Miffy at the Zoo

Dick Bruna is quickly becoming one of our household's favorite author/illustrator. He was set to inherit a family publishing business but instead decided to branch out on his own as a graphic designer and maker of children's books. Bruna defined his own style through his Miffy series, a repertoire of eponymous stories about a little bunny. His drawings are so distinctive that Miffy has become a brand of her own, especially embraced by a large Japanese following.

A design aficionado myself, I love Miffy's aesthetic nod to Hello Kitty and other assorted kawaii (cute) characters. In fact, over the past year, I have made a concerted effort to collect as many Bruna books as possible, finding a few at bookstores and the rest at random sources such as library sales, thrift shops, and even the Punahou Carnival.

From our modest stash of Miffy books, Wa-wa's favorite is Miffy at the Zoo.

While it is a pretty straightforward story, the prose has a nice rhyming pattern like a poem. Miffy's father takes her to the zoo and they visit all kinds of fun animals. They even hop on a train to get to the zoo, and while it is not the plot's highlight, any book with a train is a winner with Wa-wa. Miffy is such an adorable little bunny that she is sure to win over many hearts, little boys included. 

Miffy at the Zoo
words & pictures by Dick Bruna
© 1963 by Mercis Publishing, Amsterdam, Netherlands
© 2003 English translation by Mercis Publishing