least for me also stood the proverbial test of time), rounded up to five well deserved stars because the fact that Garth Williams' The Rabbits' Wedding was not only challenged, but actually banned for simply showing black and white rabbits as living and acting, existing together, is so anathema to me, that I can but give this book the absolute, totally highest recommendations and ratings!
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October 2, 2020#BannedBooksWeek
Written by the famous illustrator, Garth Williams, whose work can be seen in such classics as Stuart Little> and Bedtime for Frances, this charming book tells the story of two forest-dwelling rabbits who enjoy going on journeys together.
The black-furred male rabbit tells his female white-furred companion of his wish that they could stay by each other's side forever, and the result is a lovely moonlit wedding of the two bunnies, celebrated by their fellow creatures.
This book was challenged in Alabama in 1959, with State Senator E.O. Eddins arguing that the story promoted integration and interracial marriage to children; it was moved to a reserve shelf at their state library. -Louisa A.
Written by the famous illustrator, Garth Williams, whose work can be seen in such classics as Stuart Little> and Bedtime for Frances, this charming book tells the story of two forest-dwelling rabbits who enjoy going on journeys together.
The black-furred male rabbit tells his female white-furred companion of his wish that they could stay by each other's side forever, and the result is a lovely moonlit wedding of the two bunnies, celebrated by their fellow creatures.
This book was challenged in Alabama in 1959, with State Senator E.O. Eddins arguing that the story promoted integration and interracial marriage to children; it was moved to a reserve shelf at their state library. -Louisa A.
July 4, 2018
I find it very hard to believe, and sad, that this is one of the most frequently challenged children's books. Nothing wrong with this. It's great!
March 27, 2013
It frustrates me to see adults imposing their ideas about race and the institution of marriage on this book, because I had a very emotional response to it when I was a kid. I still do.
At heart, it's about how you express that you love spending time with another person, and the sadness when it comes time to say goodbye. As the Beach Boys once sang, "wouldn't it be nice … when we can say goodnight and stay together?" That's what the wedding does for these rabbits. It's an innocent book about companionship.
Garth Williams' illustrations create a dreamlike, wistful world in a beautiful palette of black, white, olive green and yellow. The rabbits are at once anthropomorphic and wild creatures. I love their expressions, but also their rabbity gambolling. What has stuck with me from childhood is how fluffy they look. I also think it's both absurd and solemn how they both put dandelions in their ears at the wedding. For me it's the antithesis of the embarrassing porno-pastoralism of Lady Chatterley's Lover .
At heart, it's about how you express that you love spending time with another person, and the sadness when it comes time to say goodbye. As the Beach Boys once sang, "wouldn't it be nice … when we can say goodnight and stay together?" That's what the wedding does for these rabbits. It's an innocent book about companionship.
Garth Williams' illustrations create a dreamlike, wistful world in a beautiful palette of black, white, olive green and yellow. The rabbits are at once anthropomorphic and wild creatures. I love their expressions, but also their rabbity gambolling. What has stuck with me from childhood is how fluffy they look. I also think it's both absurd and solemn how they both put dandelions in their ears at the wedding. For me it's the antithesis of the embarrassing porno-pastoralism of Lady Chatterley's Lover .
August 18, 2022
I read an oversize edition. Lovely; it scaled up well (assuming it was originally closer to the size of a Little Golden Book).
I think Williams was being disingenuous when he denied that the couple were a metaphor for mixed race love. After all, the rabbits are very clearly black, and white. And though they are perfectly fine playmates and have no reason to fear they'll be separated, they still feel the need to get married, to truly belong to each other. So, yes, an important book then... and, unfortunately, still impportant now in some communities (likely, the ones who have tried to ban it).
Highly recommended to all of you, my friends.
I think Williams was being disingenuous when he denied that the couple were a metaphor for mixed race love. After all, the rabbits are very clearly black, and white. And though they are perfectly fine playmates and have no reason to fear they'll be separated, they still feel the need to get married, to truly belong to each other. So, yes, an important book then... and, unfortunately, still impportant now in some communities (likely, the ones who have tried to ban it).
Highly recommended to all of you, my friends.
June 14, 2016
The Rabbits' Wedding by Garth Williams is such a cute book. I would have never thought this book would get banned. After reading it this past week, I realized how it would start controversy. There is one white rabbit and one black rabbit. Since this book came out in 1958, it was in the middle of segregation in the United States and with the rabbits' begin white and black it wasn't going to sit well with other people. The theme of the story were perceived as racial integration and interracial marriage.
