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The Rabbit Problem
How does 1+1 = 288? A family of rabbits soon supplies the answer in this funny story! Hop along to Fibonacci's Field and follow Lonely and Chalk Rabbit through a year as they try to cope with their fast expanding brood and handle a different seasonal challenge each month, from the cold of February to the wet of April and the heat of July. This extraordinary picture book is packed with gorgeous details and novelty elements including a baby rabbit record book, a carrot recipe book and a surprise pop-up ending.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published August 27, 2009
9 people are currently reading
633 people want to read
About the author
Emily Gravett
73 books278 followersEmily Gravett is twice winner of the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal and the Nestlé Children's Book Prize Bronze Award for WOLVES and LITTLE MOUSE'S BIG BOOK OF FEARS. An author/illustrator of unique talent and tremendous skill, she has a host of critically acclaimed books to her name, including BLUE CHAMELEON, WOLF WON'T BITE! and AGAIN! Emily lives in Brighton with her partner and their daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
August 5, 2019
While Emily Gravett's illustrations are indeed sweet and imaginative, full of fun and movement, I have simply found her The Rabbit Problem much much too busy for me (to the point of it becoming distracting, to the point of it becoming tedious and actually rather boring, as I simply shut down and was only skimming the pictures, pop-ups and inserts).
Now if The Rabbit Problem had actually and clearly explained Fibonacci's rabbit problem logically, mathematically and above all, in a manner that I could understand (in a manner that is easy, logical and makes sense even for someone like me who has always been terrible with regard to mathematics and especially with pattern recognition), perhaps the illustrations would have made increasing sense and been more than just a calendar of an overpopulating rabbit year. However, The Rabbit Problem really does just seem personally annoying and it sure is giving me a massive tension headache, with too much detail, too many minute illustrations and facts, facts and more facts (but not really ever a clearly delineated, one or two line explanation as to what Fibonacci numbers are and how they pertain to his rabbit problem, how one can actually and easily figure out the pattern involved). And thus to me and for me, The Rabbit Problem not only feels very much unsatisfying, it also feels rather like a slap in the face, it feels as thought Emily Gravett is using her The Rabbit Problem to drive home the fact to me that I am useless and untalented with regard to mathematics, that I will never get math patterns.
And thus, while I do realise that The Rabbit Problem is sweetly illustrated, includes much fun and whimsy (and would probably be a hit with many older children and likely even many adults with an interest in math, and seemingly is, judging from the many glowingly positive reviews), the rather too in my face busy-ness of the illustrations (the sheer amount of information, often presented in very small fonts and not really all that easily readable without my reading glasses), but especially the fact that the general set-up and presentation of The Rabbit Problem is making me feel once again like a total mathematical failure (and bringing tears into my eyes and churning up some rather painful memories of school), this all is only allowing me to rank The Rabbit Problem with one star (actually, one and a half stars, but still not in any way enough for a two star rating, as my personal reaction has been too painful and too massively chafing to consider rounding up).
Now if The Rabbit Problem had actually and clearly explained Fibonacci's rabbit problem logically, mathematically and above all, in a manner that I could understand (in a manner that is easy, logical and makes sense even for someone like me who has always been terrible with regard to mathematics and especially with pattern recognition), perhaps the illustrations would have made increasing sense and been more than just a calendar of an overpopulating rabbit year. However, The Rabbit Problem really does just seem personally annoying and it sure is giving me a massive tension headache, with too much detail, too many minute illustrations and facts, facts and more facts (but not really ever a clearly delineated, one or two line explanation as to what Fibonacci numbers are and how they pertain to his rabbit problem, how one can actually and easily figure out the pattern involved). And thus to me and for me, The Rabbit Problem not only feels very much unsatisfying, it also feels rather like a slap in the face, it feels as thought Emily Gravett is using her The Rabbit Problem to drive home the fact to me that I am useless and untalented with regard to mathematics, that I will never get math patterns.
And thus, while I do realise that The Rabbit Problem is sweetly illustrated, includes much fun and whimsy (and would probably be a hit with many older children and likely even many adults with an interest in math, and seemingly is, judging from the many glowingly positive reviews), the rather too in my face busy-ness of the illustrations (the sheer amount of information, often presented in very small fonts and not really all that easily readable without my reading glasses), but especially the fact that the general set-up and presentation of The Rabbit Problem is making me feel once again like a total mathematical failure (and bringing tears into my eyes and churning up some rather painful memories of school), this all is only allowing me to rank The Rabbit Problem with one star (actually, one and a half stars, but still not in any way enough for a two star rating, as my personal reaction has been too painful and too massively chafing to consider rounding up).
