Bunny Brown and his Sister Sue Giving a Show

In Short

This is a gentle, wholesome relic of early 20th-century children’s literature. It follows Bunny and Sue Brown, young children in a coastal town, as they organize a theatrical performance to aid the Red Cross. The narrative is a series of small, domestic adventures involving pets, neighborhood friends, and a pair of stranded child actors. It has endured as a classic of the "series book" genre, celebrated for its simple moral clarity, its focus on community cooperation, and its depiction of a safe, imaginative childhood world where every problem finds a tidy resolution.

The Story

The story begins in the seaside town of Bellemere, where Bunny Brown and his sister Sue live with their parents and a kind relative, Uncle Tad. Always looking for an activity, the children decide to put on a "real" theatrical play to raise money for the Red Cross. They recruit their neighborhood friends, transforming a room above the family garage into their rehearsal space. Their plans are soon bolstered by the arrival of Mart and Lucile Clayton, a brother-and-sister duo who were part of a traveling vaudeville troupe that recently disbanded. The children are also joined by Mr. Treadwell, a veteran actor who helps them structure their play, titled "Down on the Farm."

As the rehearsals progress, the town becomes a hub of activity. The children navigate various mishaps: Bunny gets stuck in a farm trough while practicing his "farmer boy" act, and a monkey named Wango—the pet of a local sailor, Jed Winkler—continually disrupts the neighborhood. Despite these distractions, the group works diligently. Mart and Lucile, who are essentially orphans searching for their missing relatives, find a supportive home with the Browns. The tension of their search provides an emotional anchor to the story; the children hold onto the hope that the holiday season will bring them news of their kin.

As Christmas approaches, the excitement reaches a fever pitch. A local hardware store owner, Mr. Raymond, provides a hall for the performance, and a friend, Charlie Star, uses an old printing press to create tickets. The big day arrives, and the hall is packed with parents and neighbors. The play itself is a chaotic success, featuring singing, somersaults, and the participation of the children's pets, including Splash the dog and a rooster named Peter.

The climax occurs just before the final act. As the children prepare for the closing song, Mr. Winkler arrives with a telegram for Mr. Brown. With the performance paused, the audience learns that the telegram contains the news Mart and Lucile have been waiting for: their missing family member, their blind uncle, has been located. The revelation brings the play to a joyous, triumphant conclusion. The children celebrate not only the success of their charity performance but the restoration of the young actors' family. The book ends on a note of perfect contentment, reinforcing the idea that kindness and hard work lead to the best possible outcomes.

How It Unfolds

The impulse to perform Bunny and Sue decide to move beyond simple make-believe games and organize a formal stage play to raise money for the Red Cross. They gather their friends in a garage loft, discussing potential acts that include trained animals, gymnastics, and singing.

The arrival of the professionals The children meet Mart and Lucile, two young traveling performers who have been left behind by their troupe. With the guidance of an actor named Mr. Treadwell, these newcomers help the neighborhood children refine their amateur production.

Rehearsals and disruptions The preparation process involves learning lines, building scenery, and managing a series of small, humorous crises. A mischievous monkey named Wango provides constant, lighthearted trouble, stealing wigs and raiding kitchens while the children try to focus on their "farm play."

The show goes on On Christmas afternoon, the community gathers at the new hall to watch the children perform. The play is a lively, messy, and endearing spectacle that keeps the audience entertained, even when the rooster deviates from the script.

The telegram of hope During the intermission, a telegram arrives that changes the lives of the two young actors. The discovery of their long-lost uncle ensures the story ends with the emotional reunion the children had been praying for.

The People

Bunny Brown is the quintessential curious boy, eager to organize, act, and occasionally get himself into physical scrapes, such as becoming trapped in a trough. His sister, Sue, is his energetic, supportive partner; she is sensitive to the needs of others and serves as the emotional heart of their projects.

Mart and Lucile Clayton are the "Happy Day Twins," the professional child actors who anchor the play. Mart is an agile acrobat who teaches the other children tricks, while Lucile provides the singing voice for the troupe. They are stoic and kind, hiding their loneliness while searching for their family.

Mr. Treadwell is the mentor figure. A former actor, he provides the technical knowledge needed to pull the show together, transitioning from a struggling professional to a valued member of the Brown household.

Finally, there is the supporting cast of the town: the grumpy but soft-hearted Miss Winkler, the eccentric sailor Jed Winkler, and the mischievous monkey Wango. Each character occupies a specific, comfortable archetype, serving to reinforce the book’s themes of community and the importance of helping those in need.

In Its Own Voice

Describing the spirit of the young performers as they prepare for their big day:

"Now, girls and fellows," said Bunny, as he stood in front of the crowd of his playmates, who were seated on old boxes, broken chairs, and other things stored away in the garage, "we're going to get up a show to make money for the Red Cross."

Describing the excitement of printing the tickets for the show:

"It's tickets!" exclaimed Bunny. "Tickets for our show! Charlie printed 'em on his printing press!"

Describing the gentle, snowy atmosphere of the children’s rides:

The white flakes sifted down, like feathers from a big goose flying high in the air, the bells on the Shetland pony jingled, and Bunny and Sue thought that never had they been so happy.

What It's Really About

At its core, the book is an exploration of the power of civic-mindedness and the security of a tight-knit community. It asks what happens when children move from solitary play to collaborative effort, suggesting that acting for a "higher purpose"—even a child’s interpretation of charity—creates a sense of belonging. The narrative argues that the world is a fundamentally safe place where adults act as benevolent guardians and where even the most daunting challenges, like the displacement of the Clayton siblings, can be resolved through patience and communal effort. It is a defense of the "wholesome" life, emphasizing that industry and kindness are the primary virtues required to navigate childhood.

Why Read It Today

Readers today will find a reading experience that feels like a trip to a museum of an older, vanished domestic life. Those who enjoy sentimental, gentle fiction will find comfort in the children's boundless optimism and the absence of any real malice. However, a modern reader must be prepared for the book's period limitations. The prose is simple to the point of repetition, and the attitudes toward charity, "tramp" characters, and gender roles are deeply rooted in the sensibilities of 1919. There are also frequent, outdated references to dialect or social structures that reflect the era's prejudices.

Despite these artifacts, the book retains a charm for those interested in the history of children’s media. It captures the specific, heightened excitement of childhood—the feeling that a neighborhood garage can be a grand theater and a homemade ticket can be the most precious thing in the world. Reading it feels like looking through an old, sepia-toned photograph; it is not a complex piece of literature, but it offers a glimpse into a time when the world was made to feel small, safe, and manageable by the people who populated it. If you want a story that prioritizes kindness and a happy ending above all else, this will stay with you as a warm, if simplified, memory.