Bunny the Brave War Horse: Based on a True Story

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