Snubby Nose and Tippy Toes

In Short

This whimsical, episodic children’s story follows the parallel lives of Snubby Nose and Tippy Toes, two bunnies who are nearly indistinguishable despite their very different temperaments. While Snubby Nose is prone to fits of crying and howling, the polite Tippy Toes dances his way through life, bringing gifts and song to the elders, Bunny and Susan Cotton-Tail. Through a series of surreal winter adventures involving talking animals, magic seeds, and a traveling circus, the book illustrates the triumph of kindness over grumbling, ultimately bringing the two young rabbits together.

The Story

The tale begins on a cold winter evening when Bunny and Susan Cotton-Tail discover a crying, stuck rabbit in a snowdrift: their grandson, Snubby Nose. Despite their efforts to soothe him with a hot bath, Snubby Nose remains inconsolable. The domestic quiet is interrupted by the arrival of Grandpa Grumbles, a grumpy, cane-wielding elder who travels with a green cotton umbrella. The household's tension rises when Snubby Nose accidentally falls down the stairs, only to be saved by the sudden arrival of Doctor Cotton-Tail, who mentions another young rabbit named Tippy Toes.

Tippy Toes, who lives elsewhere with his own parents, is the mirror image of Snubby Nose, yet he is remarkably polite and cheerful. While Snubby Nose spends his time howling at his reflection and lamenting his "ugly" nose, Tippy Toes dances and sings before his mirror, dreaming of visiting Bunny and Susan. Eventually, Tippy Toes sets out on a journey to find the elder rabbits. Along the way, he encounters the sly fox Bushy-Tail and is whisked off by Grandpa Grumbles, who repeatedly mistakes him for the crying Snubby Nose.

Upon arriving at the Cotton-Tail home, Tippy Toes wins over Bunny and Susan with presents and politeness. However, the household is soon beset by a series of chaotic interruptions, including a soot-filled chimney swept by the fox Bushy-Tail and a sudden, boisterous arrival of seventeen little bears who have become circus performers. Throughout these mishaps, the contrast between the two young rabbits persists: Snubby Nose howls, while Tippy Toes remains helpful and optimistic.

The narrative shifts to a series of grand spectacles. Grandpa Grumbles, now seemingly enchanted by his magical umbrella, takes the rabbits on flying adventures, eventually outwitting the fox Bushy-Tail by leaving him to swim in a lake. The climax brings everyone together for a grand circus parade. As the Seventeen Little Bears join the festivities, Snubby Nose and Tippy Toes finally unite, dancing together and realizing they are as alike as "two peas." The tension of the early chapters resolves into communal joy. The book concludes with the circus troupe, the elders, and the two young rabbits settling into a life of shared stories, magical gardens, and merry-go-round rides, leaving behind the grumbling and tears for a more festive, unified future.

How It Unfolds

The snowdrift rescue Bunny and Susan Cotton-Tail find their grandson, Snubby Nose, stuck in a snowdrift and bring him home to a warm fire. Despite their care, the little rabbit spends his time crying and howling, eventually falling down the stairs in a clumsy mishap.

The mirror’s secret Tippy Toes, a polite rabbit who looks identical to Snubby Nose, dances before his own mirror and decides to set out on a journey to find the Cotton-Tail household. He dreams of his destination and prepares his traveling bag, unaware that he will soon be confused for his crying counterpart.

Grandpa’s umbrella Grandpa Grumbles, an irascible but magical figure, carries Tippy Toes through the woods in his green cotton umbrella. He repeatedly insults the boy, mistaking him for the "careless" Snubby Nose, while the fox Bushy-Tail lurks in the background looking for opportunities to cause trouble.

The circus arrival The domestic life of Bunny and Susan is upended when the Seventeen Little Bears tumble into their home to announce they have become circus performers. Their presence brings a new, chaotic energy to the house, involving skating, cooking, and the promise of a grand parade.

The grand resolution The story culminates in a massive circus parade featuring a merry-go-round and the reconciliation of all characters. Snubby Nose and Tippy Toes finally meet and dance together, while Grandpa Grumbles abandons his grumbling, fully embracing the joy of the circus.

The People

Bunny and Susan Cotton-Tail serve as the foundational, gentle authority figures of the story. They are easily flustered by the chaos of their guests but are defined by their hospitality and their simple, repetitive catchphrases. They provide the stable, warm center that eventually tames the more disruptive characters.

Snubby Nose is the emotional anchor of the book’s early chapters. He is defined by his insecurities and his tendency to cry, scream, and howl whenever he is unhappy or frustrated. He serves as a foil to Tippy Toes, representing the internal struggle with self-image that the story aims to overcome.

Tippy Toes is the story’s moral hero. Though he possesses the same "ugly" features as Snubby Nose, he chooses to respond to the world with politeness, dancing, and song. His ability to maintain his cheerfulness while being mistaken for his ill-tempered cousin is what ultimately transforms the household.

Grandpa Grumbles begins as a source of conflict. He is perpetually annoyed, deaf when it suits him, and fiercely protective of his green cotton umbrella. However, his character arc is the most dramatic, as he evolves from a solitary, complaining curmudgeon into the joyous director of the circus parade.

Bushy-Tail is the antagonist, a sly fox whose motivations are transparently selfish. He represents the danger lurking outside the domestic circle, though his attempts to menace the group are constantly thwarted by the magical properties of the umbrella and the collective resilience of the bunnies.

In Its Own Voice

"He got out of bed and lit a candle. He said, 'I believe I am the ugliest little Bunny with the ugliest little nose of any Bunny alive.'"

Snubby Nose stands before his mirror, revealing the core insecurity that drives his unhappy behavior.

"Who is so ugly? Nobody knows." The mirror answered, "Snubby Nose."

This recurring chant highlights the rabbit's fixation on his own perceived flaws.

"I will go and find Snubby Nose," he said, "for he must be as ugly as I am with my little turned-up nose."

Tippy Toes expresses his curiosity about his mirror-image, viewing their shared physical trait as a point of connection rather than shame.

What It's Really About

At its heart, the book is a study in the power of perspective. The bunnies are all obsessed with their physical appearance—specifically their "ugly" noses—which initially leads to isolation and misery. The narrative argues that the difference between being a "Snubby Nose" (the howler) and a "Tippy Toes" (the dancer) is entirely a matter of temperament. By shifting from self-absorption to social engagement and kindness, the characters transcend their insecurities. The book suggests that community and "circus-like" play can effectively silence the inner critic and the grumbling voices of the world, replacing them with a shared, rhythmic joy.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the gentle, surreal absurdity of classic animal fables will find much to admire here. The world is one of dream-like logic, where umbrellas double as airplanes, mirrors provide cryptic answers, and foxes are occasionally forced to swim as punishment for their rudeness. It feels like a story told by a fireplace, full of rhythmic, sing-song dialogue and sudden, magical shifts in scene.

Modern readers should be prepared for the book's period-specific quirks. The dialogue relies heavily on repetition and exclamation, which can feel relentless, and the characters’ catchphrases—"My fur and whiskers!" or "Bless my buttons!"—are used with dizzying frequency. Furthermore, the early 20th-century sensibilities regarding children’s behavior are plain; the rabbits are expected to be unfailingly polite, and the threat of a "bag" for misbehaving children is treated as a standard, if lighthearted, consequence. The plot is less a linear progression and more a series of vignettes that dissolve into one another. However, for those who can embrace its frantic, repetitive energy and its unironic belief in the power of a "merry-go-round" to fix all ills, the story leaves behind a warm, lingering sense of comfort—a reminder that no matter how much one might howl at the mirror, a dance and a shared story can eventually turn the day around.