I personally loved this book. I thought it was very cute and a fun read about 2 rabbits' that fall in love even though they are white and black. When a child reads this they won't be thinking about the background of the story they will be looking more at the pictures and who ever is telling the story.
I personally loved this book. I thought it was very cute and a fun read about 2 rabbits' that fall in love even though they are white and black. When a child reads this they won't be thinking about the background of the story they will be looking more at the pictures and who ever is telling the story.
March 17, 2018
Very sweet story with beautiful illustrations.
September 26, 2017
It is Banned Books Week, and I am reading Challenged/Banned books. This is the fourth book for this week.
This book was banned because one rabbit is white, and the other is black, and they get married.
The book was super adorable, I was just awwing, and squeeing. Especially as the story continued, and the rabbits got closer and closer to each other, and that moment when the black rabbit wanted to be with the white rabbit forever and ever. And the wedding was just terrific, I loved that all the animals in the forest got together to party.
It is a really sweet book and it shows kids why people want to get married, why they want a wedding. To celebrate, to be with each other forever and ever. And yes, I guess you can do that without marriage these days, but eh, I am old-fashioned and I would much prefer to seal the deal with a marriage/wedding. :P
The art was pretty gorgeous, I loved how the rabbits were drawn (I just had two pages I didn't like and those were the ones with them popping their eyes wide open, it just looked too silly for me). But mostly they looked like they would just jump up and out of the page.
All in all, I would recommend this book. Be warned it is very cute, and you will be cheering and dancing with the rabbits during their party. :)
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
This book was banned because one rabbit is white, and the other is black, and they get married.
The book was super adorable, I was just awwing, and squeeing. Especially as the story continued, and the rabbits got closer and closer to each other, and that moment when the black rabbit wanted to be with the white rabbit forever and ever. And the wedding was just terrific, I loved that all the animals in the forest got together to party.
It is a really sweet book and it shows kids why people want to get married, why they want a wedding. To celebrate, to be with each other forever and ever. And yes, I guess you can do that without marriage these days, but eh, I am old-fashioned and I would much prefer to seal the deal with a marriage/wedding. :P
The art was pretty gorgeous, I loved how the rabbits were drawn (I just had two pages I didn't like and those were the ones with them popping their eyes wide open, it just looked too silly for me). But mostly they looked like they would just jump up and out of the page.
All in all, I would recommend this book. Be warned it is very cute, and you will be cheering and dancing with the rabbits during their party. :)
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
August 25, 2024
Lovely picture book, which I don’t recall reading as a child, but had to buy after reading that it had been a banned book at the time for “promoting inter-racial marriage.” Sigh …
June 6, 2015
The pictures by Garth Williams are truly lovely, but the story otherwise is not worth much. And I do think it might confuse children. Can kids not stay friends with their play mates for evermore, unless they get married, here and now?! Maybe this story is tongue-in-cheek and has some personal reference to the author's life, but as a stand alone it's odd. The enumeration of all the little bunny games was cute, but the rest was just nonsense.
August 21, 2013
This book is disturbing and sexist. The relationship between the rabbits is not healthy and the black (male) rabbit is manipulative and passive-aggressive with the white (female) one. I was very surprised that this book could ever have been intended or received as an allegory for racial harmony. To me, it is an obvious allegory about an abusive person insisting someone marry him out of jealousy and a need to control and possess the other.
December 27, 2019
Beautiful, soft illustrations, with very little color (which makes the yellow dandelions really pop). A pretty sweet story about friends who enjoy each other's company so much, they want to spend their lives together. I don't remember reading this as a child, and learned about it recently because it had been banned (a white bunny and a black bunny together? The Horror!). My biggest problem with with relationship was the idea that when you marry, you belong to another person, and that person alone. Not a healthy relationship model. (Perhaps few were in 1958.)
June 2, 2010
I really wish the the star system was different. "It was ok" should be 3 stars. Because 2 stars looks like a negative rating, when really it's a middle-of-the-road rating of it's okay. Anyway, so, this book was ok. I wanted to like it more because who doesn't love Garth Williams' illustrations? And then, it was also a banned book, which makes it even more alluring. But honestly, aside from the cuteness of the bunnies, Logan was bored by it. I thought the repetition went on a few pages too long. And the black bunny continuing to say "I was just thinking..." began to see manipulative, waiting for the white bunny to finally ask what he was thinking about. Why not just come out and say it? Anyway, Logan didn't ask to re-read it, which is the sure sign of "it was okay," but not great.
