The Rabbits

By John Marsden and Shaun Tan, Lothian Children’s Books, 1998.

‘A rich and haunting allegory for all ages, all cultures.’

This book provides a very different perspective on the effect of humans on the environment through a clever metaphorical take on invasion. The Rabbits offers the true story of Australia’s dark history, and uses animals to describe the story. The analogy of rabbits invading the land and causing problems for the original inhabitants softens the reality of the way the situation really was.

The Rabbits offers a visual feast of an intriguing, mystical and futuristic land. It is truly an illustrative masterpiece; you’ll feel like you’re in a Daliesque gallery.

My 12-year-old niece wasn’t so keen on the illustrations, because she thought they weren’t easy to understand as they imitate life, but are not realistic, so to speak. She thinks it’s maybe more suitable for an older child. She wasn’t aware of the underlying message and needed it explained to her. The Rabbits could provide an opportunity for parents to explain Australia’s dark history to their children in a way that they can understand.

Awards

• Picture Book of the Year, Children’s Book Council of Australia, 1999.
• Aurealis Conveners’ Award for Excellence, 1999.
• Spectrum Gold Award for Book Illustration, 1999.