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<p/><br></br><p><b> About the Book </b></p></br></br>"A funny, quirky picture book based on a little-known historical event -- and an introduction to one of history's most notable figures, Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon Bonaparte's most crushing defeat is widely thought to have been at the Battle of Waterloo -- but have you heard about that time he was defeated by a horde of cute, fluffy bunnies? We call it Bunnyloo. It was the summer of 1807, after Napoleon and Tsar Alexander of Russia signed a treaty to end war between their two empires. Napoleon decided to celebrate with a rabbit hunt. His chief-of-staff, Louis-Alexandre, gathered as many rabbits as he could -- but got one crucial detail wrong. The rabbits he gathered were domesticated rabbits, so accustomed to human contact that they didn't scatter as expected -- they hopped towards Napoleon and his cohorts. The men shooed, swung and swatted, but it was no use. They were surrounded. When the rabbits started climbing up his legs and onto his hunting jacket, Napoleon became quite shaken, jumped back into his carriage and fled. Napoleon was a tough customer. He had ridden straight into cannon fire without a second thought. But everyone is scared of something -- even the bravest of the brave -- and it seems that for His Imperial and Royal Majesty, that "something" was the bunnies. The last page of the book will be a note with more information about Napoleon, and what we know about the ill-fated rabbit hunt. Research tells us that this event really did happen, and that Napoleon -- though amused at first -- really did abandon the hunt when he realized the rabbits were not going to retreat."--<p/><br></br><p><b> Book Synopsis </b></p></br></br>The renowned Napoleon Bonaparte faces an army of a different sort in this witty, unconventional telling of a true event in his life.Everyone knows the Battle of Waterloo was Napoleon Bonaparte's most crushing defeat, right? Well, some beg to differ. It seems there was another less famous (though perhaps more humiliating) surrender in his past. Let's call it Bunnyloo. In 1807, Napoleon had ordered his chief of staff to round up rabbits for a celebratory hunt, only, he collected domesticated rabbits, not wild ones. So, when the rabbits were released to begin the hunt, they didn't run away. Instead, they ran straight at Napoleon and his hunting party. Now, some might think Napoleon --- king overthrower, army commander, territory conqueror --- would only laugh at an advancing battalion of cute, fluffy bunnies. Think again!J. F. Fox's funny, quirky picture book story is based on a little-known event in the life of one of history's most notable figures and greatest generals. With an afterword containing further information about him and what's known about the ill-fated rabbit hunt, it makes a highly entertaining introduction to Napoleon. It also could spark lively discussions about notions of power, strength and courage, promoting inquiry-based learning. Adorable bunnies loom large in Anna Kwan's fun brightly colored illustrations that lean heavily toward shades of blue, white and red. Adding to the read-aloud appeal, dialogue bubbles in the illustrations contain easily decipherable French words, along with English text as spoken with a French accent.<p/><br></br><p><b> Review Quotes </b></p></br></br><br>... fun and appealing.--<i><b>CM Magazine</b></i><br><br>... hilariously explains ... Napoleon's most ignominious defeat.--<i><b>The Globe and Mail</b></i><br><br>... an enjoyable storytime.--<i><b>Kirkus Reviews</b></i><br><br>Historical drama with a comical twist.--<i><b>Booklist</b></i><br><p/><br></br><p><b> About the Author </b></p></br></br>J. F. Fox is a former editor at Lee & Low Books and has ghostwritten over seventy books for children, but she has switched gears to focus on her own projects. She is also the author of one other picture book, Friday Night Wrestlefest, published in 2020 by Roaring Brook Press. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and two sons.

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