March 17, 2008
This book is about a black rabbit and a white rabbit who play games together and ultimately decide to get married. It was a little slow-paced for my five year old son.
If you wanted to, you could use this book to teach that interracial marriages are A-OKAY.
If you wanted to, you could use this book to teach that interracial marriages are A-OKAY.
April 17, 2009
I did not care for this book's marriage rules,marriage-like-relationships drool message. Artist Garth Williams is a master of drawing very sad rabbits though:
http://everydayislikewednesday.blogsp...
http://everydayislikewednesday.blogsp...
September 25, 2012
It's been a long time since I've revisited this exquisite classic.
February 23, 2015
I wanted to read a banned book for Black History Month. This book was banned for promoting inter-racial marriage in 1958.
June 25, 2018
Most beautiful book in every way. :)
July 20, 2017
Totally cute story of two bunnies who are friends and each has a secret crush on the other. When they both realize this, they decide to get married and all their forest friends are invited. The illustrations are charming and colored in muted tones of green and yellow, with the black and white bunnies. A perfect little picture book for kittens – especially the ones who love rabbits and romantic stories.
Why this book was challenged and then banned (from Wikipedia): The Rabbits' Wedding was published on April 30, 1958, and depicted the love affair and wedding of two bunnies, one white and one black.
The book's publication led to controversy in the state of Alabama in 1959: the local White Citizens Council of Montgomery, Alabama, attacked the book which, they said, promoted interracial marriage in defiance of the laws against miscegenation. Against such attacks, the book found an advocate in Emily Wheelock Reed, director of the Alabama Public Library Service Division, whose job it was to provide libraries throughout the state with the books they requested.
Representative E. O. Eddins of Marengo County, Alabama, together with the White Citizen's Council, led the battle against Williams' book, and suggested Reed "put stock in racial incorporation" and "This book and many others should be taken off the shelves and burned.” As a result, the library system banned the book from all libraries in Alabama.
Reed (who said she enjoyed the book) complied to the extent that she moved it away from general circulation and instead put it on reserve, available upon request; this made the book still accessible to local librarians and thus was not a ban of the book: "We have had difficulty with the book, but we have not lost our integrity". Before the year was over segregationists again found fault with Reed, who distributed a reading list that included various controversial titles including Martin Luther King, Jr.'s book Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story.
During an interview with The New York Times in 1959, Garth Williams said, "[The Rabbits' Wedding] was not written for adults who will not understand it, because it is only about a soft, furry love and has no hidden messages of hate." Williams denied that his story, intended for children ages 3 to 7, was a purposeful anecdote of racial integration. "I was completely unaware that animals with white furs, such as white polar bears and white dogs and white rabbits, were considered blood relations of white human beings," Williams commented. Williams further explained to The New York Times: "I was only aware that a white horse next to a black horse looks very picturesque—and my rabbits were inspired by early Chinese paintings of black and white horses in misty landscapes."
Why this book was challenged and then banned (from Wikipedia): The Rabbits' Wedding was published on April 30, 1958, and depicted the love affair and wedding of two bunnies, one white and one black.
The book's publication led to controversy in the state of Alabama in 1959: the local White Citizens Council of Montgomery, Alabama, attacked the book which, they said, promoted interracial marriage in defiance of the laws against miscegenation. Against such attacks, the book found an advocate in Emily Wheelock Reed, director of the Alabama Public Library Service Division, whose job it was to provide libraries throughout the state with the books they requested.
Representative E. O. Eddins of Marengo County, Alabama, together with the White Citizen's Council, led the battle against Williams' book, and suggested Reed "put stock in racial incorporation" and "This book and many others should be taken off the shelves and burned.” As a result, the library system banned the book from all libraries in Alabama.
Reed (who said she enjoyed the book) complied to the extent that she moved it away from general circulation and instead put it on reserve, available upon request; this made the book still accessible to local librarians and thus was not a ban of the book: "We have had difficulty with the book, but we have not lost our integrity". Before the year was over segregationists again found fault with Reed, who distributed a reading list that included various controversial titles including Martin Luther King, Jr.'s book Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story.
