Fun Facts!
Fun Facts and Interesting Info
CHAPTER NOTES:
Information and Resources for Parents, Teachers and Readers
Chapter 1—Bunnies and Water
The Bensons did not invite BiBi to swim and canoe on the lake. They knew that bunnies are very afraid of being immersed in water and can actually go into shock. The House Rabbit Society can tell you much more about rabbit care in general and more about rabbits’ fear of submersion in water. You can also learn some more about rabbits at https://www.dictionary.com/e/rabbit-bunny-hare
Chapter 2-Maps Are Important
At the playground, BiBi sits on a park bench, unfolds a map… and comes up with a plan!
Chapter 2-Playground Activities
There are lots of things happening behind BiBi’s bench. Many playgrounds have special areas with games to play, like potsy/hopscotch, skelly, boxball… Click on the link for pictures and rules!
Chapter 3—Konijn Eiland=Coney Island=Rabbit Island
Both Wikipedia and Explore Brooklyn—a registered trademark of The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce—agree with BiBi’s family (The Bensons) that in the 1600’s the Dutch called the island either ‘Conyne Eylandt’ or ‘Konijn Eiland’ because they found so many rabbits living there. The names translate to ‘Rabbit Island’ and Coney Island is likely the English version of the Dutch.
Even today, one of the definitions of coney is “rabbit.” See: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coney
But, how did Brooklyn get its name???
Brooklyn was originally called Breuckelen, which means “Broken Land” in Dutch. You can find out what streets or neighborhoods in the United States have Dutch names by clicking on the Wikipedia link below and then clicking on your state.
Chapter 3—What Kind of Bunnies? What Did They Look Like?
The rabbits that the explorers first saw were known as Eastern “cottontail” rabbits, due to the white, cotton-like underside of their tails.
Learn more at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottontail_rabbit
Chapter 4—What BiBi Saw at the New York Aquarium
Click on the link to take a look at some of the fish, animals and other sea creatures (especially the sharks) that enthralled BiBi.
Chapter 4—Boardwalk “Eats”
“Nathan’s Famous” really IS famous worldwide! Learn more about Nathan’s history, hot dogs and annual contest!
Chapter 5—The Bunny Hop
If you would like to watch or listen to the song that the lady on the subway was humming to BiBi, just search for “The Bunny Hop” on a computer or smartphone. YouTube has several videos and recordings, including: Disney's Dance Along – The Bunny Hop, as well as other dance videos at Disney venues. Wikipedia can also tell you more about the history of this popular song and dance at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunny_hop_(dance). The button below will take you to a YouTube video clip on the wiki site.
Chapter 6—Mummies!!! The Brooklyn Museum is Famous for Them!
Chapter 6—What is a Peaceable Kingdom without “Peaceful” Bunnies?
So many children and animals…
but not a bunny in sight!
Chapter 6—What BiBi “Didn’t” See at The Brooklyn Museum
There are many photographs, paintings and objects that can viewed by searching the Museum’s collection online and keying in “rabbit.” Some of these pieces will likely be on display at future special exhibits. Keep looking and counting! (BiBi will too!)
It is easy to miss this little section of a painting that contains a tree stump with a cozy rabbit nest within.
Can you find this?
If you are able to get to the Brooklyn Museum of Art, see if you can find this little nest of three cottontails!
Chapter 7—Rabbits in the Garden?
Yes, “cottontail” rabbits were living in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden for many, many years. Are they still there? — We can’t be sure, but maybe you’ll be lucky and see one if you visit!
Visit The Children’s Garden!
Two bunnies!!! They are “up close” in the image below…
Chapter 7—Some Plants and Herbs that Rabbits Like to Eat
QUEEN ANNE’S LACE
This is a type of wild carrot and it’s no surprise that it is BiBi’s favorite. The flowers are beautiful, the leaves are tender and feathery, and the roots look like small white carrots!
Some other flowering plants and herbs that rabbits enjoy are: Clover, Chamomile, Fennel, Dill, Anise and Parsley.
Chapter 7—Brooklyn’s Flower
Forsythia (pronounced: for-sith-ee-uh) was named the official flower of Brooklyn by Borough President Cashmore on March 18, 1940. For more information and images about Brooklyn and forsythia, click the Brooklyn Public Library link below:
And click below for more general information about the flower…
Chapter 7—Brooklyn’s Famous People: The Celebrity Path
Here is are some images of the famous Brooklynites whose names you can see on The Celebrity Path.
(Hi! This is Moira…
It’s pretty easy to see who one of my favorite Brooklyn icons is:
JUDGE JUDITH SHEINDLIN!!!)
For baseball, music and comedy fans… Brooklyn has given us some of the “greats!”
Following is a random list of some of the famous Brooklynites whose names you can see on The Celebrity Path. They include poets, actors, comedians, musicians, singers, directors, composers, artists/illustrators, scientists, sports legends… [and my own favorite: Judge Judy!]
Woody Allen
Lauren Bacall
Eubie Blake
Mel Brooks
Harry Chapin
Neil Diamond
George Gershwin
Woody Guthrie
Lena Horne
Harry Houdini
The Howard Brothers: Moe, Curly, and Shemp (a.k.a. the Three Stooges)
Carole King
Arthur Miller
Mary Tyler Moore
Joseph Papp
Rosie Perez
Joan Rivers
Jackie Robinson
Carl Sagan
Maurice Sendak
Judge Judy Sheindlin
Jerry Stiller
Barbra Streisand
Mae West
Walt Whitman
“Each celebrity honored has his or her name embedded in a colored paver decorated with a stylized leaf outline in bronze.
“Each paver also contains a bronze medallion of the Brooklyn Bridge, encircled by the phrase ‘The Greatness of Brooklyn Is Its People.’ New names are periodically added to Celebrity Path.” (Excerpted from the BBG website)
