I’ve NEARLY finished my book, Martha and the Bunny Brothers I Love Bedtime!
It seems like MONTHS ago that we were chatting about the various ingenious elaborate charming maddening excuses children come up with to put off going to bed for as long as possible (a little reminder here…). But bedtime sometimes feels like it’s taking months too, I guess.
There’s been a certain amount of larky carry-on in the Bunny household…
but in the end those ears are drooping, the eyes are closing…
and the lure of sleep is just too strong to resist.
I’ve tried muscle relaxant really hard to get the illustrations just right for those fast-asleep bunnies – the warm, strokable gorgeousness… I’ve drawn children asleep many times:
and my bunnies ARE children really. But I was looking for something a bit bunnyish too, for inspiration. I sent an SOS to my friend and fellow illustrator Jane Porter who knew just what I needed…
She snuck up on her own dear rabbits and took this snap just for me.
So now, pencils sharpened and paints squeezed out for the final picture…
So lovely Clara! I love the bigger little rabbit holding the smaller one. But your illustrations of sleeping children are gorgeous too – you are such a good illustrator!
That’s so kind, Anne! The pictures of ‘real’ children were painted long ago and look as if done by a different person – or maybe not, I can’t tell…
have you been doing some drawing lately, too??
Cuteness factor: 500%!
Kindness factor: 1000%, as ever!
Wow what gorgeous illustrations! They will be popular I have no doubt!
Thank you so much, Nikki – for your lovely words and for getting in touch again: it’s so nice to hear from you!
So gorgeous that I could pick them up and cuddle them. Somehow you’ve managed to capture that huggability, even though they’re in 2D. If they were children I might say they looked edible, but rabbits might perhaps get the wrong idea if I were to say that of them (don’t worry bunnies, I’m vegetarian).
Thank you so much, Elli!
I’m relieved to hear that someone else says edible about children… it’s always been my biggest compliment to someone’s baby that I could just sink my teeth into those lovely chubby legs – but I have had some funny looks…
Your sleeping bunnies are perfect – the mouths are just right! Glad to be of assistance with my pair of unwitting models…can’t wait to see the finished book.
So glad to have the seal of approval from A Bunny Expert…
please pass on an extra treat from me to the models – it was a god-send!
What a total treat to see the sleeping bunny inspirations – SO gorgeous! And as someone who’s been lucky enough to see the whole book, I can vouch for the sustained bunny brilliance, warmth, wit and wonder of the whole thing. It so makes me want to be a pretend superhero at bath-time all over again. I think being a grown-up might be just a tiny bit over-rated…
Helen, that is so kind and lovely to hear, THANK YOU!
I do agree about the less larksome aspects of being grown-up, and feel strongly that one is never be too old for playing Super-Bunnies at bath-time…
I’m not going to let my kids see this post, otherwise they will only be clamouring for a bunny of their own! So cute!
Zoe, I am SO SORRY as I only just saw this! (have been struck down with a lurgy and went off-line for a few days…).
But what a lovely comment, as ever: I am now clamouring at myself to have a real bunny of my own – perhaps your girls and I could share one? When it’s time to swap we could pop it on a train with a little suitcase a label around it’s neck… what d’you think??
My kids have a thing for Topsy and Tim. When we find a vintage one in the 2nd hand book shop they are always delighted. Anyway, of of their favourite topsy and tim books is about a rabbit… which they end up getting to keep. Hmm. 😉 I hope you’re feeling much MUCH better now.
Thank you so much, I AM.
I think authors should be much more responsible about the whole taking-in-animals thing… it makes it much trickier for parents to dig their heels in! I do look jealously of those big homes with loads of land attached and lots of animals of every shape and size… how UNFAIR it is.
V happy to hear from another Topsy and Tim fan!
Can’t wait to see the proofs for I Love Bedtime ….and just looking at those REAL sleeping rabbits – not sure I ever saw my rabbits sleeping lying down in that way (those happy days before the sly old fox came along…and rabbits no more), x
Thank you!
And yes, my rabbit didn’t collapse so beautifully on one side either. We too had an appalling visit from a fox, who only had to LOOK at our rabbit, alas. But we don’t talk about such things in front of Martha, Monty and Pip of course…
I love your illustrations. They make me want to reach out and stroke them x
I can’t imagine a more lovely thing to hear, and appreciate it very much. Thank you! xx
Beautiful illustrations, what a wonderful talent. And – your Mum is Shirley Hughes! (you clearly know this already but as someone who grew up with your Mum’s work and who is now sharing it with my kids, it’s a bit like meeting a hero…)
Lovely- I’ll be on the lookout for your books to share with my kids too now!
How lovely to hear from you – thank you so much for getting in touch! Yes, my Mum is an absolute star and the BEST. I always pass on kind words said about her to me, and will do so with yours if that’s ok?
I hope we can stay in touch; thanks again!