Pat the Bunny
{{Short description|1940 children's book by Dorothy Kunhardt}}
{{For|the musician|Pat the Bunny (musician)}}
{{Infobox book |
| name = Pat the Bunny
| title_orig =
| translator =
| image = Pat the Bunny image.jpg
| caption = Original book cover
| author = Dorothy Kunhardt
| cover_artist =
| country = United States
| language = English
| series =
| genre = Children's story
| publisher = Golden Books
| release_date = 1940, re-issue May 1, 2001
| media_type = Print paperback
| pages = 20
| isbn = 0-307-12000-7
| oclc= 7375218
| preceded_by =
| followed_by = Pat the Cat
}}
Pat the Bunny is the first "touch and feel" interactive children's book, written and illustrated by Dorothy Kunhardt. Since its publication in 1940, it has been a perennial best-seller in the United States. Rather than follow a linear narrative, the book invites the reader to engage in tactile activities, such as patting the fake fur of a rabbit, feeling sandpaper that stands for "Daddy's scratchy face", trying on "Mummy's ring", reading a book within a book, playing peekaboo with a cloth, and gazing into a mirror.{{Cite web |last=ToyBuzz |date=2020-09-03 |title=100+ Fun and Educational Books for 3 Year Olds 2021 |url=https://toybuzz.org/books-for-3-year-olds/ |access-date=2022-09-01 |language=en-US}}
It was written and illustrated by author Dorothy Kunhardt. She created Pat the Bunny for her three-year-old daughter Edith, who went on to become a children's writer herself.{{cite web | author=Schiro, Anne-Marie| date= July 29, 1984| title= COMPANION FOR A CHILDREN'S CLASSIC | format= | work=The New York Times| url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9501E2DA1F39F93AA15754C0A962948260 | accessdate=2006-06-18}} The New York Times considered it the first interactive book ever written.{{cite web |author=Kunhardt Jr. |first=Phillip B. |date=1990-12-23 |title=The Original Touchy-Feely: 'Pat the Bunny' Turns 50 |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE3DB1330F930A15751C1A966958260 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714145548/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/23/books/the-original-touchy-feely-pat-the-bunny-turns-50.html |archive-date=2011-07-14 |accessdate=2008-04-26 |work=The New York Times |format=}}
Child development experts, such as pediatrician Pierrette Mimi Poinsett, recommend the book due to its "sensory approach".{{cite web |title=Pat the Bunny (Golden Touch and Feel Book) |url=http://hicklebees.booksense.com/NASApp/store/Product?s=showproduct&isbn=0307120007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110211008/http://hicklebees.booksense.com/NASApp/store/Product?s=showproduct&isbn=0307120007 |archivedate=2006-11-10 |accessdate=2006-06-13 |work=Hicklebees.com}}{{Cite web |title=15 Easy Sensory Activities You Can Do At Home With Infants & Babies |url=https://www.romper.com/parenting/easy-sensory-activities-for-infants-babies |access-date=2022-09-01 |website=Romper |date=16 April 2021 |language=en}}
The proceeds from Pat the Bunny support I Am Your Child, a national public awareness campaign created by the Reiner Foundation to stress the importance of early brain development.{{cite web | author=Auerbach, Stevanne| year=1999| title=Golden Books| work=Drtoy.com| url=http://www.drtoy.com/1999_c/golden-1.htm | accessdate=2006-06-18}}
Reception and legacy
As of 2006, Pat the Bunny had sold over 6 million copies, making it the number-6 all-time bestselling children's hardcover book, according to Publishers Weekly.{{cite web |author= |year=2006 |title=Pat the Bunny |url=http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio/0307120007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929110512/http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio/0307120007 |archive-date=2007-09-29 |accessdate=2006-06-13 |work=Powell's Books |format=}}
Kunhardt's daughter Edith Kunhardt Davis wrote three companions: Pat the Cat in 1984, Pat the Puppy in 1991, and Pat the Pony in 1997.
