Estimated from the page count of this edition. Dense books can take longer than the estimate.
About the book
Marlon Bundo, a lonely rabbit living with his Grampa, Vice President Mike Pence, meets Wesley, a brown rabbit with glasses. After spending the day hopping through the house and garden together, the two boy rabbits decide they want to marry. But the Stink Bug, who claims to be in charge, insists that boys must marry girls, prompting their animal friends to speak up about being different.
Reader notes
Simple first-person storytelling and a gentle rabbit romance accompany an explicit message about marriage equality in this picture book for reading aloud to young children. Written for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, it includes political jokes for adults alongside the plainly stated lesson about acceptance.
How it reads
Writing style
Conversational · Direct · Witty
Tone
Hopeful · Humorous · Playful · Warm
Structure
Linear
Driven by
Ideas · Plot · Relationships
Point of view
First person
Setting
Domestic
Reading complexity
Writing
1 / 5
Ideas
1 / 5
Structure
1 / 5
Background knowledge
1 / 5
About this profile
Collected’s assessment, not reader ratings. Complexity runs from 1 (least demanding) to 5 (most demanding).
Writing
How much attention the sentences and language require.
Ideas
How much interpretation or abstract reasoning the book asks of you.
Structure
How much you need to keep track of speakers, timelines and connections.
Background knowledge
Prior knowledge needed to follow the book, beyond what it explains.
Emotional intensity
Emotional pressure, from gentle (1) to intense (5). Separate from difficulty.
Themes
Belonging
Community
Identity
Inequality
Love
Marriage
Content notes
Violence
None
Sexual content
None
Swearing
None
Substance use
None
Abuse
None
Self-harm or suicide
None
Questions readers ask
Is it suitable for reading aloud to young children?
Yes, the simple first-person storytelling and direct, conversational language suit reading aloud to young children. The rabbit romance carries a plainly stated lesson about acceptance and marriage equality.
How political is it?
Marriage equality is central: when two boy rabbits want to marry, the Stink Bug insists that boys must marry girls. Written for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, it also includes political jokes for adults and places Marlon in Vice President Mike Pence’s home.
What does the story feel like?
The tone is warm, playful and hopeful, with a gentle rabbit romance and brisk, linear storytelling. The animal friends speak up about being different, giving community and belonging a place alongside the humor.
How long is it?
40 pages in the Chronicle Books 2018 hardcover edition.
Which edition is shown here?
Chronicle Books · 2018 · Hardcover. ISBN 9781452173801.
How long does it take to read A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo?
About 45 minutes at 50 pages an hour, based on the 40-page Chronicle Books edition. Dense books can take longer.
collected
