This story was based on a true incident that happened in the summer of 2007 and was written and illustrated by a lovely lady who reads my blog called Jill. It was one of Amy's favourite stories for quite a few years and I still love leafing through the bound copy of the story that Jill so kindly sent me.
If you're sitting comfortably, then we'll begin...
Little Cotton rabbit was waiting. "Knit me! Knit me" she thought.
All the rabbits, bears, pandas and foxes hiding in the wool were excited.
"Pick me! Pick me!" Little Cotton Rabbit wished so hard her nose began to twitch (which isn't easy in the middle of a ball of wool!)
Julie began to knit. She knitted and knitted. Very, very soon Little Cotton Rabbit had ears, eyes, a nose and a very happy smile.
"Pink shoes! Pink shoes!" Little Cotton Rabbit wished so hard her toes began to tap (which isn't easy when your shoes are being knitted!)
Julie put her clever fingers into the bag of wool.
"Dots! Dots! Polka dots!" wished Little Cotton Rabbit.
Very, very soon Little Cotton Rabbit dreams of pink shoes and a dotty dress came true!
Little Cotton Rabbit sat with all the friends Julie had knitted. They waited. It was such a special day.
"Pick me! Pick me!" Little Cotton Rabbit thought. She sat very, very still (which isn't easy when an adventure is about to begin!)
Julie looked for a rabbit to send to America.
"Pick pink polka dots!" thought Little Cotton Rabbit, "with pink shoes!" She wished so hard her nose twitched and her toes tapped (which isn't easy when you're trying to sit still!)
Julie wrapped Little Cotton Rabbit up in crinkly tissue paper and tied a beautiful bow with ribbons to keep Little Cotton Rabbit safe. Very, very carefully Little Cotton Rabbit was put into a white comfy parcel.
Little Cotton Rabbit snuggled down in her crinkly package. She tried to be brave (which isn't easy when your comfy parcel is being squashed with things called labels!)
All the little cotton friends were ready for their adventures. Little woolly giggles snuffled from the parcels as Julie left them in the Post Office. Julie felt sad. So did all the little cotton friends. "Bye" said Julie and went home. Her fingers were itching to start knitting more Little Cotton friends.
Very, very soon, little woolly snores could be heard as the friends fell asleep. The Post Office worked hard to send all the parcels on their way.
Little Cotton Rabbit wasn't asleep. What was America? What would it be like? Little Cotton Rabbit was very, very excited.
"Bye Julie" she said in a little woolly voice. Pink shoes, dotty dress, how happy Little Cotton Rabbit was (which is easy when you've been knitted with love!)
BUMP, BUMP. Little Cotton Rabbit tumbled down into the Post Van jumbled with boxes and parcels. Little woolly snores could still be heard if you listened very, very carefully.Little Cotton Rabbit felt safe and happy (which isn't easy when your nose is being squished by a box!)
It was very quiet now. Little Cotton Rabbit yawned a little woolly yawn. "Where am I? America is very, very quiet" she thought. She wished and wished Julie was there.
Pink shoes, dotty dress, all knitted with love. Little Cotton Rabbit was a little bit frightened. She'd never been anywhere so quiet! Little Cotton Rabbit tried to be brave (which isn't easy when there are no woolly giggles, sniffles and snores to be heard!)
BANG. Doors opened. Little Cotton Rabbit's parcel was bounced along. Noisy engines with smelly smoke made Little Cotton Rabbit cough a little woolly cough. America waited.
Very, very soon, little cotton friends began to send e-mails to Julie. They had all arrived safely. Nothing was heard from Little Cotton Rabbit.
It was very, very dark in the parcel. Lots of banging and shouting made Little Cotton Rabbit give a little woolly shiver. Inside the crinkly paper Julie had so carefully wrapped around Little Cotton Rabbit, a little woolly tear began.Little Cotton rabbit tried to shout, "Help! Help!" but without her little cotton friends no one could hear her.
"I'm a brave Little Cotton Rabbit with pink shoes and a dotty dress and Julie loves me" whispered Little Cotton Rabbit (but it isn't easy to be brave when a little cotton rabbit is all on its own!)
Very, very far away in America the lady was waiting for Little Cotton Rabbit. She emailed Julie.
"Oh, no! Our Little Cotton Rabbit is lost!" said Julie to her children. It had never happened before. A lost little cotton rabbit!!
A new little cotton rabbit was soon on its way to America and the lady loved her.
Little Cotton Rabbit was all alone.
"Pink shoes, dotty dress, I'm a brave Little Cotton Rabbit knitted with love" thought Little Cotton Rabbit (but she wished Julie was there to find her!)
BANG. Doors opened. Little Cotton Rabbit's parcel was bounced along. Noisy engines with smelly smoke made Little Cotton Rabbit cough a little woolly cough.
Little Cotton Rabbit was lost. No one knew where she was. The lady in America was happy with her new little cotton rabbit. All Little Cotton Rabbit's friends were happy in their new homes. Poor Little Cotton Rabbit. She shed a little woolly tear and gave a little woolly sniff. All alone.
Julie was busy. Making jam, watching a little mouse playing in the garden, playing in the sea with her children, jumping in the waves (but she often thought of Little Cotton Rabbit and hoped she was happy!)
Little Cotton Rabbit wasn't happy. She dried her little woolly tears and said "Pink shoes, dotty dress, I'm a brave Little Cotton Rabbit knitted with love!" She tapped her toes and twitched her nose (which as you know isn't easy wrapped up in crinkly paper and tied with ribbons)
A big woolly sneeze began in Little Cotton Rabbit's twitching nose. "Ah, aah, AAAH TISHOO!" Little Cotton Rabbit's parcel began to fall.
"Help!" she shouted through woolly sneezes and squished up nose. "Help!" she shouted through little woolly sobs and tears.
BUMP! BANG! Little Cotton Rabbit's parcel fell to the floor. "OOOOHH!" whispered Little Cotton rabbit, who didn't know what was happening.
Doors opened. Little Cotton Rabbit found herself flying through the air! BUMP! Into a post van jumbled with boxes and parcels. Noisy engines with smelly smoke made Little Cotton Rabbit cough a little woolly cough.Little Cotton rabbit sighed a little woolly sigh. She snuggled into the crinkly paper, her eyes closed......
A big basket full of giggling little cotton friends. A hug from Amy, sounds of Toby playing in the garden. What a wonderful dream! Little Cotton Rabbit smiled a special Little Cotton Rabbit smile. Dreams were wonderful.................
The Post Van went along the street.
BUMP! BUMP! BANG! Doors opened. Little Cotton Rabbit slept on.
KNOCK! KNOCK! on a door.
"OH! LOOK! It's the lost parcel!"
Little Cotton Rabbit woke up. She was very excited! That was Julie's voice! Julie opened the parcel and untied the paper and ribbons. There sat Little Cotton Rabbit with a very, very special Little Cotton Rabbit smile. She was a bit squashed, but safe and sound after all!
Little Cotton Rabbit tried to tell Julie all about being lost. Amy gave Little Cotton Rabbit a big hug, Toby could be heard playing in the garden (which just goes to show dreams do come true!)
Julie took a picture of Little Cotton Rabbit. "Pink shoes, dotty dress, all knitted with love" thought Little Cotton Rabbit, glad to be safe. Lots of little cotton giggles came from a basket.
"Home" said Julie "no more adventures for you!"
Little Cotton Rabbit sighed a big woolly sigh. She smiled a special Little Cotton Rabbit smile. Adventure over! (For now!)
