The Rabbits

The Rabbits (2003), written by John Marsden and illustrated by Shaun Tan, tells the story of a group of rabbits who arrive in a land already inhabited by native creatures. At first, the newcomers seem strange but not immediately threatening. Soon, however, more rabbits arrive, building houses, roads, factories, and machines that transform the landscape. They take control of the land, use its resources, introduce new animals, and force the native inhabitants to change their way of life. When the native creatures try to resist, they are defeated, and even their children are taken away. As the environment becomes increasingly damaged and familiar places disappear, the inhabitants mourn what they have lost. The story follows the gradual destruction of their land and culture, presenting colonization from the perspective of those who are invaded and displaced.