April 24, 2011
Whoa! This book is so busy it nearly gave me a headache. I didn’t think it would be my bunch of carrots (variation of my cup of tea) but I found aspects of it very appealing.
The illustrations, including the amazing pop up on the last page, are wonderful.
There is so much on every page, including flaps and booklets, and its advanced vocabulary and contents are geared to older kids and adults, in my opinion, although younger children might enjoy aspects of the book, particularly the pictures, though very young children should be kept away from this book as it would be so easy to destroy.
The story, told page by page as an annual calendar, is clever and amusing, and there is even a hole on every page, as there are with wall calendars so they can be hung. The science/nature lesson is fun too.
As I read, I thought this was going to be a 3 star or even 2 star book for me, but I ended up being charmed. It’s a unique concept and I appreciated that. 3 ½ stars
The illustrations, including the amazing pop up on the last page, are wonderful.
There is so much on every page, including flaps and booklets, and its advanced vocabulary and contents are geared to older kids and adults, in my opinion, although younger children might enjoy aspects of the book, particularly the pictures, though very young children should be kept away from this book as it would be so easy to destroy.
The story, told page by page as an annual calendar, is clever and amusing, and there is even a hole on every page, as there are with wall calendars so they can be hung. The science/nature lesson is fun too.
As I read, I thought this was going to be a 3 star or even 2 star book for me, but I ended up being charmed. It’s a unique concept and I appreciated that. 3 ½ stars
August 27, 2014
Loved it! I know Gravett is a beloved author-illustrator but I usually don't connect well with her work. I'm so happy this is an exception! I found it utterly charming, the calendar format, the personalities of the rabbits, the little treasures "tucked inside" like the carrot recipes and the baby (bunny) book. So cute! Then book would have been a charmer right there but with the added educational value about Fibonacci it gets five stars from me. What a clever and fun way to make math entertaining!
I must say that this would be better suited to the upper age picture book crowd and NOT for storytime use as it is very busy and if you read all the little "inserts" there's a great deal of text.
I must say that this would be better suited to the upper age picture book crowd and NOT for storytime use as it is very busy and if you read all the little "inserts" there's a great deal of text.
August 7, 2014
I thought this was a cute and clever way to introduce children to the Fibonacci sequence. My children (ages 6, 9 and 11) enjoyed the lift up flaps, the newspaper, and the illustrations. They were surprised by how quickly the rabbit family grew...and wanted to know if it was factual. We discussed that rabbit populations do grow quickly, but some rabbits would die or leave the field and parents wouldn't always have exactly two babies, one boy and one girl. I am not certain this would be the greatest read aloud for a class full of children because some of the information was quite small and it is a bit lengthy if you read all of the information. But if you could use an ELMO or similar projector and project it onto a SMART board or screen, then it could make a very engaging math book for a classroom.
May 16, 2020
Adorable, gorgeously designed "calendar" that illustrates the Fibonacci Sequence! My sister gave us this book for Easter, and it's a delight! There are knitting patterns and recipes and newsletters and adorable art and so. many. rabbits. Such a fun and unusual book, my kids and I spent days looking over and over it!
September 28, 2009
In 1175 there lived an Italian mathematician named Fibonacci who, during his life set himself a mathematical challenge. If a pair of baby rabbits are put into a field, how many will there be; a) At the end of each month? b) At the end of each year? This book puts this challenge to the test, and the answer may just surprise you.
Lonely Rabbit sits in a field waiting for a friend. She is the first rabbit to arrive at Fibonacci's Field until Chalk Rabbit arrives. But does one plus one really equal two? Not where rabbits are concerned. This is what happens when you put two baby rabbits in a field for one year. This is more then just a mathematical problem, it a Rabbit Problem.
Lonely Rabbit and Chalk Rabbit are about to learn a lesson in multiplication as well as survival as they face the ups and downs of living a year in Fibonacci's field. It is not just the extreme conditions of snow and heat, but also famine and obesity, a plague of crows, and overpopulation that will test this pair throughout the year.
The Rabbit Problem is a thought provoking and highly contagious book that will delight adults and children alike. The attention to detail is stunning and the spectacular ending alone is enough to recommend this book. With its many fun activities, from knitting patterns and recipes, to its beautiful and vibrant illustrations, this book will be a valuable addition to any bookcase.
