“I know the secret,” said Wendy. She picked up a heavy rock and climbed to the top of the hill. “I’m doing it!” she shouted.
But the rock grew heavy, and she put it down. The wind picked up her feet. Wendy held on to the rock.
“Help!” she called. Ben pulled her down.
“I will do this,” said Ben. “Kyle, get behind me and push.” Ben and Kyle inched up to the top of the hill. The wind inched them back down.
“My turn,” said Isabel. She climbed the hill.
“I will push you back!” she said, and pushed the wind with her paws. The wind pushed her back. Then she turned her paws sideways. The wind stopped pushing and went right around them.
Isabel stood there, up on the hill, and turned her body sideways. The wind whistled past her.
She climbed down to join her friends.
“How did you keep from being blown down?” asked Kyle.
“I think sometimes it’s easier to let something go by you than it is to stop it,” said Isabel.
Flying Kites
It was a beautiful, breezy day.
“Let’s make kites and fly them,” said Isabel. Everyone went home to make their kites, then returned to the meadow.
Isabel’s kite looked like a big diamond.
Wendy’s kite looked like a little diamond.
Ben’s kite looked like a bat.
“Where is Max?” asked Wendy.
“Here I am,” said a voice under a giant kite.
“Isn’t that a little big?” asked Isabel.
“The bigger the better,” said Max.
They launched their kites into the air. Isabel’s kite danced in big circles. Wendy’s kite danced in little circles. Ben’s kite darted back and forth.
Max’s kite went WHOOMPH and lifted him into the air!
“HELP!” he called.
“Don’t let go,” shouted Isabel. She raced up a tree to grab her brother. He sailed by, right above her.
“HEEELP!” shouted Max.
Isabel had an idea.
“Quickly,” she said to the others, “hand me the strings to your kites.” Isabel grabbed the strings. The kites lifted her into the air.
Isabel’s big diamond kite carried her high. Wendy’s little diamond kite pulled her fast. Ben’s bat kite steered her back and forth.
She soon caught up to Max.
“Got you!” she said.
Isabel let go of her kite, and they dropped a little lower. Then she let go of Wendy’s kite, and they slowed down. When she let go of Ben’s kite, she and Max floated to the ground.
“That was way too scary!” said Max, and he went home.
“There’s still a good breeze,” said Ben. “Let’s go fly our kites!”
Isabel’s kite danced in big circles. Wendy’s kite danced in little circles. Ben’s kite darted back and forth. Max arrived with his new kite. It was so small, they could hardly see it.
“I’m not taking any chances,” he said. They spent the rest of the day with kites in the air and feet on the ground.
Bunjitsu Bunny vs. the Germs
Isabel had a bad cold. Her nose was stuffy. Her throat was scratchy. Betsy brought some warm soup to help her feel better.
“Colds are caused by germs in your body,” said Betsy. “When they are gone, you will feel better.”
“I wish I was small enough to chase them out,” said Isabel.
Betsy laughed. “If anyone could, Bunjitsu Bunny could,” she said, and went home.
Isabel fell asleep. She dreamed she was a tiny Bunjitsu Bunny. In front of her was an army of germs.
“Okay, germs,” she said. “It is time to leave.”
“We like it here,” said the germs.
Tiny Bunjitsu Bunny kicked the germs. Her feet bounced right off them.
“Ha, ha, ha!” laughed the germs. “Bunjitsu Bunny is tickling us!”
Tiny Bunjitsu Bunny pounded the germs with mighty bunjitsu punches. Her fists bounced right off them.
“Hee, hee, hee!” laughed the germs. “More tickles from Bunjitsu Bunny.”
Tiny Bunjitsu Bunny leapt onto the germs. She bounced right off them.
“Ho, ho, ho!” laughed the germs. “It’s a bouncing Bunjitsu Bunny!”
Maybe hitting fast and hard is not the answer, thought Tiny Bunjitsu Bunny. She walked slowly up to a germ and gently placed her paws on it. Then she gave it a push. The germ fell backward!
