The Rabbits' Wedding facts for kids
First hardcover edition, 1958
|
|
| Author | Garth Williams |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Garth Williams |
| Cover artist | Garth Williams |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Juvenile fiction |
| Published | April 30, 1958 |
| Publisher | Harper Collins |
| Pages | 32 |
| OCLC | 60097060 |
The Rabbits' Wedding is a sweet children's picture book written and illustrated by Garth Williams. He was a famous American author and artist. The book was first published on April 30, 1958. It tells the story of two bunnies, one white and one black, who fall in love and get married.
A year after it came out, the book became quite famous in the state of Alabama. A state senator named Edward Oswell Eddins thought the book was trying to spread ideas about integration and marriage between people of different races. During this time, the Civil Rights Movement was happening in the American South. This movement was about making sure all people had equal rights. The director of Alabama's State Library Agency, Emily Wheelock Reed, had to deal with challenges to keep the book available.
Garth Williams illustrated more than 70 books in his career. Most of these were written by other authors. The Rabbits' Wedding was the last book he wrote himself. Even in the year 2000, the book was still being printed and sold.
What the Story is About
The story takes place in a forest where two rabbits live. One rabbit is black and is a boy, and the other is white and is a girl. The black rabbit feels a bit sad and thoughtful. He finally tells the white rabbit why he's feeling this way. He wants her to stay by his side forever.
The white rabbit is happy and agrees to his wish and love. Soon after, a wedding is held for the two bunnies. All the other creatures in the forest join them. They celebrate and dance together under the moonlight.
Why This Book Caused a Stir
In the late 1950s, the United States was going through a very important time called the Civil Rights Movement. This movement was all about making sure that people of all races had equal rights and were treated fairly. In some parts of the country, especially the Southern U.S., there were laws and customs that kept people of different races separate. This separation was called segregation.
The idea of people of different races coming together, or integration, was a big topic. In 1959, Edward Oswell Eddins, a state senator in Alabama, saw The Rabbits' Wedding. He noticed that the story featured a black rabbit and a white rabbit getting married. He believed the book was trying to promote the idea of integration and even marriage between people of different races.
Senator Eddins called the book "propaganda." He thought it was trying to influence young readers with these ideas. He pushed for the book to be removed from libraries in Alabama.
The Library's Stand
The director of the Alabama State Library Agency at the time was Emily Wheelock Reed. She believed that libraries should offer a wide range of books for people to read. She stood up for The Rabbits' Wedding. She argued that the book was simply a sweet story about two bunnies getting married. She said it was not meant to be a political statement.
Despite the pressure, Emily Wheelock Reed refused to ban the book from the state's libraries. She moved the book from the regular children's section to a special "reserved" section. This meant that children could still read it, but they would need a parent's permission. This was a way to keep the book available while also addressing the concerns of some people.
This event became a well-known example of censorship during the Civil Rights Movement. It showed how even children's books could become part of bigger discussions about society and fairness.
