The Highly Sensitive Rabbit – A Tale for Young Highly Sensitives
It’s not often that I come across a children’s book that so beautifully captures the inner world of a highly sensitive, but The Highly Sensitive Rabbit does just that. Written by Judith Orloff and Jennifer Adams and illustrated with gentle, expressive pictures by Katy Tanis, this gem of a story feels like a warm hug for our little HSCs who feel deeply, notice everything, absorb the feelings of those around them and sometimes just need a quiet space to process their world.
Meet Aurora, The Highly Sensitive Rabbit
Aurora is a tiny desert cottontail who lives in the Sonoran Desert. She loves the beauty of the landscape around her, the warmth and the scents of her desert home.
But when her siblings play their rough and tumble games, when they are all gathered together in the hollow, Aurora feels overwhelmed. When a storm comes to the desert and her siblings flee, she instead freezes to the spot and worries about all the other animals in the desert. Will they be safe? In the aftermath, Aurora bumps into other animals who share tips with her to help her when her sensitive nature makes her feel sad, overwhelmed and exhausted. These are tips that your children can use too.
Relatable for Our HSCs
Whether it’s too much noise at school, worrying about friends or family, or unexpected changes in routine, many highly sensitive children will see themselves in Aurora’s as her story unfolds.
What I love about The Highly Sensitive Rabbit is its empowering approach to sensitivity. Aurora is wonderfully tuned in to the world around her, so much more than her siblings. She sees the beauty and the struggles, and when she learns to gently express her own needs to her family, the story shifts from one of struggle to one of acceptance and quiet confidence. Both self-acceptance and acceptance from those around her.
The final pages offer a lovely introduction to the animals and fauna mentioned in the book, which I know animal lovers will adore. This is a perfect book for reading aloud at bedtime or snuggling together during quiet time.
This book would be a wonderful addition to any home or classroom where emotional awareness is given the importance it deserves. For parents of highly sensitive children, The Highly Sensitive Rabbit is more than just a story — it’s a gentle reminder that sensitivity is not something to fix, but something to honour and embrace.
Tip: Looking for more books perfect for HSCs? Read: 18 Perfect Books for Highly Sensitive Children or check out the Happy Sensitive Kids store on Amazon.com
*For your convenience, this post includes affiliate links to products useful for the HSK community. They cost you nothing more to buy, but I may get a small commission, which goes towards costs to keep the HSK site running.*
