When I was little I loved a book called The Rabbits’ Wedding. It was written and illustrated in 1958 by Garth Williams, who is probably best known for his illustration of American classics Charlotte’s Web by E.B.White and also of the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I distinctly remember my dad reading this book to me and being absolutely besotted with it. Judging by all the customer reviews on Amazon I wasn’t the only one.

I have always been a bit of a romantic and quite sensitive to a love story in a book or on film and perhaps this book was the beginning of that. These two little rabbits, one black and one white, are best friends; they play all day together but every now and then the black rabbit stops playing and starts to look sad. “I’m just thinking about my wish,” says the little black rabbit to the white rabbit. “I just wish I could be with you forever and always”. Not even conscious as to the concept of marriage, I can really remember thinking how beautiful it was that the rabbits wanted to be together always.
And so all the rabbits in the forest come and dance a wedding circle around the two and the little black rabbit was never sad again because they lived in the forest together happily ever after.

The story is pretty simple but Garth Williams’ illustrations are what makes this book so special; the wide eyed rabbits are just divine and the little black rabbit makes my heart melt when he is sad. I still love this book today and I still believe in a good love/friendship story. (The Rabbits’ Wedding is still in print.)

Luckily I never realised that in its home of publication, the US, the book caused absolute controversy and was banned in some states because it portrayed a black and white rabbit getting married and was seen by some to be encouraging and promoting interracial relationships.

Katie and I thought we should start featuring some books on this blog that we loved as children, so we will write about one title each week. There is a wonderful blog which does this every day, Vintage Kids’ Books My Kid Loves, written by the talented Burgin Streetman. Burgin is so devoted to vintage children’s books and we love it.