April 2012 Debut of the Month.Shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2013.
Highly original, this is a stunning debut picture book which celebrates creativity and difference while also serving as a touching introduction to the idea that people leave good things behind them even when they are no longer around. Rabbit likes doing all kinds of obvious rabbity things like jumping, hopping, burrowing and sleeping. But he also likes un-rabbity things like painting and music. Rabbit fills the rabbit world with colour and sound; soon all rabbits are enjoying them too. Suddenly Rabbit disappears. Although the other rabbits search for him they find no trace. All they can find is what they need for making their own paintings and music. Even without Rabbit, his wonderful legacy lives on and changes rabbit life forever.
Rabbit enjoys doing rabbity things, but he also loves un-rabbity things! When Rabbit suddenly disappears, no one knows where he has gone. His friends are desolate. But, as it turns out, Rabbit has left behind some very special gifts for them, to help them discover their own unrabbity talents! This is a stunning debut picture book by author/illustrator Jo Empson. Rabbityness celebrates individuality, encourages the creativity in everyone and positively introduces children to dealing with loss of any kind.
Jo Empson lives in Wiltshire and recently graduated from Cambridge School of Art with a Masters in Children’s Book Illustration. Her background as a graphic designer has had a great influence on her work and she especially loves children's book's created by ex-designers, such as the great Eric Carle.
Her illustrations are inspired by nature, expressing this through texture and movement with a strong sense of shape, color and design. She loves playing with colour in the form of a visual narrative. Her abiding wish is to produce beautiful books with depth and meaning.
Children's books remain her passion. She is never happier than when she is swept away in storytelling - in all its aspects - whether it be writing, illustrating or just reading a favourite picture book (which she still does every night!).
