Big Mean Mike by Michelle Knudsen, illustrated by Scott Magoon (Candlewick, 2012) is about a rough-edged dog who learns to have a little bit of a softness to him when fuzzy white bunnies begin following him around. Although Mike doesn’t want to be known as a softy, the fuzzy bunnies begin to grow on him. As they become friends, he defends his image as a mean guy by standing up to his friends on behalf of the bunnies.
It was a cute story of learning to accept friends for who they are and being willing to think outside the box. As an adult, I wasn’t crazy about the ending message. I personally thought Mike should abandon his meanness and become a little soft around the edges, maybe learn that it’s okay to be a fuzzy bunny. But as it was, it was still a funny story of learning to accept others.
Kid thoughts (age 5): “I didn’t like that bunnies kept appearing.” Apparently he doesn’t like cute fuzzy bunnies?
