Little Matilda and the Lost Bunny by Caz Goodwin, illustrated by Shaney Hyde

Title: Little Matilda and the Lost Bunny

Author: Caz Goodwin

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Marshall Cavendish

Published: 1^st February 2024

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 32

Price: $14.99

Synopsis: Little Matilda has one toy that she loves more than anything—her bunny. She takes it everywhere, even on a nature walk with her friend, Jack. When they get home, Little Matilda realises her treasured bunny is missing. She cries, squeals and thumps her small paws. Will Little Matilda ever find her lost bunny?

Notable points about the book:

• Children will relate to the distress of losing a comfort toy, and the need to manage their emotions when they are upset
• Demonstrates that it is important to take responsibility for our actions when we have done the wrong thing
• Provides a platform to talk about anger and tantrums, and how to feel supported and manage in these situations
• Little Matilda is a relatable childlike kitten with universal appeal; Jack the galah provides a positive role model for children
• The rhyming text encourages acquisition of language, and love of books and reading
• Includes distinctive animals to encourage learning about precious wildlife

~*~

Little Matilda is back, and off on another adventure with her friend, Jack. This time, they’re off on a nature walk, and Little Matilda’s favourite toy, her bunny that she takes everywhere is going with them. They have a great day, and then they get home – but the bunny is missing. Poor Little Matilda is distraught when she can’t find her bunny. But will she stop squealing and thumping her paws long enough to listen to Jack?

The Little Matilda books are fantastic stories that deal with relatable issues for children, and in this book, Little Matilda learns about the distress that comes with losing a beloved toy, and how to manage her emotions – she’s not quite sure how to process how she feels at first, and that’s okay, because she needs to work through what she is feeling. The book represents a fun day, and the heads into the need for boundaries at the end of the day, whilst also working as a story to use to teach kids responsibility – that they need to learn to be responsible for their property and to look after it – and this is a lesson that Little Matilda has to learn, as do other children – and this is part of a series that helps children process these feelings.

The Little Matilda books also explore issues and feelings that are often big and scary for children, whether it is hospital visits, losing a treasured toy or learning to believe in yourself, and be brace. Each book has tackled a different aspect of life that young children deal with, and ensures that each situation is dealt with sensitively and in ways that can open up discussions to talk about what is worrying children, and how those around them can support them when they are feeling frustrated as Little Matilda is in this book when she loses her toy.

Caz Goodwin has used rhyming text and a relatable childlike kitten to create universal appeal – a character that all readers can find something of themselves in as well as building on their language, understanding, and a love of reading and stories in these delightful books that take small and big issues, and make them easily understandable for young children, whilst also teaching them about Australia’s wildlife, and being part of a community. It is a gentle book that allows children and readers to explore and understand the world around them, all in a fun story with a delightful cat character who is adorable and fun. I have loved each Little Matilda book, and think they are a perfect series for children of all ages.