“AHA!” she said.
She pushed and pushed the germs. They could not stop her. She saw light up ahead and pushed them toward it.
“NOOOOOO!” cried the germs.
“OUT!” shouted Tiny Isabel.
Suddenly Big Isabel sneezed. She opened her eyes and sat up. Her nose was no longer stuffy. Her throat was no longer scratchy. The germs were gone!
Bunjitsu Bunny shook her fist in the air. “And STAY out!” she said.
Snowy Owl
A big snowstorm came in the night. The next morning, Isabel saw an owl in the distance.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
The owl opened her eyes. “I am Snowy Owl,” she said. “I live in the far, far north, but I got lost in the storm. I am so worried about my family, but I am too tired to fly home.”
Isabel thought a moment. “How long did it take you to fly here?” she asked.
“Two days and a night,” said Snowy.
“Hmmm. Then it should take a week to walk,” said Isabel.
“I can’t walk, either,” said Snowy.
“But I can,” said Isabel. “I will be right back.”
Isabel returned with her sled. She helped Snowy aboard and began her journey. For two days, Isabel marched through the frosty meadow. Snowy Owl slept. At night, Isabel made a shelter out of snow. Isabel slept. Snowy slept some more.
On days three and four, Isabel pulled Snowy through a wintry forest and across a frozen lake. Snowy Owl slept. At night, Isabel made a shelter out of snow. Isabel slept. Snowy slept some more.
On days five and six, Isabel pushed through a snow-filled valley and crossed an icy bridge. Snowy Owl slept. At night, Isabel made a shelter out of snow. Isabel slept. Snowy slept some more.
On day seven, they crossed snow-covered mountains. Isabel pulled Snowy up the hills and rode with her down the hills. She was too tired to enjoy the ride. At night, she made a shelter out of snow. Isabel slept and slept and slept. Snowy flew off.
Isabel woke up in the evening. Four owl faces looked down at her.
“You found your family!” she said.
“Thanks to you!” said Snowy. “And now we will take you home.”
The owls helped Isabel onto her sled and carried her through the winter sky. Isabel slept the whole way.
* * *
All Bunjitsu students must do their best to follow the rules of Bunjitsu. If you wish to learn this art, you must read this and sign your name at the bottom.
I promise to:
• Practice my art until I am good at it. And then keep practicing.
• Never start a fight.
• Do all I can to avoid a fight.
• Help those who need me.
• Study the world.
• Learn from those who know more than I do.
• Share what I love.
• Find what makes me laugh, and laugh loudly. And often.
• Make someone smile every day.
• Keep my body strong and healthy.
• Try things that are hard for me to do.
* * *
About the Author
John Himmelman is the author and illustrator of more than seventy-five books for children, including the Bunjitsu Bunny books, Chickens to the Rescue, and Duck to the Rescue. As a martial arts student and instructor, he has a lot of experience with the human version of bunjitsu. He lives in Connecticut with his artist wife, Betsy. You can sign up for email updates here.
Thank you for buying this
Henry Holt and Company ebook.
> To receive special offers, bonus content,
and info on new releases and other great reads,
sign up for our newsletters.
Or visit us online at
us.macmillan.com/newslettersignup
For email updates on the author, click here.
Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Isabel
Listen
Bunjitsu Bunny vs. Bunjitsu Bunny
Carrot Contest
Rolling Race
Falling Leaves
Shooting Star
Little Footprints
Invisible Bunny
The Wind
Flying Kites
Bunjitsu Bunny vs. the Germs
Snowy Owl
The Bunjitsu Code
About the Author
Copyright
Copyright © 2017 by John Himmelman
Henry Holt and Company, Publishers since 1866
Henry Holt® is a registered trademark of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010 • mackids.com
All rights reserved.
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition of this book.
Our eBooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at (800) 221-7945 ext. 5442 or by e-mail at [email protected].
eISBN 9781250139764
First hardcover edition 2017
eBook edition October 2017
Bunjitsu Bunny vs. Bunjitsu Bunny Page 2