The publisher, Random House, has developed an entire line of related products.{{cite web |author= |year=1940 |title=Pat the Bunny |url=https://www.rhcbooks.com/books/96163/pat-the-bunny-by-dorothy-kunhardt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311042834/https://www.rhcbooks.com/books/96163/pat-the-bunny-by-dorothy-kunhardt |archive-date=2024-03-11 |accessdate=2024-03-10 |work=Golden Books}}
In 2000, DIC Entertainment discussed creating a TV series based on the book but nothing came of it.{{cite web|author=Mallory, Michael |date=January 1, 2001 |title=Wild about Harry's pals Execs snap up magical, mystical tomes |work=Variety.com |url=https://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=natpe2001&nav=family&head=family&content=story&articleid=VR1117791716 |accessdate=2006-06-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060109110336/http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=natpe2001&nav=family&head=family&content=story&articleid=VR1117791716 |archivedate=January 9, 2006 }}{{cite web | author=|date=July 2000| title= Licensing 2000: Not the Way We Were?| work= Publishing Trends | url=http://publishingtrends.com/copy/00/07/0700licensing.htm | accessdate=2006-06-13 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20061121020830/http://publishingtrends.com/copy/00/07/0700licensing.htm |archivedate = 2006-11-21}} In August 2004, Classic Media and Evergreen Concepts partnered to help promote the Pat the Bunny brand.{{cite web |author= |date=2004-08-04 |title=Classic Media and Evergreen Concepts Form Strategic Partnership to Develop Licensing Programs for Little Golden Books and Pat the Bunny |url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/8/prweb146162.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011202413/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/8/prweb146162.htm |archive-date=2012-10-11 |accessdate=2008-04-26 |work=PRWeb}} On March 4, 2008, a DVD of the book was released with interactive materials included and an interview with Jean Kunhardt, the author's granddaughter.{{cite web | author=Ranny Levy| date=2008-02-19| title= Pat the Bunny Comes to DVD March 4 | work=kidsfirst| url=http://www.kidsfirst.org/addenda/2008/01/pat-bunny-comes-to-dvd-march-4.html | accessdate=2008-04-26}} In 2011, Random House Children's Books released a Pat the Bunny app, inspired by the book for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch{{cite web |author= |date=2011-04-14 |title=pat the bunny for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad on the iTunes App Store |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pat-the-bunny/id430902036?mt=8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423113341/https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pat-the-bunny/id430902036?mt=8 |archive-date=2011-04-23 |accessdate=2011-04-14 |work=iTunes}} which received critical acclaim.{{Cite web |date=2014-04-18 |title=Appysmarts - Pat the Bunny |url=https://www.appysmarts.com/application/pat-the-bunny,id_413.php |access-date= |website=Appysmarts - apps for kids selected for |language=en}}
In a season 23 episode of Sesame Street, Lillias White read the book to a Baby Honker, when Benny Rabbit hops over, thinking that they're mentioning him as a bunny. The Baby Honker pets him, to which Lillias says "she's patting the Benny".
There have been parodies of the book also, such as Pat the Politician, mocking contemporary political figures,{{cite web|author=Anderson, Lessley |date=July 24, 2004 |title=Pat the Politician: A Political Pull and Poke Parody |work=San Francisco Weekly |url=https://www.sfweekly.com/2004-07-28/culture/pat-the-politician-a-political-pull-and-poke-parody/ |accessdate=2024-03-10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100710201006/https://www.sfweekly.com/2004-07-28/culture/pat-the-politician-a-political-pull-and-poke-parody/ |archivedate=July 10, 2010 }} and Pat the Yuppie, which includes activities like touching the sheepskin seatcovers of their new BMW and rubbing the exposed brick of their new condominium's wall.{{cite book
| last = Becker
| first = J. |author2=A. Mayer | title = Pat the Yuppie
| publisher = Perigee Trade (September 8, 1986)
| location =
| year = 1986
| isbn = 0-399-51266-7}}