Lonely Rabbit sits in a field waiting for a friend. She is the first rabbit to arrive at Fibonacci's Field until Chalk Rabbit arrives. But does one plus one really equal two? Not where rabbits are concerned. This is what happens when you put two baby rabbits in a field for one year. This is more then just a mathematical problem, it a Rabbit Problem.
Lonely Rabbit and Chalk Rabbit are about to learn a lesson in multiplication as well as survival as they face the ups and downs of living a year in Fibonacci's field. It is not just the extreme conditions of snow and heat, but also famine and obesity, a plague of crows, and overpopulation that will test this pair throughout the year.
The Rabbit Problem is a thought provoking and highly contagious book that will delight adults and children alike. The attention to detail is stunning and the spectacular ending alone is enough to recommend this book. With its many fun activities, from knitting patterns and recipes, to its beautiful and vibrant illustrations, this book will be a valuable addition to any bookcase.
October 2, 2013
The Rabbit "Problem" is cleverly-illustrated and humorous, showing something of a math problem and something of a family planning problem. The book begins with Lonely Rabbit and Chalk Rabbit meeting in January and starting a rabbit family in Fibonacci Field where no rabbits are allowed to leave. The rabbits breed (off screen) and the next month there are more rabbits and more the next month. Each page spread is a new month of calendar pages showing more and more rabbits with plans for staying warm (a cute knitting pattern for a rabbit jumper), planting seeds, making dishes from carrots. There isn't really a story told in words so much as in the signs, notes on the calendars, and pasted on brochures and envelopes.
Eventually there are a lot of rabbits - as they have been increasing according the Fibonacci Sequence, meaning that by December there are supposed to be 144 pairs of rabbits but the rules have changed and rabbits are allowed to leave the field, leading to a pop-up explosion of rabbits in the final pages. This is a clever book, but I wonder how much kids will get from it. Certainly the humor, but the math?. The other problem is that the Fibonacci sequence is sort of misrepresented on the back cover, seeming to show 288 as a number in the sequence, which it isn't.
Eventually there are a lot of rabbits - as they have been increasing according the Fibonacci Sequence, meaning that by December there are supposed to be 144 pairs of rabbits but the rules have changed and rabbits are allowed to leave the field, leading to a pop-up explosion of rabbits in the final pages. This is a clever book, but I wonder how much kids will get from it. Certainly the humor, but the math?. The other problem is that the Fibonacci sequence is sort of misrepresented on the back cover, seeming to show 288 as a number in the sequence, which it isn't.
October 11, 2011
"A family of rabbits soon supplies the answer in this funny story! Hop along to Fibonacci's Field and follow Lonely and Chalk Rabbit through a year as they try to cope with their fast expanding brood and handle a different seasonal challenge each month, from the cold of February to the wet of April and the heat of July. This extraordinary picture book is packed with gorgeous details and novelty elements including a baby rabbit record book, a carrot recipe book and a surprise pop-up ending."
Wonderful for every age!One could use this to teach seasons, or incorporate the Fibonacci sequence. I liked the possibilities with this book.
Wonderful for every age!One could use this to teach seasons, or incorporate the Fibonacci sequence. I liked the possibilities with this book.
September 1, 2014
The book was pure fun and delight. The entire book, including the publication information at the beginning of all books is written as if it is on a black board. The layout of the story is that of a calendar. Fibonacci's mathematical conundrum of the 13th century "if a pair of baby rabbits are put into a filed, how many pairs will be there be: a) at the end of the month? b) after one year?" Although as it says on the back cover this is NOT (I repeat NOT) a book about math. It's a book about rabbits...Lots of rabbits!
May 9, 2012
Odd little book about animal reproduction. Could use in a science unit explaining animal reproduction.Could also use in a math unit, as the rabbit numbers increase through the reproduction. Within the book is also a calendar, which would be good to use to help children who are just learning the names of the months.
September 18, 2011
I was kind of excited about this one because it's a bit of a pop-up and references Fibonacci, who shows up in quite a few children's books, but I was a little bored. Also, naming a rabbit Angora seems a little wrong.
June 5, 2018
This book was absolutely brilliant and I would definitely recommend giving it a read. It has been so well put together and there is a lot of detail on each page. Furthermore, you could also use this book to teach maths investigations into Fibonacci as the book makes use of the fibonacci pattern.
