I loved this as someone who also has a very sensitive rabbit I will be purchasing the physical copy and adding it to the regular bedtime rotation! I also loved at the end it gives facts about the plants and animals shown in the book. On top of a very good message the illustrations are beautiful.

A beautiful tale of acceptance, both accepting oneself and how to communicate to others. Love the animal representations, and ofc LOVE the graphics and how cute everything is too!

I read this book with my 7 y/o son and he loved it, because it had rabbits and plants.
We loved the way the illustrations showed the beauty of the Sonoran Desert. We also loved how the text dealt with Aurora's feelings and showed different ways for her to deal with her situation. The information sections about the Sonoran plants and animals were a great addition. Overall and excellent, charming, and informative read. 4.5 stars

A Gentle Guide for Highly Sensitive Hearts.

The Highly Sensitive Rabbit, by Judith Orloff and Jennifer Adams, is a poignant and beautifully crafted picture book that offers a vital message for children—and adults—who feel things deeply. The story introduces Aurora, a highly sensitive rabbit whose family tells her she's "too sensitive." But after a flood destroys her home, she finds friends who are also sensitive, and together they learn to embrace their unique traits.
This book stands out for its unique and important theme. Based on the teachings of Dr. Judith Orloff, it provides children with practical, easy-to-learn skills like self-care, setting boundaries, and using breathing techniques to help them thrive. It reframes sensitivity as a strength, not a weakness, and shows young readers how to navigate their emotions in a healthy way.
The storytelling is gentle yet powerful, and is complemented by a truly stunning visual experience. The illustrations by Katy Tanis are very attractive and engaging, making the book a joy to read. The artwork not only brings Aurora’s world to life but also enhances the emotional weight of the story. Additionally, the book includes a non-fiction section about plants and animals, adding an educational bonus.
Overall, The Highly Sensitive Rabbit is an essential read for any family. It is a compassionate and empowering guide that teaches children to connect with themselves and the world around them while fully embracing who they are.

I loved this book! As a preschool teacher, this is a great resource for helping children understand their big feelings and what comes with them. We can all be sensitive at times, and this book offers some great ideas for how to approach these times in a way that is easy for children to understand. After reading this book in class, we could talk about and practice some of the methods in the book, as well as discuss times when we like to be alone. The illustrations are amazing as well, filling up each page and setting the scene for the story. Finally, I really loved how to end of the book talked about the plants and animals seen in the story and stayed true to the region it is set in. I can't wait to purchase a physical copy for my classroom upon release.

This was such a beautiful and heartfelt book. The illustrations were absolutely stunning, bringing a sense of magic and wonder to the desert setting. I loved how the story gently conveyed that it’s okay to be sensitive, while also offering meaningful ways to cope with overwhelming emotions.

I was especially pleased to see the theme of setting boundaries included—it’s such an important message, and one that everyone can benefit from. Overall, this book was both visually captivating and emotionally resonant.

Omg I want this book for me!!!!! And my little sister of course. We both have really sensitive hearts and I could see us in Aurora. I love how colorful this book is, it uses very vibrant colors but it doesn't clash. I also love how the book had different kinds of animals that were beautifully drawn. The little info page at the end of all the fauna + some flora was a pleasant surprise. I didn't expect it—and I liked it! it's interesting to learn about the new stuff we see.

Overall, I liked the message and the illustrations. Little kids have short attention spans, so I found each paragraph to be a sentence or two too long. I really loved how the author included the information page about the animals and plants. I don’t usually see that it was a nice surprise.

I enjoyed seeing the emotions of Auora, I do think kid’s and adults could take a few things from this book. I definitely do think older children though, it did get a bit wordy. The illustration was beautiful!

Aurora is a desert cottontail and she has a lot of emotions. She is sensitive, and enjoys spending time alone. Some situations are just to overwhelming for her, and it seems as if her family does not understand how she is feeling or why she is feeling this way. Aurora meets different animals that give her advice about how to handle her emotions and help her feel better. This would be a very helpful book for any child who is having trouble processing big emotions.

