As we’re busy sharing all the traditionally cute bunny books and gifts for kids’ Easter baskets, here comes one that…well, it’s a long way off the beaten path of your typical bunny book. Presenting: A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo, an equally satirical and sweet children’s picture book from Jill Twiss and the team at HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.
The story follows a day in the life of the BOTUS (that’s uh, the Bunny Of The United States) who moved to DC from rural Indiana. The twist: He falls in love with another bunny. Only his love’s name is Wesley, and not everyone around him is down with the two bunnies getting married.
So Marlon and Wesley set out to find a supportive animal community of friends, overcome discrimination, and eventually plan a big fancy wedding where they can celebrate their true love and commitment and dance the Hokey Pokey.
No, not the Bunny Hop. Too easy.
Related: 6 fantastic children’s books celebrating LGBT families, because #LoveisLove
Considering how essential — and honestly, lifesaving — this kind of message is for teens and young people who are struggling with their sexual identity, I am here for more books that let them know that they’re okay, they are supported, and their happiness matters.
I also absolutely adore that the authors walk the walk: A full 100% of the profits from the book will support The Trevor Project, which provides crisis intervention services for LGBTQ+ teens and young adults; or to AIDS United, which helps provide strategic grants and essential care and prevention to those in the US living with HIV/AIDS.
You can even download the ebook for free, with an $11.99 (or more) donation to either or both of the charities.
Yes, of course there are overt political overtones in the story, considering this is a satirical book featuring the actual VPOTUS’s BOTUS, who is actually named Marlon Bundo. (Which is darn cute, if you ask me.)
But above all, this is a sweet and funny book about of tolerance, friendship, and the one message even our youngest kids can grasp perhaps more easily than perhaps any other: Love is love. I know my own kids would love getting this for Easter.
As Dean “Cottontail” Martin once notably crooned: You’re nobody ’til somebunny loves you.
(Sorry, had to go there.)
Find A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo from our affiliate Amazon, or from Chronicle Books and help support a lot of really great causes including more love and acceptance in our world.
Or download the audiobook of A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo from Audible brought to life by the voices of Jim Parsons, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Jeff Garlin, Ellie Kemper, John Lithgow, Jack McBrayer, and RuPaul.
