Pat the Bunny

Really? Pat the Bunny? In Special Collections?

Yes, we really did just acquire the first edition of Dorothy Kunhardt's toddler classic Pat the Bunny (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1940).  The book is in remarkably good condition considering that most copies are lovingly destroyed by one-year olds playing peek-a-boo, feeling Daddy's scratchy face and fitting their fingers through Mummy's ring. Our copy still has its original box and all of its gimmicks in working order.

If you are not familiar with the book, it is designed to be read aloud to very young children who can follow along using other senses--they are invited to look at mirrors and pictures, feel textured surfaces, and even sniff the pages.

We acquired the book to be used alongside our strong children's book collections, but also because many of features of modern artists' books, which are sometimes more playthings than texts, were first employed in children's books.


You are welcome to come in and pat the bunny yourself, just ask for Rare PS3521.U688 P38 1940