October 26, 2020
I was introduced to Emily Gravett through The Imaginary and was intrigued to explore some of her other work. Not only has Gravett designed the book like a calendar as each month presents a new problem for the rabbits, it is jam packed with exciting pop outs and extras to explore (with one especially wonderful surprise at the end). Along with the obvious link to Fibonacci's sequence, 'The Carrot Cookbook', 'Rabbitercise' and 'The Fibber newspaper' could all be used as sources of inspiration in a classroom.
Although on the surface this may appear as a text for younger readers, Gravett's clever content and rabbit related puns are perfect for older readers too.
Although on the surface this may appear as a text for younger readers, Gravett's clever content and rabbit related puns are perfect for older readers too.
January 8, 2020
Oh my goodness, I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH! I love the art! I love the humor! Even though I hate math, I love that it is based on a math problem. I really love picture books that are interactive or have three-dimensional art and this has both. The art is fantastic and the letters, newsletter, bulletins, recipe books, and other interactive items are hilarious and clever. And, I love bunnies, so, of course, there's that.
January 14, 2012
Once again, Emily Gravett slays me with the combination of cleverness plus rabbits. This book is amazing, from the endpapers on, and it's full of so many smart and hilarious details. At its most basic level, the premise is simple: it's a visual representation of Fibonacci's Rabbit Problem. If you need a refresher, it's nicely summed up like this by Dr Ron Knott:
Gravett isn't just concerned about the numbers, though: she shows the rabbits themselves, a whole rabbit society stuck playing by Fibonacci's rules (one of which is that no rabbits can leave the field) and what the consequences of rapid population growth are. But putting it that way doesn't quite get across the playfulness of the whole thing. The book's set up as a calendar, where each month is described as some variation on "The Rabbit Problem"—so January, with just one rabbit in the field (Gravett starts at the very beginning of Fibonacci's sequence, rather than starting with two bunnies right away as described above) is "The Lonely Rabbit Problem." February, with two rabbits, is "The Cold Rabbit Problem," and so on. Throughout, the calendar is layered with art and hand-lettered words and more: February includes a list of "Ways to stay warm" ("Knit a sweater, Hop, Think warm thoughts, Snuggle up"); August includes a reminder to "Buy sunscreen." And there are fold-out or pop-out elements, too: an invitation, a faux knitting pattern, a bunny-authored/edited newspaper, a cookbook full of rabbit-focused recipes involving carrots. And oh, the bunnies themselves. They're wonderful: big-eyed, pink-nosed, hilariously expressive even when the field starts getting crowded.
Suppose a newly-born pair of rabbits, one male, one female, are put in a field. Rabbits are able to mate at the age of one month so that at the end of its second month a female can produce another pair of rabbits. Suppose that our rabbits never die and that the female always produces one new pair (one male, one female) every month from the second month on. The puzzle that Fibonacci posed was...
How many pairs will there be in one year?
Gravett isn't just concerned about the numbers, though: she shows the rabbits themselves, a whole rabbit society stuck playing by Fibonacci's rules (one of which is that no rabbits can leave the field) and what the consequences of rapid population growth are. But putting it that way doesn't quite get across the playfulness of the whole thing. The book's set up as a calendar, where each month is described as some variation on "The Rabbit Problem"—so January, with just one rabbit in the field (Gravett starts at the very beginning of Fibonacci's sequence, rather than starting with two bunnies right away as described above) is "The Lonely Rabbit Problem." February, with two rabbits, is "The Cold Rabbit Problem," and so on. Throughout, the calendar is layered with art and hand-lettered words and more: February includes a list of "Ways to stay warm" ("Knit a sweater, Hop, Think warm thoughts, Snuggle up"); August includes a reminder to "Buy sunscreen." And there are fold-out or pop-out elements, too: an invitation, a faux knitting pattern, a bunny-authored/edited newspaper, a cookbook full of rabbit-focused recipes involving carrots. And oh, the bunnies themselves. They're wonderful: big-eyed, pink-nosed, hilariously expressive even when the field starts getting crowded.