This book is adorable! The other animals suggesting coping strategies for Aurora the rabbit is so wholesome. And I appreciate the nonfiction section in the back of the book for when my kid points at an unfamiliar plant and asks what it is.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sounds True Publishing for an eARC of this book! This is my honest review.

This is a tender story and one I appreciate as a sensitive person myself. I liked how the story explored different tactics and techniques and that it normalized the experience of being sensitive, which can make you feel alienated at times. I do wish there had been a bit more time spent on aurora's relationship with her family, and also the line about how she didn't help her family out because she was too ovewhelmed thinking about how others were faring—that seemed like an interesting moment to me that was quickly glossed over. But overall, I think this is a good conversation starter and resource.

A gentle gem of a picture book! The Highly Sensitive Rabbit combines gorgeous, colourful illustrations with a thoughtful, respectful approach to managing anxiety and sensitivity. The story is simple, sweet, and easy to follow. Perfect for Kindergarten to Year 4 aged children and easily linked to PDHPE curriculum content. The practical strategies suggested by the animal friends can be easily applied to real-life situations. A reassuring read kids will want to revisit. I also loved the flora and fauna information in the back.

Beautiful story with pictures that jup out of the page. I also enjoyed the part at the end desribing all the different animals present in the sonora desert. I feel like the story could have been a bit more interactive and engaging for smaller children.

As a highly sensitive mom, I deeply appreciated The Highly Sensitive Rabbit, written by Judith Orloff and Jennifer Adams, with beautiful illustrations by Katy Tanis. Recommended for children ages 4 to 8, this thoughtful story follows Aurora, a rabbit who is an empath learning to navigate and regulate her emotions after a flash flood devastates her family home.

Aurora’s journey is both relatable and insightful, especially for children who may struggle with intense feelings and whose families might not fully understand or know how to support them. What stands out is how Aurora thoughtfully seeks guidance from her desert friends, discovering various coping techniques and ultimately finding what works best for her unique emotional needs. This approach offers a compassionate, empowering message for young readers about self-awareness and emotional resilience.

The illustrations are simply stunning. Katy Tanis’s artwork beautifully captures the warmth and vulnerability of the story, with a cover design that would catch anyone’s eye, even if the title or subject were different.

While the narrative focuses on emotional regulation, the educational material at the back of the book expands on broader topics beyond emotions and self-awareness, which I found both refreshing and valuable. This additional content provides parents and educators with useful tools and insights, enriching the book’s overall impact.

I highly recommend The Highly Sensitive Rabbit for families, educators, and anyone seeking to foster empathy and emotional intelligence in young children.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Great way to introduce these concepts to kids. Beautiful illustration. Felt a bit light on the actual story and set up
.

I wish I had a book like this when I was younger! One of the authors, Judith Orloff, is a UCLA psychiatrist, so there is thoughtful representation of situations that a highly sensitive or empathic child may encounter, especially in regards to being bullied about being too sensitive. It was also wonderful that the highly sensitive rabbit found support in the community wherever she looked, which brings hope and an uplifting message into the story. One of my favorite new children’s book.

Special thanks to Sounds True Publishing and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest, independent review.

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of The Highly Sensitive Rabbit by Judith Orloff; Jennifer Adams.
Pros: The storyline is emotionally relatable. The emotions of the highly sensitive rabbit coping with the chaotic overwhelming surroundings is felt throughout the story. The techniques advised by other empathetic animals are informative and therapeutically beneficial for the young minds. Also the bonus informations about the animals and plants in the Sonorsn desert was amusing. Coming to the illustrations, they were vibrant yet soothing. I just loved the illustrations.
Cons: The tiny writing is very difficult to read especially for the adults readingfor the kids. It was straining for my eyes despite wearing my glasses.

We did not like this story and couldn't finish it. The pictures were nice though. We just thought that the story was a little every where.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sounds True Publishing for providing an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

My son and I read this together and thought it was so adorable! It is a sweet book about a very sensitive bunny, Aurora, and the coping mechanisms that she learns from others - because she isn't alone in feeling this way. Such a beautiful message, I wish I had this book when I was little. And the art is lovely as well.

I'd recommend this book to any parent with little ones, and to classroom libraries.