During an interview with The New York Times in 1959, Garth Williams said, "[The Rabbits' Wedding] was not written for adults who will not understand it, because it is only about a soft, furry love and has no hidden messages of hate." Williams denied that his story, intended for children ages 3 to 7, was a purposeful anecdote of racial integration. "I was completely unaware that animals with white furs, such as white polar bears and white dogs and white rabbits, were considered blood relations of white human beings," Williams commented. Williams further explained to The New York Times: "I was only aware that a white horse next to a black horse looks very picturesque—and my rabbits were inspired by early Chinese paintings of black and white horses in misty landscapes."
April 27, 2020
I have just finished reading this book called "The Rabbits' Wedding". The author is Garth Williams, and the book was published on April, 30th, 1958. The publication date is interesting here considering the social context, where people views about intermarrige were so different from those nowadays. I did not find any particular award that this book won. Instead, I found many interesting discussions about races refering to this book.
The story is just about how a black rabbit gradually overcame the physical and psychological difficulties and then told the white rabbit how much he wants to stay by her side. The book ended with a scene of their wedding, where they dance together under the moon shine with other fellows in the forest. Everything seems to be peaceful and happy, and they live happy ever after.
However, what makes this book the center of controversy was this book was regarded as the implication of races. The black rabbit was regarded as the symbol of African Americans, while the white rabbit was regarded as European American at that time. Remeber the time that this book was published was 1958, when segregation still exsists although situation was a lot better than that in 1930s. People are still very conservative about this interacial relationship reflected by these two rabbits with different colors. In fact, this book was banned because the White Citizens Council of Montgomery, Alabama, claims that this book promotes interratial marrige. With people's changing view about interatical marrige, as well as the explanations made by Garth, this book was finally accepted by the public.
Garth was surprised by how people interpreting his work. He said that he never ever thought this as a implication of interacial relationship. What inspired him to make these two rabbits black and white is because he thinks this contribute to the illustration of the book. To react to the public's doubts and critism, Garth even told them that the insprition came from a early Chinese paintings of black and white horses in misty landscapes. As a Chinese, I totally understand that because the traditional Chinese painting only uses black ink. However, great Chinese artists depicts mountain, rivers, and these animals by leaving blank inbetween different lines, and the painting finally looks so lively and real. From this point of view, I totally understand Garth point, and I think he was very unlucky that this book was interpreted as the challenge to the interacial marrige.
The story is just about how a black rabbit gradually overcame the physical and psychological difficulties and then told the white rabbit how much he wants to stay by her side. The book ended with a scene of their wedding, where they dance together under the moon shine with other fellows in the forest. Everything seems to be peaceful and happy, and they live happy ever after.
However, what makes this book the center of controversy was this book was regarded as the implication of races. The black rabbit was regarded as the symbol of African Americans, while the white rabbit was regarded as European American at that time. Remeber the time that this book was published was 1958, when segregation still exsists although situation was a lot better than that in 1930s. People are still very conservative about this interacial relationship reflected by these two rabbits with different colors. In fact, this book was banned because the White Citizens Council of Montgomery, Alabama, claims that this book promotes interratial marrige. With people's changing view about interatical marrige, as well as the explanations made by Garth, this book was finally accepted by the public.
Garth was surprised by how people interpreting his work. He said that he never ever thought this as a implication of interacial relationship. What inspired him to make these two rabbits black and white is because he thinks this contribute to the illustration of the book. To react to the public's doubts and critism, Garth even told them that the insprition came from a early Chinese paintings of black and white horses in misty landscapes. As a Chinese, I totally understand that because the traditional Chinese painting only uses black ink. However, great Chinese artists depicts mountain, rivers, and these animals by leaving blank inbetween different lines, and the painting finally looks so lively and real. From this point of view, I totally understand Garth point, and I think he was very unlucky that this book was interpreted as the challenge to the interacial marrige.
February 28, 2023
This is a historically band picture book. This book is a product of 1958 and when it first came out, it pissed people off. This simple book is of a black rabbit and a white rabbit that like to play together. The black rabbit has small bouts of depression when they feel sad. But the white rabbits is always able to play with them and make them happy again. It turns out that the black rabbit wishes they could be with the white rabbit forever and the white rabbit says I do too. They get married, surrounded by friends and live happily ever after. Want to take a guess on why this book was hated in 1958? If you guessed racism, you are correct! At the time this book was written interracial marriage was rare, extremely frowned upon, and illegal in many states. This book saying that it’s okay for two to marry, and it even brings about a happy ending. This book is not currently in print and you have to find it in an library to read a copy, but our modern issues in 2023 are the same issues. We have been fighting the same things for 70+ years. This book was lovely, not just for the time it was written, but for now as well. This book should be a classic. It shouldn’t be banned, but as with many things in our society today. it is.
