20+ Favorite Bunny Stories that You Never Grow Out Of

I have always loved bunny stories. There is something about those furry little creatures that just makes you wonder: "What do they really think?" They seem so innocent, yet they are as crafty and unstoppable in their garden invasions as the Oceans Eleven crew.

Bunny stories make perfect children's stories primarily for the merch. There is nothing like reading about a sweet bunny while holding a stuffed animal friend. But do we really ever grow out of that fondness for bunnies? I'd like to think that no matter how old you get, there's always a bunny story you can enjoy. Or maybe you need to revisit some of your old favorites to restore the magic of igniting the imagination that bunnies bring.

Children's Picture Bunny Stories

1. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

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2. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney

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3. I am a Bunny by Richard Scarry

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4. Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt

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5. Tales from Beatrix Potter

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6. Peter Hops Aboard by Beatrix Potter

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If you'd enjoy learning more about Beatrix Potter, you might enjoy Miss Potter, as it chronicles her journey in bringing these stories to life. I particularly enjoyed watching the illustrations in this movie come to life!

Bunny Stories to Read Aloud

7. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

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8. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

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9. Bunnicula by James Howe

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There are six other books in the Bunnicula and Friends series that continue in the adventures of Harold and Chester. They don't all feature Bunnicula as much as the first, but if you're enjoying the humor, you might like to read more!

10. Mr. and Mrs. Bunny - Detectives Extraordinaire by Mrs. Bunny

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11. The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

It's been four years since the Penderwick girls have lost their mom, and their dad is treating them to a summer holiday on the grounds of the Arundel estate. Rabbits enter the story as a sweet way to draw out the youngest sister, Batty. She doesn't talk much, but she does love the ground's keepers bunnies. Adventures and wholesome fun fill the pages of this modern classic that reads like Little Women. It's not as obvious of a rabbit story, but it is a worthy read!

12. Little Pilgrim's Progress with Illustrations by Joe Sutphin

Helen Taylor's adaptation of John Bunyan's classic Pilgrim's Progress has been a family favorite for years. She reimagines the rich text in a way that captured my kids' hearts when they were little. When I heard that Joe Sutphin was collaborating with Moody Publishers to provide an illustrated version of one of our favorite books, and bunnies were involved?! We could not wait!

His beautiful illustrations take a simple and elegant story and breathe fresh life for a new generation. This book is absolutely stunning. If you only owned one rabbit book, this would be my recommendation.

The Green Ember Series

Our first true head-over-heels bunny story love belongs to the Green Ember series. We read these books when my youngest was 11, and my kids were captivated! Beware: this is not a safe bunny tale. The danger is real, the sakes are high, and young bunnies must make difficult decisions that carry great consequences. Rabbits with swords. If you haven't read these, get started!

There are four main books in the series and then shorter stories that fill in the gaps of the history of the world S.D. Smith has built with his bunnies. They're all free to read with Kindle Unlimited! This is the author's suggested order:

13. The Green Ember

14. The Black Star of Kingston

15. Ember Falls

16. The Last Archer

17. Ember Rising

18. The Wreck and Rise of Whitson Mariner

19. The First Fowler

20. Ember's End

21. The Archer's Cup

22. Prince Lander & the Dragon War

Classic Literature Featuring Bunnies

The proof that you can never grow too old for bunny stories is found in literature that has stood the test of time and that adults love!

23. Alice in Wonderland

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24. Harvey

25. Watership Down

Now that I'm older, I'm reading it again and I'm fascinated. I love how Adams takes the innocence of bunnies and places his rabbits in unfamiliar social situations where truth is hidden and danger lurks around every corner. It's easy to want to just accept things as they are in the name of peace and comfort, but it is hard to step out of that comfort in pursuit of true peace.

Joe Sutphin is almost finished with his graphic novel adaptation of this classic work. You can see a preview of his work on instagram! I will be adding this work of art to my library when it comes out in October 2023!

So what bunny books did I miss? I can tell you after rounding up all of these great stories and reading through most of them again, I have only increased my love of a good rabbit tale!