Preschool Storytime Ideas
Rabbits
Rabbits and bunnies are a great Springtime theme for storytime, and a nice alternative for a non-religious theme during Easter break. There are many great picture books with rabbits and bunnies as the focus, so you may have some favorites that are not on this list but are certainly great choices. For an activity, try doing the Bunny Hop dance, and there is a wealth of simple craft projects on bunnies here and here.
Battersby, Katherine. SQUISH RABBIT. Squish is often ignored or overlooked because he is so small, so he searches for a friend who won’t ignore him.
Brown, Margaret Wise. THE RUNAWAY BUNNY. A mother reassures her little bunny that she will always love him.
D’Amico, Carmela. SUKI, THE VERY LOUD BUNNY. Suki is louder and more rambunctious than other bunnies, but her loud voice comes in handy when she gets lost.
Dubosarsky, Ursula. THE TERRIBLE PLOP. In this take-off on the “Chicken Little” story, several animals flee the sound of “plop,” except a little rabbit. Have the audience call out the repeated sound “plop.”
Gershator, Phillis. TIME FOR A HUG. In this rhyming story featuring Little Bunny, a hug is welcome at any time of day.
Henkes, Kevin. LITTLE WHITE RABBIT. A lone bunny wonders what it would be like to be as green as grass, or as free-flying as a butterfly.
Lobel, Anita. TEN HUNGRY RABBITS. The concepts of counting and colors are expressed in this book about bunny siblings picking vegetables to make soup.
Mack, Jeff. GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS. The audience will call out the repeated title phrase in this story with only four words! A rabbit and mouse try to have a picnic on a rainy day.
Potter, Beatrix. THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT. Peter disobeys his mother and tries to steal from the farmer’s garden in this classic tale.
Reynolds, Aaron. CREEPY CARROTS! Jasper wants the carrots from a nearby garden, but is frightened of the shadows in this tribute to Alfred Hitchcock films.
Rohmann, Eric. MY FRIEND RABBIT. In this Caldecott Medal-winning picture book, mouse lets his friend Rabbit play with his new airplane.
Ruzzier, Sergio. HEY RABBIT! The audience will call out the repeated title phrase every time one of rabbit’s friends asks for a gift from his suitcase.
Ryan, Candace. RIBBIT RABBIT. Bunny and Frog are best friends in this picture book filled with onomatopoeia.
Underwood, Deborah. THE QUIET BOOK. Several animal friends, including a rabbit, demonstrate different types of quiet.
Walton, Rick. SO MANY BUNNIES. Mother rabbit has 26 children, each named for a letter in the alphabet.
Watson, Wendy. BEDTIME BUNNIES. Five bunnies get ready for bed – each page has only four words, often onomatopoeia, in this lively story that promotes phonological awareness.
Wells, Rosemary. MAX AND RUBY’S TREASURE HUNT. Forced to play indoors on a rainy day, the rabbit siblings and friends have a treasure hunt, created by their clever grandmother.
Wright, Johanna. BUNNIES ON ICE. Throughout the year, a young rabbit waits for ice skating season.
Also see the previous Rabbits storytime ideas page from February 2001.