March 30, 2011
It's a picture book, but it's so much more! It is not for young children. I would think it would take a middle-schooler to fully appreciate everything that is in the book. The layout is like a calendar where each page represents a month. In January, Lonely Rabbit is seeking a mate and there is one rabbit in Fibonacci Field. In February Lonely Rabbit meets Chalk Rabbit and there is one pair of rabbits in the field. By March, there are two pairs of rabbits - the parents and the babies. By April there are three pairs of rabbits. And so on... Fibonacci was a 13th century Italian mathematician who solved a problem about the growth of a population of rabbits. The Fibonacci sequence - 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21...where each number after the first is the sum of the two preceeding numbers - describes this problem and a number of other things in nature. But back to the book. On each calendar page is a fold-out - invitation, birth announcement, newsletter, ration booklet, carrot cookbook. So besides reading the book, which doesn't have much text at all, you are reading the fold-outs, some of which are pretty funny. The fold-outs are what made me think this would be appropriate for middle school on up, as they are definitely not baby material. On the negative side, I was a bit turned off by the comment on the back that it is NOT a book about math. Let's pander to the mathophbes.
August 23, 2014
This fantastic book is formatted like a one-year wall calendar. One side is the picture, and the other side is the month with the days marked off in squares. The book even has a hole drilled through it, for hanging as a wall calendar. Starting off with one rabbit in January, the rabbit population has exploded by November, where the month side is completely covered in rabbits. In several of the months, there are added attractions, like a newsletter, a carrot recipe book, birth certificates, etc. The final page has a fantastic pop-up of all the rabbits. The cute cartoon illustrations are, as described on the verso: "rendered in oil based pencil-watercolor paint and carrots." This is one of the most fun ways to learn about the Fibonacci sequence ever.
January 27, 2017
Cute and silly book about rabbits that live on a little patch of land and go through a calendar year together (and breed like, well, rabbits.) Each two-page spread is set up like a calendar with a picture 'up top' and the days of the month below. We get to see how the rabbits get through each season with its particular challenges. And there are rabbit cookbooks and papers and all sorts of doodads to make the book fun. Lena enjoyed it, but she wasn't interested in reading it a second time.
Want to read
August 19, 2014This book was selected as one of the books for the August 2014 - Counting discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
August 24, 2012
You wouldn't think Fibonacci and children's books would work so well together but it turns out they do. Granted there isn't much of a story here but the artwork is gorgeous and all the extra bits and bobs to discover throughout are really well done, funny, and encourage interaction. Plus you can hang it up like an actual calendar. And the pop-up ending is epic.
August 2, 2014
I am ashamed to say I had never heard of the Fibonacci sequence until reading the Da Vinci code a few years ago - and since my little brother is a math major that is saying something!
This was a funny book that illustrated the math concept quite perfectly, and I enjoyed all the little gimmicks and the calendar format.
This was a funny book that illustrated the math concept quite perfectly, and I enjoyed all the little gimmicks and the calendar format.
February 20, 2018
Although there are minimal sections of text in the book, the illustrations are so intricately detailed that you can easily understand the story. The events are set over the calendar year, with each month presenting a different issue for the rabbits. A lovely book which would no doubt have a younger audience in giggles!
February 27, 2018
What happens when you put two rabbits into a field and don't let them leave for an entire year? 144 pairs of rabbits is what happens! Based on a mathematical conundrum posited by Fibonacci called Fibonacci's Field. This tome is illustrated quite cutely with rabbits bursting at the edges of the pictures.
July 22, 2018
An engaging and fun book, with lots of interactive elements. Not a book to read-aloud, but to explore and discuss together, especially as the number of rabbits increases so quickly that it's hard to keep track! This raised a few giggles whilst reading and the ending is wonderful!
December 27, 2010
I love all of the little booklets and comments, I love the way this is organized in calendar form. Emily Gravett is brilliant as always, with this one.
July 17, 2014
4/15/11
It is not a book about math. The fact that it is set in Fibonacci's Field is not suggestive. It's about rabbits. Lots of rabbits. A Malthusian explosion of rabbits.
Library copy
It is not a book about math. The fact that it is set in Fibonacci's Field is not suggestive. It's about rabbits. Lots of rabbits. A Malthusian explosion of rabbits.
Library copy
April 14, 2015
Does the statement that I would like to have this book at home provide sufficient a review? Emily Gravett surprises us again in the sheer abundance of her imagination.
January 11, 2016
2.5 stars. I thought the monthly calendar style of this book was interesting, but made it so that it was more difficult to "read" to someone. I loved the pop-up on the last page.
March 7, 2016
Loved this book. Cute and the illustrations are so good.
October 6, 2020
I absolutely loved this book- it is full of exciting illustrations and has repeating themes. Whilst I was reading the book I enjoyed unpicking the pictures to figure out the problems the rabbits face each month.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews