Bunny the Brave War Horse

July 15, 2014
Can a horse named Bunny ever be a war horse?It's World War I, and horses, especially police horses, are needed for the war effort. Canada is a long way from the battlefields of Belgium, but Bunny the police horse and police officers Thomas and Bud Dundas, brothers, join the war effort. On the very first day, men and horses are put to the test with mustard gas. It's clear that Bunny is up to the challenge. Bunny is assigned to Bud, and together, they deliver messages and carry wounded soldiers off the battlefields. Other horses are shown pulling ambulances and artillery. The gravity of war is made clear, especially when Bud is killed in combat, leaving brother Tom bereft. Bunny and Tom team up and are still alive at the end of the war. Gentle, muted tones provide the right balance for this historically rooted tale of bravery, loss and love. Though the skyline might show puffs of smoke left over from shelling, the foreground tells the story of the dedication of both horse and rider. The final spread, though lit with the hope of the war's end, is tinged with sadness: Bunny, like all the war horses from Canada, has been sold to farmers in Belgium, and Tom voyages home alone. The endnotes provide ample extra information for young historians.Emotionally charged but never manipulative, Bunny's story and the story of World War I bravery will not be soon forgotten. (map)(Picture book. 6-10)

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August 1, 2014

Gr 2-4-During World War I, Toronto's mounted police force sent horses and men to fight in Europe. This fictionalized true story focuses on one of those horses, Bunny, a particularly brave and skilled mount known for his stamina and courage. The text starts off at a good pace but comes to a halt on the fifth double-page spread, when a riveting moment about Bunny and his rider facing mustard gas is followed by a generic summary of Bunny's wartime duties. The book describes other difficult aspects of Bunny's war experience, such as near starvation (for instance, one of the horses in Bunny's paddock ate a blanket for sustenance). However, as the book is targeted to young readers, the illustrations are not graphic, and their style, color scheme, and composition convey the narrative well. Back matter includes more facts about Bunny and the men who were assigned to him. While this is a poignant story, the length and subject matter may make it a challenging sell for readers; careful placement and readers advisory efforts are a must.-Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA

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