Buns Gone Bad

In this graphic novel, a fedora-wearing moth, flying high above the park around his magnificent moon-on-a-stick (street light ), narrates the origin story of how three sweet and cuddly bunnies become a trio of tuff bunnies led by an evil mastermind. It all starts when a fluffle of bunnies is born in a comfortable hole in the idyllic setting of a city park. As soon as they are old enough to take care of themselves, their mother heeds the call to become a Jujitsu Master in Brazil, leaving her three youngsters to fend for themselves.

So, Biggie, Boingy, and Flop are left alone to explore their home and to make their way in the world. As they head out to scavenge for their breakfast, they are shocked to realize that their peaceful park is actually a war zone in which they are combatants fighting for survival. A ferocious poodle, a pair of marauding chipmunks, and a pack of wild children quickly teach the young trio that they will need to be tough and smart to survive. Cuteness doesn’t win wars; they need to be tuff bunnies. When a bumbling pair of raccoons stroll into the park for their nightly trash-fest, the fluffle, led by Flop, use their wiles to convince the raccoons to be the muscle in their scheme to take control of the park.

Buns Gone Bad will appeal to the readers of the “Captain Underpants” and “Bad Guys” series where the narrative develops through the interplay of the physical humour in the graphics and the silly word play. The black and white illustrations are simple with exaggerated expressions and a lot of action sequences. The bunnies' underdog status and ridiculous antics will win over the hearts (and funny bones) of younger readers.

The lack of colour in the illustrations may be a deterrent for some children, but “Fluffle Bunnies” will be a good read-alike series for the children who love “Bad Guys”.