Rabbit Who Wants to Go to Harvard by Zeldar the Great

The Rabbit Who Wants To Go To Harvard
By “Zeldar the Great” with help from Diana Holquist and Christopher Eliopoulos

Penguin Young Readers

 

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“. . . intended audience is adults . . .”

Its intended audience is adults, namely parents who are obsessed with getting their young child into an Ivy League school such as Harvard, but mostly it’s written for adults who enjoy making fun of this insane obsession. When viewed as a parody, this whimsically illustrated picture book delivers snarky laughs at the expense of over-achieving parents everywhere who force their children into doing ridiculous things in order to reach Mom and Dad’s goals instead of simply being allowed to act like an ordinary kid.

Ronald Rabbit, the protagonist, isn’t allowed to take long naps or play games like other preschoolers. His alcoholic, social-climbing mother makes him constantly study and cram for Harvard entrance exams. They meet coaches who are supposed to help Ronald get into Harvard. He is given stimulants to stay awake to study more that make him feel sick. Ronald and his mother are sent to Kollege Koach Kitty, and they pay her great sums of money to tell him the secrets of becoming an Ivy Leaguer. But even after all the cramming and bootlicking, Ronald is rejected. He hopes he can return to his crayons and coloring books, but of course, Mommy Rabbit has new plans for him to attend Stanford Medical School instead.

The Rabbit Who Wants To Go To Harvard is a one gag book which may appeal to readers who resent the stress their status-conscience parents put them through in order to get them into college.

Reviewer: Cindy A. Matthews