2024-08-19 06:00:37
“Bunny School” has sold millions of times. Now the classic children’s book is 100 years old – and to mark the occasion comes a new version by comic Anke Engelke. But that upset some people.
Kirchberg.
“Children,” said Mother Rabbit, “blow your nose again with the cabbage leaf dressing! Now get a board, pen and paper!” Verses have been introduced to generations of people since their childhood, as they are the beginning of an adventurous school day in the “bunny school”. Now the famous children’s book by Albert Sixtus (1892-1960) is 100 years old.
According to Thienemann-Esslinger Verlag, it has sold more than 2.5 million times in various editions; But a new interpretation from a famous pen caused angry reactions in the anniversary year.
The story of the Hasenhans and Hasengretchen
But first look back: Albert Sixtus, then a teacher in Kirchberg near Zwickau in Saxony, wrote down the verses in just one night at the end of April 1922, as he later reported. But it took a good two years until it was published.
100 years ago in the late summer of 1924 – according to the Esslinger publishing house and the Albert Sixtus archive, we do not know the exact date – the story was published as a book with pictures by Fritz Koch-Gotha. Since then it has become an indispensable part of many schools and children’s rooms.
Children’s books are still available on many bookstores today. Photo: Hendrik Schmidt/dpa
Children’s books are still available on many bookstores today. Photo: Hendrik Schmidt/dpa
School day in Hasenhans and Hasengretchen said, who, after saying goodbye to their mother, went to the school “Pfot’ in Pfötchen” and they learned plant science, painting eggs, animal history, music and sport.
Hans is definitely cheeky, and the teacher puts him in the corner because of it. The image once showed the teacher with a cane, but in more recent prints the teacher drew his ear instead. On the way home, the baby rabbits ran away from the fox and ended up sitting at the table with their mother and father: “Cabbage vegetables, cress leaves, eggs, they eat them!”
Anja Roocke explains: “The verses are funny and easy to read, which explains why the book is so popular today. “The stories told in the verses are very loving and educational.” For several years now, Roocke has been promoting Sixtus’s memory in his former home.
In Kirchberg, Saxony, a street is named after Albert Sixtus in honor of the creator of the classic children’s book “Bunny School”. Photo: Hendrik Schmidt/dpa
In Kirchberg, Saxony, a street is named after Albert Sixtus in honor of the creator of the classic children’s book “Bunny School”. Photo: Hendrik Schmidt/dpa
A street there is named after him, and a plaque on his house refers to the creation of the “Bunny School”. Rocke also organizes readings and shows. The Sixtus Archive, already located in Kottmar in East Saxony, will also find a new home in Kirchberg.
The Koch-Gotha illustrations also contributed significantly to the book’s success, says the head of the Albert Sixtus Archive, Ulrich Knebel – he is Sixtus’ great-nephew. The drawings were different at the time than the usual and sometimes caricatured well behaved feet.
Knebel explained: “There are some things that are not revealed in the verses. “The Koch-Gotha cartoon comes through.” This makes the book fun and enjoyable for adults too.
In the new version the fox is vegetarian
“Bunny School” has become a successful brand, under which there are many spin-offs and a movie. For the anniversary, comedian Anke Engelke also tried a new version, which led to angry reactions in the spring.
In the contemporary context, foxes are vegetarians and make friends with bunnies, while humans and even agriculture are seen as enemies of animals. The old school bunny is old-fashioned, outdated and inappropriate, Engelke explains his decision in a video from the publisher. Their declaration is about diversity, intimacy, humor, knowledge and respect.
But the result is polarizing, as comments from online shoppers show. There is the Word of destruction of reality, a propaganda book and the “worst child’s book of all time”. Others talk about a wonderful book they made for children, and they talk about it.
Sixtus’ nephew Ulrich Knebel said: “He should have left her alone. “Unlike Sixtus, Engelke was not a writer.” In his opinion, it is clear that the publisher is mainly interested in attention and money.
Roocke doesn’t like the “new bunny school” either. “They’re not pretty melodies,” he said. “The whole thing has nothing to do with the original bunny school.” (dpa)