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April 23, 2018This book was first banned in Alabama because it was attacking segregation policies. This is a tale about two rabbits who fall in love with each other and get married. The controversy was because one rabbit was painted white and the other one was black. It was believed that it represented inter-racial marriage and because of that the segregationists believed that it was aimed purposely for children to believe that marriage between white and black people was acceptable. They believed that it could influence young minds.
I do not see anything wrong with the story of this tale. I think that the two rabbits were painted differently to distinguish them through-out the story. I would use this book in my classroom as a part of a lesson in literature.
I do not see anything wrong with the story of this tale. I think that the two rabbits were painted differently to distinguish them through-out the story. I would use this book in my classroom as a part of a lesson in literature.
October 25, 2024
“The Rabbit’s Wedding” by Garth Williams. This book was written in 1958 - which makes it very important in American History. I came across this book, because recently I attended a theatre production called “The Alabama Story” which was based on when this book was released. It became a banned book. In Montgomery, Alabama, the segregational senator wanted this book to be removed from all libraries because he believed this book was promoting mixed racial relationships. The state librarian of Alabama refused banning this book, but placed it in reservation in case people wanted to read it.
This is a sweet book about two rabbits getting married, one is black and one is white. Crazy to think so much uproar occurred to an innocent children’s book. Lovely illustrations.
This is a sweet book about two rabbits getting married, one is black and one is white. Crazy to think so much uproar occurred to an innocent children’s book. Lovely illustrations.
September 29, 2020
I am producer of “Alabama Story” by Kenneth Jones, a play, in part about the banning of this book in Alabama in 1959. This book is about a black bunny and a white bunny getting married, which was a problem for a state senator there and then.
“The book was written for children, who will understand it perfectly, as it’s only about fuzzy love. It was not written for adults; they are not smart enough to understand its simplicity. It has no hidden political message… Anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of art will know that the rabbits are a different color for visual contrast. My book was published in black and white.” Act 2, scene 1, Garth Williams speech. Came from Alibris 9/17/20.
“The book was written for children, who will understand it perfectly, as it’s only about fuzzy love. It was not written for adults; they are not smart enough to understand its simplicity. It has no hidden political message… Anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of art will know that the rabbits are a different color for visual contrast. My book was published in black and white.” Act 2, scene 1, Garth Williams speech. Came from Alibris 9/17/20.
May 6, 2023
I recently read an article in the New York Times about a play made about the controversy when this book was first placed in libraries in Alabama in the 1959. I had to borrow this from a public library to see what could have sparked the controversy. I also am a fan of Garth Williams illustrations in other children's books. A very sweetly written story about love between two bunnies. The fact that one is a black bunny and one is a white bunny caused all the concern for some people. This book has been banned in the past. The play is not currently produced in my area. I see some years past it was produced in Door County Wi. at the Peninsula Players theater, wish I could have seen that.
December 10, 2023
A very important children’s picture book with cultural significance. It’s about a black and white bunny who are playmates. Every so often the black bunny stops playing and becomes sad… why? Read the book lazy! Written in the 1950s this book was banned in the. South for promoting interracial marriage, between bunnies! For all of this historical and significant importance this book has, I still found it way too sickly sweet for my personal taste.
March 2, 2018
The Rabbits' Wedding I learned about this book when a friend and I were talking about Garth Williams. It is a very sweet book. Crazy to think it was banned because a black rabbit wants to marry a white rabbit (right up there with Sylvester and the Magic Pebble being banned because the cops are pigs)... life in the 1950s/60s must have been wild.
March 22, 2018
The book was the at the center of controversy shortly after it was published in 1958 when Alabama state senator Edward Eddins claimed the book promoted interracial marriage. This conflict became the basis of the play "Alabama Story" by Kenneth Jones. I give the book 4 stars for the simple yet cute story and for the beautiful illustrations, and 1 more for its historical significance.
April 2, 2020
A soft furry love story of two fuzzy rabbits hopping through the Meadows. Why it was such a controversy book in 1959 about blacks and whites just amazes me. It was not allowed to be put on the shelves. Neither were the three little pigs. Because the animals all had different colors. I hoping we’re past all that if not I pray for those people.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews